Biography And Photos: Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj (Hindi: ओनिका तान्या माराज; born December 8, 1982), better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj (Hindi: निक्की मिनाज; pronounced /mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a recording artist signed to Young Money Entertainment. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, but moved to the Queens borough of New York City at age five.

Minaj began her music career in 2007 after she released her first mixtape Playtime Is Over. The mixtape was followed by the mixtapes Sucka Free and Beam Me Up Scotty which were released in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Minaj had her first label success after fellow American rapper, Lil Wayne discovered and secured a record deal with her with Young Money Entertainment with distribution from Universal Motown Records In August 2009.

She released her debut album, Pink Friday in 2010 which became a commercial success, peaking at the top of the U.S. Billboard 200. and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first artist ever to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her second single, "Your Love", reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002, which was previously held by Missy Elliott's song Work It. She also became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List.

Nicki Minaj