Onika Tanya Maraj professionally known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born American rapper and songwriter. Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, New York, Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007–09. She signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009.
Onika Tanya Maraj was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago on December 8, 1982. Her parents Robert Maraj, a financial executive and part-time gospel singer, and Carol Maraj, are Trinidadians of African heritage, with Robert additionally of Asian Indian heritage.[5] Carol worked in payroll and accounting departments during Minaj's youth. Minaj's father was addicted to alcohol and other drugs, and had a violent temper, burning down their house in December 1987.[6] She has two siblings.[7]
As a small child, Minaj and a sibling lived with her grandmother in Saint James.[5][6] Her mother, who had moved to The Bronx, New York to attend Monroe College and brought her husband six months later,[6] brought them to Queens, New York, when Minaj was 5.[5] By then the family had a house on West 147th Street.[6] Minaj recalled, "I don’t think I had a lot of discipline in my household. My mom motivated me, but it wasn’t a strict household. I kind of wanted a strict household."[8] Minaj successfully auditioned for admission toLaGuardia High School in Manhattan, which focuses on visual and performing arts.[1] After graduation, Minaj wanted to become an actress, and she was cast in the Off-Broadwayplay In Case You Forget in 2001.[9] When her acting career failed to take off, at age 19 she worked as a waitress at Red Lobster in the Bronx, but was fired for discourtesy to customers.[10] She said she was fired from "at least fifteen jobs" for similar reasons.[11] She also worked as an administrative assistant, in customer service and as an office manager for a Wall Street business.
Minaj briefly signed with Brooklyn group Full Force, in which she rapped in a quartet called "The Hoodstars" composed of Lou$tar (son of "Bowlegged Lou"), Safaree Samuels (Scaff Beezy) and 7even Up.[13][14] In 2004 the group recorded the entrance song for WWE Diva Victoria, "Don't Mess With", which was featured on the compilation album ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol.6. Minaj left Full Force and uploaded songs on her Myspace profile, sending several of her songs to people in the music industry. At the time, she was managed by Debra Antney. Fendi, CEO of Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment, signed Minaj to his label in 2007 under a 180-day contract.[15] Originally adopting the stage name "Nicki Maraj", she changed it to Nicki Minaj stating that "My real name is Maraj. Fendi flipped it when he met me because I had such a nasty flow! I eat bitches!"[16]
Minaj released her first mixtape, Playtime is Over, on Dirty Money Records on July 5, 2007[17] and her second, Sucka Free, on April 12, 2008.[18]That year, she was named Female Artist of the Year at the 2008 Underground Music Awards.[19] In 2009 Minaj was involved in a conflict with ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme winner Rece Steele, who was annoyed when Minaj interrupted her interview and put a sign behind Steele's head;[20]Minaj hung up on interviewers from Spate magazine when they asked about the incident.[21] She released her third mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, on April 18, 2009[22] and it received favorable coverage on BET and MTV.[23][24] One of its tracks, "I Get Crazy", reached number 20 on the U.S.Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and number 37 on the magazine's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[25]
After Minaj was discovered by fellow rapper Lil Wayne,[26] in August 2009 it was reported that she signed a recording contract with his Young Money Entertainment.[27] That November, she appeared with Gucci Mane and Trina on the remix of "5 Star Bitch" by Yo Gotti.[28] Minaj also appeared on "BedRock" and "Roger That"[29] on the compilation album, We Are Young Money (2009).[30] The singles peaked at numbers two and 56, respectively, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100;[31] their parent album reached number-nine on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[31][32] Minaj was featured on Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face", which reached number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100.
THROWBACKTHISDAY; makes it 33 years and TBT Blog wish her a happy birthday.
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