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Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982 or December 8, 1984), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj (/mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, and voice actress. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. When she was five years of age, she moved to the New York City borough of Queens, where she grew up. Minaj trained as an actress before she released three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and signed to Young Money Entertainment.

Minaj rose to prominence as a recording artist when she released her debut album, Pink Friday, in November 2010, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. and her seventh single, "Super Bass" has since been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold more than four million copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the United States. Minaj released her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in April 2012 which topped charts internationally, also spawning the top 10 singles "Starships" and "Pound the Alarm". Since, the album has become one of the best-selling albums of 2012 according to the Nielsen SoundScan, selling 1,000,000 copies worldwide. Minaj embarked on two worldwide tours, The Pink Friday Tour and Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour.

Minaj is known for her unique artistry. Her rapping technique has been noted by critics for its use of alter-egos, accents (notably, British cockney), and fast-pacing. Minaj is known for her use of outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing and has been recognized as a fashion icon. She featured as a voice-actress in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift and has endorsed brands such as Pepsi, MAC Cosmetics, and Adidas. Minaj's work has earned her six BET Awards, two American Music Awards, one MTV Music Award and Billboards' 2011 Rising Star. Minaj set precedents for female rappers by becoming the first female artist included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List, with The New York Times suggesting that some consider her "the most influential female rapper of all time."

Life and career

1982–2002: Early life

Onika Tanya Maraj was born December 8, 1982 or December 8, 1984 in Saint James, a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital city Port of Spain. to parents Carol Maraj, an accounting clerk and gospel signer, and Robert Maraj, an employee at American Express. Her parents are of mixed Indian and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry and she lived in Saint James with her grandmother. Minaj is the middle sister to two brothers named Makiya and Jelani, as mentioned in her song "I'm the Best" on her debut album, Pink Friday. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to the Queens borough of New York City. According to Minaj, her father drank heavily, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.

Minaj attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet. She then went on to attend LaGuardia High School. At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program. She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia but lost her voice on the day of the audition. Minaj had a passion to become an actress, but failed at attempts to pursue her career due to the lack of roles she received, and agents. In 2001, she was cast in the off-Broadway play, "In Case You Forget". 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. Minaj was fired from Red Lobster because of her discourteousness to other customers. She had been fired from at least fifteen jobs for similar antics. Other jobs Minaj held were administrative assistant, customer service, an office manager position at an unknown business located on Wall Street.

2004–2007: Career beginnings

After exploring other career options, Minaj rapped in a foursome group called "Hoodstars" (stylized Hood$tars or H.O.O.D.S.T.A.R.S), which consisted of group members Scaff Beezy, Lou$tar, and 7even Up. 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. Fendi, CEO of the Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment, who also found rapper Gravy, discovered the music and contacted Minaj, singing 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!" Under Fendi's label, Minaj appeared on the popular street DVD "The Come Up Volume 11" that featured underground rappers from New York.

2007–09: Mixtapes and Young Money

Minaj released her first mixtape Playtime Is Over in 2007 with Dirty Money Records. She released another mixtape on July 7, 2008, titled Sucka Free, under the label Be. She won the Female Artist of the Year award at the 2008 Underground Music Awards, shortly after. On April 18, 2009, Minaj released her third mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty and appeared in XXL magazine. Beam Me Up Scotty, was released under the label of Trapaholics Records; it received positive coverage on both BET and MTV.

In August 2009, Minaj signed a record deal with Young Money Entertainment, with distribution from Universal Motown Records, after fellow American rapper Lil Wayne discovered her on The Come Up DVD. Minaj generated significant attention when she first appeared on Yo Gotti's 5 Star Chick (remix) video, which gave her mainstream success with the urban community. At the request of Jay-Z, Minaj was asked to feature on Robin Thicke's single Shakin' It 4 Daddy. Following the guest appearance, Minaj was given a solo rap verse in the single "BedRock". The record garnered huge commercial success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Minaj also appeared on "Roger That", which charted at number 56. The song, and in particular Minaj, received positive reviews from critics. In December 2009, both songs were included in Young Money Entertainment's debut collaborative studio album We Are Young Money. The album charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200, reaching number 9 and later receiving a Gold Certification by the RIAA. Minaj's success reached Mariah Carey, who asked the rapper to be featured on her single "Up Out My Face", along with the accompanying music video. Critics praised her collaboration for helping to maintain Carey's feminine image and providing a polite track for the female R&B singer.

2010–11: Pink Friday

After a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released from a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights – including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing. In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, Rihanna stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men" from her album Loud that the duo would be teaming up for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday. Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album. On August 3, 2010, Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel that the album's name would be Pink Friday, a nod to Black Friday.

Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe versions. A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April. In August, Minaj released "Your Love" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am titled, "Check It Out" and "Right Thru Me" in September 2010; the music videos for both were released in late October. "Moment 4 Life" was released as the fourth single. The track featured Canadian rapper Drake and was released on December 7, 2010, becoming a success on the Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs.

The album gained Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release. On January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest, performing "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life". On February 9, 2011, it was announced that Pink Friday had reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its eleventh week on the chart. It was hinted by Simon Cowell that Minaj would join the judging panel of the American version of the The X Factor. Minaj turned down the offer to become a judge on The X Factor, as rapped on her Roman Reloaded song, due to the salary for the gig. In June 2011, Minaj supported her debut album Pink Friday by serving as an opening act along with Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nervo on Britney Spears' sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. She also was featured on the official remix of Spears' track "Till the World Ends" along with Spears and singer Kesha, which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011.

"Super Bass" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011, the single charted within the top 10 in many countries including; United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada, and later was certified as quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song gained positive reviews from critics. Minaj went on to attribute the success of the single in part to Taylor Swift, saying in an interview with American radio station 102.7 KIIS FM, "Taylor Swift did her little interview about 'Super Bass' and took off in the States with the people sort of knowing it...It’s just really uncanny how all that stuff happens...We didn’t plan it like that." Minaj voiced a character in the 3D animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift, as Steffie, a woolly mammoth. Minaj is also featured on French DJ David Guetta's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat on the singles "Where Them Girls At" and "Turn Me On".

2011–12: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, was first announced through Twitter in November 2011 and was released on April 2, 2012 in the United Kingdom and April 3, 2012 in the United States, two months later than initially planned. The album features collaborations with producers Hit-Boy, Dr. Luke, Rico Beats, Kenoe, RedOne and Oak. Cash Money A&R Joshua Berkman told HitQuarters that Minaj was extremely particular about the beats and music she used saying: "She wouldn't just rap or sing on anything – I could give her a thousand tracks and she may only like one or two." Preceding the album's release, three promotional singles were released: Roman in Moscow (which didn't make the final cut of the album), "Stupid Hoe," and "Roman Reloaded." The album's first single, "Starships", was released on February 14. "Starships" became Minaj's best-peaking single in the United Kingdom, when it reached a peak of 2. It has also peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it her second top 10 arrival following, "Super Bass" in 2011. The music video was released on April 26, 2012.

On February 12, 2012, Minaj debuted her song "Roman Holiday" at the 54th Grammy Awards. It was the first song ever performed on the Grammy stage by a solo female rapper. The exorcism-themed performance drew a mixed response online. She was featured on Madonna's twelfth studio album, titled MDNA, alongside M.I.A. on its lead single "Give Me All Your Luvin'", for which a music video has been directed by Megaforce. The trio performed the song for the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.

She released her second single, "Right by My Side", which features Chris Brown, on March 27, 2012, after premiering on Minaj's website on March 20, 2012. Following the album's release, it peaked at number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. It also peaked in the lower regions of the UK singles chart, at position #101. The third single, "Beez in the Trap", which features 2 Chainz was released to U.S. Urban radio on April 24, 2012. It was premiered on DJ Flex's radio show at Hot 97 on March 20, 2012. It peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Rap Songs Chart. The video was premiered on April 6, 2012 on Minaj's official VEVO account.

Minaj began her first worldwide tour, the Pink Friday Tour on May 16, 2012 in Sydney at the Hordern Pavillion. The Spring/Summer leg of the tour venues will be held in mixture of theaters and arenas, while the Fall leg is set to be held in only arenas. The Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour, was to begin in Auckland at Vector Arena on September 28, 2012, and to end November 7, 2012 at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. Due to a high demand of tickets the tour was extended, the new dates are at Newcastle Arena on October 28 and Manchester Arena on November 2, meaning she will play both venues twice. Announced August 1, 2012 via Twitter, Minaj postponed the tour to a later date, tweeting, "Barbz, I now have 2 start the Fall tour a bit later than originally planned. I will now END the tour where I was originally planning 2 BEGIN". Dates have since been rescheduled.

Minaj was scheduled to headline during Hot 97 Summer Jam in New Jersey on June 3, 2012 at MetLife Stadium but pulled out of the show after the DJ for the station (Peter Rosenberg) criticized Minaj's song "Starships" as not being "real hip-hop", her mentor Lil Wayne heard the remark and pulled his Young Money labelmates from the show. Minaj was scheduled to bring out hip-hop legends Nas, Lauryn Hill, Cam'ron, Foxy Brown, and other rap artist. Minaj confirmed her absence via Twitter stating "Wow. U n---az just fucked up history. But the President has spoken. #YMCMB," she wrote, later adding, "I go above and beyond for my fans. But won't ever go against wayne's word. What he says, goes." Minaj called into radio station Hot 97 to speak on the incident with Funkmaster Flex, which ended the dispute with the radio station, and DJ Peter Rosenberg.

2012–present: New projects and American Idol

On August 18, 2012, Minaj announced, in an interview with MTV, that she is releasing a new musical project before the end of 2012. Minaj also revealed that she will appear on Lil Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape. Minaj cancelled her appearance at the 2012 V Festival in the United Kingdom and the final show of her Pink Friday Tour in Dublin due to the damage of her vocal chords. Joining Mariah Carey, Minaj signed a deal to become a judge on the 13th season of American Idol, following the departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. A public relations person spoke on Minaj's behalf in regards to the rumors of her appearing on the show. He said, "I'm not sure the deal is completely done yet, but yes, she is definitely doing it. A few more slight things to sign off on but it is happening." Minaj revealed the bottle design for her fragrance, "Pink Friday", via Twitter. The bottle bears a pink wig, a gold-platted bust, and a chain that dangles from the neck, bearing her name, similar to the CD cover of her debut album, Pink Friday.

Artistry

Public image

"First of all, I'm a rapper. I'm from south Jamaica, Queens. What are the similarities?... Wigs? Every female in this game wears wigs. Over-the-top costumes? Ehh. Try again. It's getting tired now though, to me. In the beginning I was like, okay, it's cool, hahaha, when they get to know me they'll understand me. Gaga is a fantastic artist. She's paved her way. She's opened her own lane. But I feel like I have my own lane. And we never cross, ever!"

Minaj has been noted by the media for her curvaceous figure. In an interview with Vibe Minaj discussed her sexual image stating, "when I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly. The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot... and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing." In an interview with Interview, Minaj commented on her sexual image again stating, "I made a conscious decision to try to tone down the sexiness, I want people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You got to have something else to go with that.” Minaj has made "signing boobs" part of her movement to empower women. In an interview with The Guardian, Minaj says she is to not only competing with females, but also the male rappers in the industry. "That's why I say stuff like, 'Dick in your face', because I don't even wanna refer to female genitalia any more," Minaj said, recalling the song "Come on a Cone" from her sophomoric album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. "I just feel I have bigger balls than the boys." In her "Moment 4 Life", song she refers herself as a king instead of the term "queen".

Minaj is known for wearing outlandish costumes and wigs and is often compared to pop-singer, Lady Gaga, and is often called "the black Lady Gaga"; Minaj refutes comparisons between the two. She cites Alexander McQueen, Versace, and Christian Louboutin as her favorite designers. The Huffington Post described Minaj's fashion as "risk-taking", "bold sartorial choices", and "far-out", with Yahoo! commenting that her costume was "colorful", "crazy" and stated that "the world would certainly be very quiet without Ms Minaj". Minaj has been invited to attend various events for fashion designers. Donatella Versace invited Minaj to perform for the launch of the collaboration of Versace for H&M alongside Prince. She also performed her hit single "Super Bass" at a Victoria Secret fashion show in November 2011. Minaj was personally invited to be sat with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour during New York Fashion Week to see designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera.

Minaj is an avid Twitter user, holding a total of 14,000 tweets and over 14 million followers as of August 2012. She is the most followed rapper in the world. In March 2011, Billboard named Minaj the fourth most active musician on social media, through their Social 50 chart. Upon Twitter and in public appearances and interviews, Minaj refers to her fans as the "Barbz", and her gay following as "Ken-barbz" something that derives from her alter-ego as the "Harajaku Barbie". Minaj deleted her Twitter account for 8 days in April 2012, following a dispute between her and fans who wanted to leak snippets of her then unreleased album.

Alter egos

While growing up, Minaj's home life was often chaotic, with her parents constantly fighting. As a means of escape, she would create characters and live her life through them. In an interview with New York she stated, "To get away from all their fighting, I would imagine being a new person. 'Cookie' was my first identity – that stayed with me for a while. I went on to 'Harajuku Barbie,' then 'Nicki Minaj'. Fantasy was my reality."

On November 18, 2010, Minaj assumed an alter-ego named "Nicki Teresa". Wearing a colorful scarf around her head, she went around as the "healer to her fans" as she visited them at The Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse studios in New York City. Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" (pronounced Rrrrrosa).

For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski". She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz it is not Minaj rapping, but instead Roman Zolanski, and claims that Roman is her "twin brother". She claims that he was born inside her, out of rage, and becomes him when she is angry. She has also said 'He is a demon inside her'. Roman has been compared to Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady, and on the song "Roman's Revenge" from Pink Friday, Minaj and Eminem collaborate, using these alter egos. On the collaboration, she said "The new album is going to have a lot of Roman on it ... And if you're not familiar with Roman, then you will be familiar with him very soon. He’s the boy that lives inside of me. He's a lunatic and he's gay and he'll be on there a lot." Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski", who also appeared on the song "Roman's Revenge", with a British accent, and on "Roman Holiday", singing for the first time. Martha appears in the video for "Moment 4 Life" where she appears to be Minaj's magical godmother. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" it is Minaj rapping. Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.

In April 2012, Minaj was asked if Roman, Martha, and Rosa come out in the bedroom. She told Big Boy during his "Backstage Breakfast", "No, they don’t come out in the bedroom, but other people come out in the bedroom," adding, "And there's only one person that would know who that personality is". Minaj has not specified which alter-ego since.

Rapping technique

"When I started rapping, people were trying to make me like the typical New York rapper, but I'm not that," Minaj says. "No disrespect to New York rappers, but I don't want people to hear me and know exactly where I'm from."

Minaj is known for her animated rapping style, and her distinctive flow separates her from other female rappers. She often combines metaphors, punchlines, and wordplay into her work, which has received comparisons to her mentor, Lil Wayne. The New York Times described Minaj as "a sparkling rapper with a gift for comic accents and unexpected turns of phrase. She's a walking exaggeration, outsize in sound, personality and look. And she's a rapid evolver, discarding old modes as easily as adopting new ones." Many critics describe her rap technique as bubblegum rap, but Minaj explained in an interview with Vibe magazine: "What people don't know is that before I was doing that craziness I was doing me, I was just doing regular sounding rap that anyone could hear and identify with. But once I started doing all that weird —im not mad at it because it got everyone’s attention".

Her verse in Kanye West's "Monster" was well received by critics, with many stating she had the best verse in the song, beating out well-established hip-hop artists Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Rick Ross. Her alter-egos come alive in her lyrics varying from a British accent, to her soft-spoken Harajuku Barbie. She has collaborated with a diverse array of musical artists from varied genres, including Britney Spears, Eminem, and Madonna. Hip-hop artist Ice-T cosigns Minaj's rapping ability with an interview from Rolling Stone "She does her thing. She has her own way of doing it. She has an ill vocal delivery. She kind of reminds me of a female Busta Rhymes, like how she throws her voice in different directions – but she's no Lil' Kim".

Billboard dissected Minaj's rap technique, saying, "Her multiple characters are indeed present on the set. In a matter of bars, Minaj switches effortlessly from the toned-down Onika to the energetic Nicki and then to her tempestuous alter ego, Roman Zolanski. She tosses off British and Jamaican accents, animal-like growls, breathy vocals and rapid-fire rhymes with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it speed of a 14-year-old girl thumbing a text message in homeroom."

Influences

Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott. She was also inspired by Janet Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Jones, M.I.A. and Cyndi Lauper.

Minaj cites Foxy Brown and Jay-Z as influences, saying, "I really loved her as a female rapper. I was really interested in her mind and her aura, I was really, really into Jay-Z. Me and my friends in high school, we were reciting all of the Jay lyrics. His words were our words in our conversations all the time." Minaj spoke on her love for Foxy Brown again during an interview with MTV, saying she was "the most influential female rapper" and how her album Broken Silence" changed her life. Minaj went on "I never really told Foxy how much she has influenced me and how much she changed my life, and you've gotta tell people that when they're alive to even be able to take the compliment, instead of paying tribute to them when they're no longer here,".

Jada Pinkett Smith is one of Minaj's influences as an actress, and has been mentioned as a role model in her acting career. Minaj was inspired by R&B singer Monica, and used to sing her song "Why I Love You So Much" at every talent show she was in. Minaj referred to Monica as one of her biggest musical influences of all time whilst performing in Atlanta on her Pink Friday Tour. Kanye West, Trina, and Drake have been named as influences to Minaj. Betsey Johnson is another one of Minaj's fashion icon's during an interview with MTV, Minaj expressed her love for Johnson " She's a free spirit," Minaj said of Johnson. "When I met her the other day, I felt like I knew her for my whole life. She's so warm and considerate and caring. She's amazingly talented and I've been wearing her clothes forever, so to meet her was like, 'Yay!' bowing down to her; she's dope!"

Other ventures

Products and endorsements

During her career, Minaj has signed contracts with a variety of corporate interests and manufacturing companies. In 2011, Minaj helped launch electronic manufacturing company, Casio's TRYX digital camera in Times Square, along with The Roots. and she launched the Nokia Lumia 900 also in Times Square followed by an performance of Starships, Super Bass, and Right by My Side. Minaj contracted an promotional deal with soft drink manufacturer Pepsi in which she appeared in a commercial, and Internet advertisements. A commercial was shot in Argentina, as Minaj told in her in her song HOV Lane for the global LiveForNow campaign. Her hit single Moment 4 Life was remixed in the commercial. Mattel produced a custom Nicki Minaj-themed Barbie to be auctioned on charitybuzz and was valued at an estimate of $US15,000 dollars.

MAC Cosmetics collaborated with Minaj on many business ventures, such as a limited edition, satin finish, lipstick called Pink 4 Friday that went on sale for four consecutive Fridays starting November 26, 2010 to promote the release of her debut album, Pink Friday, and also as part of the Viva Glam campaign with Ricky Martin in Latin America. Which has raised $US250 million dollars for MAC AIDS Fund. Also, Minaj collaborated with OPI Products on a six-piece nail polish collection with the colors named after her songs.

With designer Jeremy Scott, Minaj signed an endorsement deal with Adidas' Fall and Winter 2012 campaign to appear in Internet adverts and commercials for Adidas Originals; the ad was filmed in a disclosed location in Brooklyn. The commercial featured celebrities Big Sean, Derrick Rose, Sky Ferreira and 2NE1, all around the world wearing the Adidas attire. The commercial used Minaj's song "Masquerade" from her second album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded as the theme song for the ad. Minaj is launching her own clothing line in 2013, and described it as "Harajuku Barbie" in an interview with Rolling Stone. Minaj revealed via Twitter that she is working on two books. Minaj has teamed up with Give Back Brands to launch her new fragrance "Pink Friday" in Fall 2012 which are going to be sold under exclusive license to Macy's (US) and Elizabeth Arden (Internationally).

Personal life

In July 2011, Minaj's cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, New York City. Minaj referenced Telemaque in the song "Champion" through the lyrics, "Cause they killed my little cousin, Nicholas/ But my memories only have happy images."

Minaj has said that she prefers to write music in the morning and uses a notebook rather than her cell phone. Minaj has shown an interest in studying law and said she wanted to be a lawyer, she is a fan of the television-show Judge Judy saying, "She's straight forward but doesn't realize in her next life she's a comedian. Plus she's little and she's cute." She cites Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Hills as other favorites. Minaj also said she enjoys cooking, and has requested foods such as cranberries, almonds, salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers, green olives with Wishbone Italian dressing, and spicy fried chicken whilst touring.

Minaj is a Christian, and on Christmas Day in 2011, she indicated her faith in Jesus by tweeting John 3:16. In addition, she states that after her father went to rehab and started attending church, "he got saved and started changing his life." Minaj states that her heroes are "God. And my mother."

Critics have noted Minaj's use of various sexual identities within her music, with some implying that she is bisexual. However, she has said that she does not date nor have sex with women, but added in an interview with Out magazine, "I don’t date men either." In an interview with Vibe she commented, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined."

Feud with Lil' Kim

Minaj has been embroiled in a feud with veteran rapper, Lil' Kim, since she gained her breakthrough success with Pink Friday. With Kim and critics noticing resemblances with her on the Sucka Free mixtape, Kim accused Minaj of copying her image saying, "If you are going to steal my swag, you gonna have to pay. Something gotta give. You help me, I help you. That's how it goes to me. Minaj's single "Roman's Revenge" with Eminem was believed by critics to be a response to Kim's comments, although she later denied this, she responded to the situation in an interview with HOT 97's Angie Martinez saying "She picked a fight with Foxy, then she picked a fight with Eve, then she picked a fight a fight with Remy, then it was Mrs. Wallace, then it was Nicki Minaj. Every time you in the news, it’s ‘cause you gettin’ at somebody! Where’s your music? Put your music out, and when I see your name on Billboard, that’s when I’ll respond to you. Other than that, goodbye. It’s Barbie, bitch."

Lil' Kim reignited the feud following the release of her mixtape Black Friday, an album that directly referenced Minaj, through the title and songs such as "Did It On'em" (that became "Pissin' On'em"); the album artwork also portrayed Lil' Kim decapitating Minaj with a sword. A fragment of a diss track called "Tragedy" was released in response by Minaj in April 2011, the track featured the lyrics "Pink Friday, Eminem, 8 Mile/ It must hurt to sell your album on PayPal." and "Look at you now hoe, you just tragic". Following the release of Minaj's second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, critics suggested that the track "Stupid Hoe" may have contained attacks directed at Kim. Lil' Kim later suggested in an interview with 105's Breakfast Club that the song "Automatic" from Minaj's second album was similar to her unreleased material, also calling Minaj "obnoxious" and "catty".

The feud has drawn attention from various other recording artists and rappers. Minaj's labelmate and rapper, Drake said " didn't give a what Lil Kim or nobody else is talking about." 50 Cent commented on the situation in an online interview with Power 98.3 FM remarking, "It's obvious ... she was inspired by some of Kim's . But that's not bad. There's not a whole lot of female artists that you can make reference to, so you'll see those little influences even stronger. I think she's hot — I think she's got a good little thing going right now, as far as Nicki Minaj is concerned." Diddy spoke of his love and respect for Kim, attributing his personal success, in part, to her, however he defended working with Minaj stating that "I wouldn't be around Nicki if I ever heard anything negative said about Kim. I've never heard anything like that." Mary J. Blige commented on the rivalry, saying, "Kim is my friend and I love and respect Nicki, just met her and got to know the young lady and she's a sweetheart.", adding that the feud had arisen because of "crews" behind it.

Discography

• Pink Friday (2010)
• Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)

Tours

• Ill-formatted IPAc-en transclusions
• Nicki Minaj
• 1982 births
• Living people
• African-American female singers
• African-American rappers
• American musicians of Indian descent
• Rappers from Long Island
• American dance musicians
• American female pop singers
• American people of Trinidad and Tobago descent
• American pop singer-songwriters
• Female rappers
• East Coast hip hop musicians
• Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
• Hip hop singers
• Naturalized citizens of the United States
• People from Queens
• People from Port of Spain
• Pseudonymous musicians
• Pseudonymous rappers
• Rappers from New York City
• Singers from New York City
• Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United States
• Trinidad and Tobago musicians
• Young Money Entertainment artists