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.
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 >
Jennifer Hudson knows a thing or two about "American Idol" ... which is why it's very interesting that she's calling total BS on the war between Mariah Carey vs. Nicki Minaj. "I don't believe it,"… READ MORE >
Nick Cannon is doing his husbandly duty to downplay the beef between his wife, Mariah Carey, and her "American Idol" judging partner Nicki Minaj ... telling our photog the whole thing has been… READ MORE >
Steven Tyler thinks the entire Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey beef is being orchestrated by the show for ratings ... and as a former judge on the show, he's one to know. Our photog spotted the… READ MORE >
"American Idol" could be a big hit ... apparently much to the dismay of producers who are trying to tame Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. So we gotta ask ... READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj was supremely disrespectful to Mariah Carey 2 years before she exploded on the set of "American Idol" this week ... TMZ has learned.Nicki and Mariah teamed up in 2010 for a music video… READ MORE >
Mariah Carey got a full police AND umbrella escort on her way out of an "American Idol" photo shoot in Baton Rouge yesterday -- 'cause the only thing more harmful than angry rappers are those damn… READ MORE >
"The Voice" judge Cee Lo Green is calling BS on Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's fiery feud -- telling TMZ, we're in L.A. ... practically EVERYTHING is fake in this town.Cee Lo had just finished… READ MORE >
Nicki Minaj and "Her f*cking Highness" Mariah Carey have been ferociously going at it on the set of "American Idol."Question is ...More Who'd You Rather? Ryan Lochte vs. The Situation Donatella… READ MORE >
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