NIKI MINAJ
POP Singer
A Rapper To Be
Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8[3][4]), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj(pron.: /mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer-songwriter, voice actress and television personality. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. When she was five years old, she moved to the New York City borough of Queens. Minaj trained as an actress before she released three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and signed toYoung Money Entertainment.
Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), peaked at number one on the U.S.Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) a month after its release.[5][6] She became the first female solo artist to have sevensingles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.[7] Her seventh single, "Super Bass" has been certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA, and has sold more than four million copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the United States. Minaj's second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), topped charts internationally, also spawning the top 10 singles "Starships" and "Pound the Alarm". The album became one of the best-selling albums of 2012, according to the Nielsen SoundScan, selling one million copies worldwide,[8] as well as "Starships" becoming one of the best-selling singles of that year.[9]Later in the year, she embarked on two worldwide tours, the Pink Friday Tour and the Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour, and reissued the album as Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up. Minaj has tentatively announced plans for a third studio album to be released in 2013.[10]
Minaj's artistry features fast-paced rapping, alter egos and accents, notably British cockney. Her outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing have given her recognition as a fashion icon.[11] She featured as a voice actress in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, is currently serving as a judge on American Idol and has endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics, and Pepsi. Minaj's work has earned her six BET Awards, four American Music Awards, two MTV Music Awards, an EMA and Billboard's 2011 Rising Star. She is the first female artist included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List, with The New York Timessuggesting that some consider her "the most influential female rapper of all time."[12] The Source named Minaj the Woman Of The Year for 2012.[13]
Life story
Onika Tanya Maraj was born December 8, 1982[3] in Saint James, a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital city Port of Spain.[14][15][16] to parents Carol and Robert Maraj, an accounting clerk/gospel singer and an employee at American Express, respectively.[17] Her parents are ofmixed Indian and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry[18][19] and she lived in Saint James with her grandmother. Minaj is the middle sister to brothers Makiya and Jelani, as mentioned in her song "I'm the Best" on her debut album, Pink Friday.[20] Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to the Queensborough of New York City.[21] According to Minaj, her father drank heavily, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.[22]
Minaj attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet.[21] She then graduated from LaGuardia High School, which specializes in music and the visual and performing arts.[23][24] Minaj participated in the drama program and initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition.[23] Minaj had a passion to become an actress, but failed at attempts to pursue her career due to the lack of roles she received. In 2001, she was cast in the Off-Broadway play, "In Case You Forget".[25] After her acting career failed to take off, Minaj worked at Red Lobster in the Bronx at the age of 19 as a waitress and purchased her first vehicle, a BMW.[26] Minaj was fired from Red Lobster because of her discourteousness to customers. She stated she had been fired from "at least fifteen jobs" for similar antics.[27] Other jobs Minaj held were administrative assistant, customer serviceand a office manager position at an unknown business located on Wall Street.[28][29]
Minaj breifly signed with Brooklyn group Full Force, in which Minaj rapped in a foursome group called "Hoodstars," which consisted of group members Lou$tar (son of "Bowlegged Lou"), Scaff Beezy (Minaj's current hypeman) , and 7even Up.[30][31] In 2004 the group recorded the entrance song for WWE wrestler Victoria titled "Don't Mess With," it was featured on the compilation album ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol.6. Minaj left the group, unsatisfied with their lack of success. During this time, Minaj uploaded a few songs on her Myspace profile and sent a few of her songs to people in the music industry she was managed by Debra Antney. Fendi, CEO of the Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment, who also found rapper Gravy, discovered the music and contacted Minaj, signing her to his label. Initially, Minaj adopted the pseudonym "Nicki Maraj", later changing to "Nicki Minaj", stating "My real name is Maraj. Fendi flipped it when he met me because I had such a nasty flow! I eat bitches!"[32] Under Fendi's label, Minaj appeared on the popular street DVD "The Come Up Volume 11" that featured underground rappers from New York.
Niki Minaj/ Her Story
Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8[3][4]), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj(pron.: /mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer-songwriter, voice actress and television personality. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. When she was five years old, she moved to the New York City borough of Queens. Minaj trained as an actress before she released three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and signed toYoung Money Entertainment.
Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), peaked at number one on the U.S.Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) a month after its release.[5][6] She became the first female solo artist to have sevensingles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.[7] Her seventh single, "Super Bass" has been certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA, and has sold more than four million copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the United States. Minaj's second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), topped charts internationally, also spawning the top 10 singles "Starships" and "Pound the Alarm". The album became one of the best-selling albums of 2012, according to the Nielsen SoundScan, selling one million copies worldwide,[8] as well as "Starships" becoming one of the best-selling singles of that year.[9]Later in the year, she embarked on two worldwide tours, the Pink Friday Tour and the Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour, and reissued the album as Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up. Minaj has tentatively announced plans for a third studio album to be released in 2013.[10]
Minaj's artistry features fast-paced rapping, alter egos and accents, notably British cockney. Her outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing have given her recognition as a fashion icon.[11] She featured as a voice actress in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, is currently serving as a judge on American Idol and has endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics, and Pepsi. Minaj's work has earned her six BET Awards, four American Music Awards, two MTV Music Awards, an EMA and Billboard's 2011 Rising Star. She is the first female artist included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List, with The New York Timessuggesting that some consider her "the most influential female rapper of all time."[12] The Source named Minaj the Woman Of The Year for 2012.[13]