Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj was born December 8, 1984 in Queens, New York. Her parents were African American and Indian. Her real name was Onika Maraj. She grew up in Queens. Her father was addicted to drugs and her mother was a struggling single parent. She said her father once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire. Even though her parents where single and drug addicts she still managed to graduated from Laguardia High School where she studied singing and acting, but before she was about to audition for a play she lost her voice.

She spent all of her free time trying to start a career in music. She soon branched out and was noticed by Dirty Money the CEO Fendi. He signed her and put her on front of his Dirty Money Label, and his The Come Up DVD. Lil Wayne noticed this and started negotiating with Fendi about meeting her. They thought she would be perfect for the Young Money label.

In April of 2007 she released her first mixed tape called “Play Time Is Over.” Lil Wayne was featured in the song “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.” About a year later she came out with her next mixed tape called “Sucka Free.” It paid tribute to Lil Kim. On April 18, 2009 she released a third mixed tape called “Beam Me Up, Scotty.” Her current lables are Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown.

In 2010 she released information that there was a new album coming out called Pink Friday. In August she released “Your Love” as the official single for her Debut album. It was released November 19th, 2010.It was 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, 7 on Hot R&B/ Hip Hop Songs, and toped the Rap Songs Chart.

In 2008 she won Female Artist of the Year at the Underground Music Awards, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best New Artist, and for Best Group. She was nominated for Viewers Choice Award, Best New Artist in a different song, and Choice Break Out Artist. In 2010 she was nominated for MTV Video Music Award, Hustler of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Best International Act, and Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group. She also won Peoples Champ, Made You Look, and Rookie of the Year.