Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj born December 8, 1982, known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is an American rapper, songwriter and actress. Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York, Minaj received public notice after releasing the mixtapes Playtime is Over 2007, Sucka Free 2008 and Beam Me Up Scotty 2009. She signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009.

Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday 2010, peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and spawned the top-ten single "Super Bass". During its promotional campaign, Minaj became the first female solo artist with seven singles simultaneously charting on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Her second number-one album in the U.S. was the follow-up Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 2012, whose lead single "Starships" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was reissued in an expanded version, subtitled The Re-Up, several months after its initial release. Minaj was a voice actress in the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift in 2012, and made her acting debut in the 2014 film The Other Woman. In 2013, she was a main judge on the twelfth season of American Idol. Minaj's third album, The Pinkprint, is scheduled for release on November 24, 2014. Its second single, "Anaconda", peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and is her highest-charting single in the U.S. to date.

Minaj was the first female artist included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List, with The New York Times saying that some consider her "the most influential female rapper of all time". Her rapping is distinctive for its fast flow and the use of alter egos and accents (primarily British cockney). Minaj's colorful costumes, wigs and clothing have made her a fashion icon. In April 2013 she was the most-charted female rapper in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, with 44 appearances. Minaj has endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics and Pepsi. She has won four American Music Awards, eight BET Awards, two MTV Music Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award, five Billboard Music Awards and Billboard's 2011 Rising Star award.

Minaj is the only female rapper to be featured on Forbes' Hip Hop Cash Kings list. She appeared for the first time on the list in 2011, earning $6.5 million from May 2010 to May 2011. In 2012 she was eighth on the list, earning $15.5 million from May 2011 to May 2012. Minaj rose to fourth on the list in 2013, earning $29 million from June 2012 to June 2013. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Minaj donated $15,000 to the Food Bank For New York City and held a turkey drive at her alma mater, PS 45.

Minaj is a Christian, and said that after her father went to rehab and began attending church "he got saved and started changing his life." In July 2011 Minaj's cousin, Nicholas Telemaque, was murdered near his home in Brooklyn and she referred to him in "Champion": "Cause they killed my little cousin, Nicholas/ But my memory's only happy images."

Critics have noted Minaj's use of varied sexual identities in her music, some implying that she is bisexual. Although she has said that she does not date or have sex with women, she told Out magazine "I don't date men either." In an interview with Vibe she said, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don't tell them they are bad people ... But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don't wanna be defined."