Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known to the world as Nicki Minaj, was born on December 8, 1982, in Trinidad and later raised in New York City. As a multifaceted artist, she has made her mark as a rapper, singer, songwriter, lyricist, model, and actor. Often referred to as the 'Queen of Rap,' Minaj is celebrated for her dynamic rap flow, clever lyrics, and musical versatility, playing a pivotal role in the resurgence of female rap in the mainstream since the 2010s.

Minaj's journey into the music industry began in the early 2000s, gaining significant recognition with her three mixtapes released between 2007 and 2009. Her debut studio album, Pink Friday, released in 2010, achieved remarkable success, becoming the highest-selling female rap album in its opening week of the twenty-first century. The album topped the US Billboard 200 and featured the hit single 'Super Bass.' She continued to explore new musical territories with her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which included the chart-topping single 'Starships.'

Returning to her hip-hop roots, Minaj released The Pinkprint in 2014 and Queen in 2018, producing popular singles like 'Anaconda' and 'Chun-Li.' In 2020, she celebrated her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles with the duets 'Say So' and 'Trollz,' with the former marking a historic moment as the first female rap collaboration to top the chart. Her fifth album, Pink Friday 2, released in 2023, made her the female rapper with the most US number-one albums, and it included her first solo number-one single, 'Super Freaky Girl.'

With over one hundred million records sold, Nicki Minaj stands as one of the best-selling music artists globally and the best-selling female rapper. She has achieved numerous accolades, including a Brit Award, five Billboard Music Awards, and eight MTV Video Music Awards. In 2016, Time recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Beyond music, Minaj has ventured into various business endeavors, including a fragrance line and a record label imprint, Heavy On It, established in 2023. Her influence extends to acting, with roles in films such as The Other Woman and Barbershop: The Next Cut, and she has also served as a judge on American Idol.