Born – December 8, 1982
St. James, Trinidad and Tobago
Birth name – Onika Tanya Maraj
Singer, Rapper, wig collector.
Born in a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital, Port of Spain, to working-class parents.
Lived with Grandma until mom took her to New York when she was five.
Graduated from LaGuardia High, worked at Red Lobster, dreamed of becoming an actress.
Began rapping in a group called "Hoodstars," then uploaded her own music to Myspace back when Myspace was cool. CEO of Dirty Money Entertainment signed her and she changed her name from Nicki Maraj to Nicki Minaj.
Signed with Young Money Entertainment and saw commercial success with the release of her album "Pink Friday" in 2010.
Became an "American Idol" judge for the 2012 season despite some player-hatin' from the Mariah Carey camp.
In case you forgot ... Nicki Minaj STILL HATES Mariah Carey ... and moments ago, she went after the diva AGAIN ... calling her a bitter old woman with no personality. Minaj just unloaded on… READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj spent her Saturday night visiting Lil Wayne at Cedars-Sinai hospital -- where he's recovering from several seizures he suffered earlier this week -- officially adding her name to the… READ MORE >
Lil' Kim paved the way for female rappers like Nicki Minaj, and she's not afraid to say it -- but it's hard to tell if that's really Kim doing the talking, because ... well, y'know. Check out TMZ… READ MORE >
The Nicki Minaj/A.1. Steak Sauce love affair isn't a one way thing ... because it turns out the folks behind the tasty, tasty sauce are as big a fan of her as she is of them.If you'll recall ...… READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj violated 1 of the 3 major rules of STEAKHOUSE ETIQUETTE when she asked for A.1. sauce inside Boa ... but she ain't the only meat sinner in our midst. Check out TMZ on TV -- click here… READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj committed the ULTIMATE steakhouse sin at Boa last night ... she sent someone out to get her A.1. Steak Sauce right in the middle of her meal ... and TMZ has the video proof!!! FYI --… READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj has a new man, and the undeniable proof is ... missing. But we do have this video -- which is 100% partial evidence ... that she left a restaurant!! See? Totally banging a new bf.… READ MORE >
Steven Tyler says Nicki Minaj is dead wrong ... he's not a racist ... and has now issued an Angus T. Jones-style quasi-apology for the controversial comments he made about the new "American Idol"… READ MORE >
With their blonde wigs and beautiful bronzed skin, Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera looked like singing sisters in L.A. the other day.Question is ...More Who'd You Rather? MC Hammer vs. Psy… READ MORE >
President Barack Obama has a message for Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey -- GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!!!!!The war at the "American Idol" judges' table was escalated all the way to the Commander In Chief… READ MORE >
![Jesse James -- Sooooooo ... I Cut Off My Pinky [PHOTO]](http://ll-media.tmz.com/2013/05/21/052113-jesse-james-tmzlive-primary-117x81.jpg)
