Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress who is widely regarded as one of the most influential female rappers in history. Born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she moved to Queens, New York City, at age five. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, where she studied acting. After releasing several mixtapes that gained traction in the hip-hop community, she was signed by Lil Wayne to his Young Money Entertainment label in 2009.

Minaj’s debut album, Pink Friday (2010), debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified triple platinum. It produced the hit singles “Super Bass,” which reached number three on the Hot 100, and “Moment 4 Life” featuring Drake. Her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), debuted at number one and featured the pop crossover hit “Starships.” She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously. Her subsequent albums, The Pinkprint (2014) and Queen (2018), continued her commercial success.

In 2023, Minaj released Pink Friday 2, a sequel to her debut album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became one of the highest-selling hip-hop albums of the year. The album featured collaborations with Drake, Lil Wayne, and other major artists. Her Pink Friday 2 World Tour in 2024 was a massive commercial success, grossing over $100 million. Throughout her career, Minaj has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She holds the record for the most Hot 100 entries by a female rapper.

Beyond music, Minaj has had a significant impact on pop culture and business. She served as a judge on American Idol in 2013, has acted in films including The Other Woman (2014) and voiced characters in animated films. Her endorsement deals have included MAC Cosmetics, Pepsi, and her own fragrance line. She launched the Fendi x Nicki Minaj fashion collection in 2019. Her influence on fashion, language, and the rap genre has been immense, and she is credited with paving the way for a new generation of female rappers. She married Kenneth Petty in 2019, and they have one son together.