Nicki Minaj - Trinidadian-born singer, songwriter, and television personality

Born Dec. 8, 1982, St. James, Trinidad and Tobago), American rap singer and songwriter Nicki Minaj in 2013 saw her career skyrocket as she claimed title to a record 44 appearances—the most by a female rapper—on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Though she had remained visible since 2012 as a judge on the reality television singing competition American Idol, the savvy star announced that she would not tour in 2013 but would instead concentrate on creating her third album. Minaj combined colourful wigs and risqué clothes to create a bold persona to complement her flowing, quick-spoken rap style. Gaining attention for her sexually explicit lyrics and tough attitude, she embraced the shock value of her work to help guide her career onto an upward path. She was also known for her preference for the colour pink, a predilection that she used in branding her albums and such consumer items as her Pink Friday perfume and Pink Pill speakers (sold by AT&T).

Onika Tanya Maraj was about five years old when her family moved to Queens, N.Y., from Trinidad and Tobago. Her childhood was dominated by a violent drug-addicted father, and she spent time creating fantasies for herself that would allow her an escape from her tumultuous life; she adopted a new name, Nicki Minaj, from that practice. Other creative outlets included writing her first rap song when she was 12 years old and pursuing acting at New York City’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Minaj entered the music business as a backup singer for local aspiring rap singers in New York City. She included videos of her work on her Myspace page, which was seen by a local record label. Minaj eventually came to the attention of rapper Lil Wayne, and the two worked on some mixtapes (recordings), with the first, Playtime Is Over, appearing in 2007. As other mixtapes were released, Minaj’s exposure grew, and the next year she was named Female Artist of the Year at the Underground Music Awards. In 2009 she signed with Young Money Entertainment, the label founded by Wayne. Her first album for Young Money, Pink Friday (2010), made it to the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2012 Minaj released her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. It featured the single “Starships,” which won best female video at that year’s MTV Video Music Awards presentation. Also in 2012 she caused controversy on American Idol with her blunt, opinionated judging style and with her frequent disputes with fellow judge Mariah Carey.