Nicki Minaj

The US Trends | Nicki Minaj | Nicki Minaj is a Trinidadian-born American hip-hop and recording artist. Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj on December 8, 1984 in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, and moved to the Queens borough of New York City when she was 5years old.

After releasing 3mix-tapes between 2007and 2009and being signed to YoungMoney Entertainment in August2009, Nicki Minaj released her debut album, PinkFriday inNovember 2010.It quickly became a commercial success,peaking at number #1 on the U.S. Billboard200 and being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry AssociationOfAmerica (RIAA)1a month after its release.She became the 1st artist to have 7singles on theBillboard Hot100 at the same time.Her 2ndsingle,"Your Love",reached number#1 on theBillboardHot Rap Songs chart,making Minaj the 1st female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since MissyElliott accomplished it with WorkIt in2002.She also became the 1st female artist to be included on MTV\\\'sAnnual Hottest MC List.Minaj was named the2011 Rising Star byBillboard.

The father of Nicki Minaj was a severe drug addict with a long history of violence.At one point,he set fire to the family\\\'s home in a failed attempt to kill Minaj\\\'s mother.Those early struggles, Minaj has said,helped fuel her drive to rise above the life her parents knew."I've always had this female empowerment thing in the back of my mind,"she toldDetails magazine,"because I wanted my mother to be stronger,and she couldn\\\'t be.I thought,'If I'm successful,I can change her life.'"

To reach that point,however,the young Nicki Minaj developed personas for herself that would allow her to be a"new person."An early incarnation was someone she called"Cookie,"then came"Harajuku Barbie,"before finally settling on Nicki Minaj."Fantasy was my reality,"she has said. Minaj clearly had a knack for performance.At the age of 12 she authored her 1st rap,then went on to delve into acting at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art,the school that inspired the movie Fame.

Determined to make it in the music business, Nicki Minaj took on backup singing roles for local New York City rappers.Soon,she began writing her own material.She was eventually discovered byDirty Money CEO Fendi,who came across Minaj\\\'s MySpace page,loved what he heard,and immediately signed her to his label.

That connection led Nicki Minaj to Lil Wayne,who collaborated with her on a series of mix tapes,the 1st of which,Playtime isOver,was released inApril2007.The recording,and subsequent mixed tapes,showcased Minaj\\\'s female swagger and out front style.

By early2010,considerable anticipation had built up around Minaj\\\'s much discussed,much covered debut album,which was scheduled for release that fall.InApril of that year, Nicki Minaj released her 1st single,"Massive Attack." 2 months later she wonBest Hip-Hop Female at the annualBET Awards. Nicki Minaj dedicated the award to LilWayne.