Nicki Minaj
Encyclopedia
Onika Tanya Maraj better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj; ), is a Trinidadian-born American recording artist. She was born in Saint James
, Trinidad and Tobago
, but moved to the Queens
borough
of New York City
at age five.
After releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and being signed to Young Money Entertainment
in August 2009, Minaj released, in November 2010, her debut album, Pink Friday
, which quickly became a commercial success, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200
and being certified Platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first artist ever to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her second single, "Your Love
", reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs
chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since Missy Elliott accomplished it with Work It in 2002. She also became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
. Due to the success of her debut album, Minaj was named the 2011 Rising Star by Billboard Magazine.
was born in 1982Minaj's birthyear has been reported in various media outlets as being 1984. The most definitive source, however, is the official Dallas Police Report from July 2011 which states her birthdate is 12/08/1982. in Saint James
, (a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago
's capital city Port of Spain
). Her parents were of mixed Indian
and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry and she lived in Saint James with her grandmother until age five, because her parents were looking for a place to live in the Queens
borough of New York City at the time. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to Queens. According to Minaj, her father drank heavily, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.
She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet
. She graduated from LaGuardia High School. At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program. She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition.
in 2007 after releasing Playtime Is Over
with Dirty Money Records. She later released another mixtape on July 7, 2008, titled Sucka Free
, under the label of Be. On April 18, 2009, Minaj released a third mixtape and appeared in XXL
magazine. In 2008 she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the Underground Music Awards. Minaj released Beam Me Up Scotty
, another mixtape, in April 2009 under the label of Trapaholics Records. Beam Me Up Scotty received positive coverage on both BET
and MTV.
In August 2009, Minaj signed a record deal with Young Money Entertainment
, with distribution from Universal Motown Records
, after fellow American
rapper Lil Wayne
discovered her and secured the record deal. She then had a solo rap verse in their single "BedRock". The song became a commercial success, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Minaj also appeared on "Roger That
", which charted at #56. The song, and in particular Minaj, received positive reviews from critics. Both of these songs were included in Young Money Entertainment's debut collaborative studio album We Are Young Money, which was released in December 2009. The album charted in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 200, reaching #9 and later receiving a Gold Certification by the RIAA.
stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men
" from her album Loud
that the duo would be teaming up together for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday. Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West
was also confirmed for the album. On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel for her fans that the album's name would be Pink Friday stating, “To carry on a great tradition of Black Friday, we are going to switch it up this year in honor of the Nicki Minaj album and call that day Pink Friday, and call my album Pink Friday,!” A deluxe edition of the album was also released after the standard edition. Nicki Minaj released the artwork for her album cover on Friday, October 15, 2010.
Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday
was released on November 19, 2010. A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April. In August, Minaj released "Your Love
" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
, 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas
front man, will.i.am
titled, "Check It Out
", which is Minaj's most successful single to-date around Europe. "Right thru Me
" was released September 24, 2010. Written by Stephen Hacker, Joe Satriani
, Andrew Thielk, B.Evans and Minaj herself. The music video was released in late October, which featured Minaj in a boy-and-girl relationship drama. "Moment 4 Life
" followed "Right thru Me" and was released as the fourth overall single. The track featured Canadian rapper, Drake
, which was released on December 7, 2010, which is proving to be as successful in the Billboard Hot 100
, as it is climbing each week and currently at number 22. The single has so far peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs
. Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.
On Saturday, January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Live
as the musical guest. She performed her hit songs "Right Thru Me"
and "Moment 4 Life
". On February 9, 2011, it was announced that Pink Friday had reached number one on the Billboard 200
in its eleventh week on the chart. It was hinted by Simon Cowell
that Minaj would join the judging panel of the American version of the The X Factor
. Starting in June 2011, Minaj will be supporting Pink Friday by serving as an opening act along with Jessie and the Toy Boys
and Nervo on Britney Spears'
sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour
, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale
. She also was featured on the official remix of Spears' track "Till The World Ends
" along with Spears and singer Kesha
, which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011. "Super Bass
" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011, the reception of the single was huge after the single charted within the top 10 in many of countries including; United Kingdom, United States
, Australia
, Canada
and more. The song gained positive reviews from critics with some critics saying; "obvious hit", "memorable hooks", "infectious". Minaj will voice a character in the 3D
animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift
, as an unknown character,. Minaj is also featured on French
disc jockey
David Guetta
's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat
on "Where Them Girls At
" and "Turn Me On
".
On November 22, 2011, Minaj announced via twitter that her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was currently in the works set to be released on Valentine's Day
2012. She later retweeted to one of her fans saying that she would release a teaser of the LP's first single on the week of December 6th-9th.
In an interview with Interview
, Minaj commented on her sexual image again stating, "I made a conscious decision to try to tone down the sexiness, I want people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You’ve got to have something else to go with that.”
Minaj has a tattoo
in Chinese characters that reads "" (shangdi yu ni chang zai) on her left arm, meaning, "God is always with you."
she stated, "To get away from all their fighting, I would imagine being a new person. 'Cookie' was my first identity – that stayed with me for a while. I went on to 'Harajuku
Barbie,' then 'Nicki Minaj.' Fantasy was my reality."
For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski". She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz
it is not Minaj rapping, but instead Roman Zolanski, and claims that Roman is her "twin sister". She claims that she was born inside her, out of rage, and becomes her when she is angry. She has also said 'She is a demon inside her'. Roman has been compared to Eminem
's alter ego Slim Shady, and on the song "Roman's Revenge
" from Pink Friday, Minaj and Eminem collaborate, using these alter egos. Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski", who also appeared on the song Roman's Revenge, with a British accent. Martha appears in the video for "Moment 4 Life
" where she appears to be Minaj's magical Godmother. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)
" it is Minaj rapping. Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.
On November 18, 2010 Minaj assumed a different alter-ego named "Nicki Teresa". Wearing a colorful scarf around her head, she went around as the "healer to her fans" as she visited them at The Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse studios in New York City. Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight
on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" .
, Lauryn Hill
, Jadakiss
, Natasha Bedingfield
, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim
and Missy Elliott
. She was also inspired by Madonna
, Marilyn Monroe
, Grace Jones
and Cyndi Lauper
.
magazine, "I don’t date men either." In an interview with Vibe she commented, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. And I say girls are beautiful and girls are sexy and they need to be told that, and if they don’t have anyone to tell them that and mean it, I’m gonna tell them that. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined." She reiterated her dislike of being labeled in an interview with Out, saying: "The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle
, and you’ve got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it."
During an interview in the May 2010 issue of Details
, Minaj was asked if she felt hip-hop was becoming more gay-friendly. She responded, "I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced, people view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."
In July 2011, Minaj's cousin, Nicholas, was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, New York. Minaj tweeted that she was devastated.
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
|rowspan="3"|Nicki Minaj
|Underground Music Awards
|
|-
| rowspan="16" style="text-align:center;"|2010
|BET Awards
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
|
|-
|BET Awards
Best New Artist
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Young Money
|BET Awards
Best Group
|
|-
|BET Awards
Best New Artist
|
|-
|"BedRock" (Young Money feat. Lloyd
)
|BET Awards
Viewer's Choice
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|Teen Choice Awards
Choice Breakout Artist – Female
|
|-
|"Massive Attack
"
|MTV Video Music Awards
|
|-
|rowspan="9"|Nicki Minaj
|BET Hip Hop Awards
People's Champ
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Rookie of the Year
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Made You Look
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Hustler of the Year
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Lyricist of the Year
|
|-
|MOBO Awards
Best International Act
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
for Fan Army FTW
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
for Favorite Animated GIF
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
for Must Follow Artist on Twitter
|
|-
| rowspan="33" style="text-align:center;"|2011
|"My Chick Bad
" (Ludacris
featuring Nicki Minaj)
|Grammy Awards 2011
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist
|
|-
|"2012 (It Ain't the End)
" (Jay Sean featuring Nicki Minaj)|| UK Asian Music Awards
Best Video ||
|-
|rowspan="3"|Nicki Minaj
|NARM
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
|
|-
|Billboard Music Award
for Top New Artist
|
|-
|Billboard Music Award
for Top Rap Artist
|
|-
|Pink Friday
|Billboard Music Award
for Top Rap Album
|
|-
|"Bottoms Up
" (Trey Songz
featuring Nicki Minaj)
|Billboard Music Award
for Top R&B Song
|
|-
|"Check It Out
" (Nicki Minaj featuring will.i.am
)
|MTV Video Music Awards Japan
for Best Collaboration
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|BET Awards
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
|
|-
|"Moment 4 Life
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
||BET Awards
Viewer's Choice
|
|-
|"Super Bass
"
|Teen Choice Awards
for Best Summer Song
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|Teen Choice Awards
for Best R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
|
|-
|"Moment 4 Life
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|MTV Video Music Awards
for Best Collaboration
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|"Super Bass
"
|MTV Video Music Awards
for Best Female Video
|
|-
|MTV Video Music Awards
for Best Hip-Hop Video
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|MOBO Awards
Best International Act
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Lyricist of the Year
|
|-
|Pink Friday
|BET Hip Hop Awards
CD of the Year
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|BET Hip Hop Awards
MVP of The Year
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
|
|-
|"Monster"
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
|
|-
|"Moment 4 Life
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|BET Hip Hop Awards
Verizon Peoples Champ (Viewers Choice)
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|MTV O Music Awards
for Fan Army FTW
|
|-
|American Music Awards
for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
|
|-
|"Pink Friday"
|American Music Awards
for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Girl
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|"Super Bass"
|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Video of 2011
|
|-
|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Big Beat
|
|-
|"Moment 4 Life
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|Soul Train Award for Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|Billboard
s "Rising Star"
|
|-
|Sucker Free Awards for Artist That Ran 2011
|
|-
|"Fly"
|Virgin Media Music Awards for Best Collaboration
|
|-
|rowspan="6"|2012
|Nicki Minaj
|People's Choice Awards
for Favorite Hip Hop Artist
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|Grammy Award for Best New Artist
|
|-
|Loud
(featured artist)
|Grammy Award for Album of the Year
|
|-
| Pink Friday
|Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
|
|-
| "Moment 4 Life"
|Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
|
Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago
St. James is a suburb of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It is known as "the city that never sleeps" because of 24 hour activities there. The main road is the Western Main Road. It runs from Woodbrook to Cocorite...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, but moved to the Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at age five.
After releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and being signed to Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
in August 2009, Minaj released, in November 2010, her debut album, Pink Friday
Pink Friday
Pink Friday is the debut studio album by hip hop recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe editions through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown. The intended lead single from the album, "Massive Attack", flopped...
, which quickly became a commercial success, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and being certified Platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first artist ever to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her second single, "Your Love
Your Love (Nicki Minaj song)
"Your Love" is a song performed by Trinidadian-American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was written by Minaj with Joseph Hughes, David Freedman, and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, with the latter receiving production credits. The song serves as the first single from her debut studio album, Pink Friday...
", reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs
Hot Rap Songs
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since Missy Elliott accomplished it with Work It in 2002. She also became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
Every year since 2007, MTV has compiled a list of ten Hip-Hop stars deemed to be the "hottest" of that year known as the Hottest MCs in the Game...
. Due to the success of her debut album, Minaj was named the 2011 Rising Star by Billboard Magazine.
Early life
MarajMaraj
Maraj is a variant of the word Maharaj and is an Indian surname. Notable individuals bearing the surname include:* Bhadase Maraj , a Trinidad and Tobago politician, religious leader and businessman...
was born in 1982Minaj's birthyear has been reported in various media outlets as being 1984. The most definitive source, however, is the official Dallas Police Report from July 2011 which states her birthdate is 12/08/1982. in Saint James
Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago
St. James is a suburb of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It is known as "the city that never sleeps" because of 24 hour activities there. The main road is the Western Main Road. It runs from Woodbrook to Cocorite...
, (a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
's capital city Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
). Her parents were of mixed Indian
Indo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian or other South Asian ancestry.Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. These were people who were taken from India by the British either as workers or educated...
and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry and she lived in Saint James with her grandmother until age five, because her parents were looking for a place to live in the Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borough of New York City at the time. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to Queens. According to Minaj, her father drank heavily, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.
She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
. She graduated from LaGuardia High School. At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program. She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition.
2007–09: Career beginnings, mixtapes and Young Money
Nicki Minaj released her first mixtapeMixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
in 2007 after releasing Playtime Is Over
Playtime Is Over (Nicki Minaj mixtape)
Playtime Is Over is the debut mixtape by American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on July 5, 2007 by Young Money Entertainment and Dirty Money Entertainment...
with Dirty Money Records. She later released another mixtape on July 7, 2008, titled Sucka Free
Sucka Free
Sucka Free is the second mixtape by American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on April 12, 2008 by Young Money Entertainment and Dirty Money Entertainment. Young Money founder Lil' Wayne is included on 8 of the 23 tracks. Jadakiss, Ransom, Lil' Kim and Gucci Mane, are featured on the...
, under the label of Be. On April 18, 2009, Minaj released a third mixtape and appeared in XXL
XXL (magazine)
XXL is a Hip-Hop magazine, published by Harris Publications.In 1997, XXL was founded by former Source staffers as well as other Harris Publication employees, who wanted to create their own magazine about the hip-hop music and culture using the model developed by the founders of The Source...
magazine. In 2008 she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the Underground Music Awards. Minaj released Beam Me Up Scotty
Beam Me Up Scotty (mixtape)
Beam Me Up Scotty is the third mixtape by American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on April 18, 2009 by Young Money Entertainment and Dirty Money Entertainment. The mixtape includes guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Busta Rhymes, Bobby Valentino, and other Young Money...
, another mixtape, in April 2009 under the label of Trapaholics Records. Beam Me Up Scotty received positive coverage on both BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
and MTV.
In August 2009, Minaj signed a record deal with Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
, with distribution from Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
, after fellow American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
discovered her and secured the record deal. She then had a solo rap verse in their single "BedRock". The song became a commercial success, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Minaj also appeared on "Roger That
Roger That (song)
"Roger That" is a song by rap group Young Money Entertainment released as the third single from their debut collaboration album We Are Young Money. Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga rap on this song...
", which charted at #56. The song, and in particular Minaj, received positive reviews from critics. Both of these songs were included in Young Money Entertainment's debut collaborative studio album We Are Young Money, which was released in December 2009. The album charted in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 200, reaching #9 and later receiving a Gold Certification by the RIAA.
2010–present: Breakthrough, Pink Friday, and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
After a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights – including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing. In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, RihannaRihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men
Raining Men (song)
"Raining Men" is a song performed by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from her fifth studio album Loud . The song was solicited to urban radio on December 7, 2010, as the third single from Loud in the United States. The up-tempo record features rap vocals from Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj...
" from her album Loud
Loud (Rihanna album)
Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, first released on November 12, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, predominantly during Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour and filming for her first feature film Battleship...
that the duo would be teaming up together for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday. Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
was also confirmed for the album. On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel for her fans that the album's name would be Pink Friday stating, “To carry on a great tradition of Black Friday, we are going to switch it up this year in honor of the Nicki Minaj album and call that day Pink Friday, and call my album Pink Friday,!” A deluxe edition of the album was also released after the standard edition. Nicki Minaj released the artwork for her album cover on Friday, October 15, 2010.
Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday
Pink Friday
Pink Friday is the debut studio album by hip hop recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe editions through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown. The intended lead single from the album, "Massive Attack", flopped...
was released on November 19, 2010. A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April. In August, Minaj released "Your Love
Your Love (Nicki Minaj song)
"Your Love" is a song performed by Trinidadian-American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was written by Minaj with Joseph Hughes, David Freedman, and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, with the latter receiving production credits. The song serves as the first single from her debut studio album, Pink Friday...
" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
MTV's Annual Hottest MC List
Every year since 2007, MTV has compiled a list of ten Hip-Hop stars deemed to be the "hottest" of that year known as the Hottest MCs in the Game...
and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
front man, will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
titled, "Check It Out
Check It Out (song)
"Check It Out" is a song performed by American rapper will.i.am and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. The song, written by will.i.am and Minaj, samples the 1979 hit single, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. After release, it debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 78 and number 48...
", which is Minaj's most successful single to-date around Europe. "Right thru Me
Right Thru Me
"Right Thru Me" is the second official single from American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj's 2010 album Pink Friday. The song was released as a digital download on September 14, 2010 before being serviced to urban and rhythmic Radio on October 5 and then mainstream radio on November 2, 2010...
" was released September 24, 2010. Written by Stephen Hacker, Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Andrew Thielk, B.Evans and Minaj herself. The music video was released in late October, which featured Minaj in a boy-and-girl relationship drama. "Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" followed "Right thru Me" and was released as the fourth overall single. The track featured Canadian rapper, Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, which was released on December 7, 2010, which is proving to be as successful in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, as it is climbing each week and currently at number 22. The single has so far peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs
Hot Rap Songs
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
. Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.
On Saturday, January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
as the musical guest. She performed her hit songs "Right Thru Me"
Right Thru Me
"Right Thru Me" is the second official single from American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj's 2010 album Pink Friday. The song was released as a digital download on September 14, 2010 before being serviced to urban and rhythmic Radio on October 5 and then mainstream radio on November 2, 2010...
and "Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
". On February 9, 2011, it was announced that Pink Friday had reached number one on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in its eleventh week on the chart. It was hinted by Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
that Minaj would join the judging panel of the American version of the The X Factor
The X Factor (U.S.)
The X Factor is an American television music competition to find new singing talent. The show is produced by creator Simon Cowell's company SYCOtv. It premiered on September 21, 2011 on Fox....
. Starting in June 2011, Minaj will be supporting Pink Friday by serving as an opening act along with Jessie and the Toy Boys
Jessie Malakouti
Jessica Eden Malakouti, professionally known as Jessie Malakouti, is an American singer-songwriter, actress and dancer. She is currently a member of Jessie and the Toy Boys and is signed to Prospect Park.-Biography:...
and Nervo on Britney Spears'
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour
Femme Fatale Tour
The Femme Fatale Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer Britney Spears, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was officially announced in March 2011, with dates for North American venues revealed. The tour was initially planned as a co-headlining tour with Enrique...
, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale
Femme Fatale (Britney Spears album)
Femme Fatale is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Britney Spears. The album was released on March 25, 2011 by Jive Records . Recorded between 2009 and 2011, the album featured Spears working mainly alongside longtime collaborators Max Martin and Dr. Luke, who served as the...
. She also was featured on the official remix of Spears' track "Till The World Ends
Till the World Ends
"Till the World Ends" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, released as the second single from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was written and produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, with additional writing by Kesha and Alexander Kronlund, and additional production by...
" along with Spears and singer Kesha
Kesha
Kesha village is a small village nestled in the mountains of Yongshun County, northwestern Hunan province, China, located at latitude 29 05' 50", longitude 109 57' 9". The name is pronounced in Standard Chinese. The official language is Manderin Chinese....
, which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011. "Super Bass
Super Bass
"Super Bass" is a song by Trinidadian-American recording artist and songwriter Nicki Minaj, from her debut album, Pink Friday. The song impacted radio as the album's seventh single on April 5, 2011 and was released on May 13, 2011. Written by Minaj, along with Daniel Johnson and Ester Dean, the...
" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011, the reception of the single was huge after the single charted within the top 10 in many of countries including; United Kingdom, United States
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, Australia
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, Canada
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
and more. The song gained positive reviews from critics with some critics saying; "obvious hit", "memorable hooks", "infectious". Minaj will voice a character in the 3D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Ice Age: Continental Drift, also known as Ice Age 4, is an upcoming American 3-D computer-animated film directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier, starring the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, with Chris Wedge and Jeremy Renner.It...
, as an unknown character,. Minaj is also featured on French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat
Nothing but the Beat
Nothing but the Beat is the fifth studio album by French DJ and record producer David Guetta. The album was released on August 26, 2011 through Virgin Records . Released as a double album, the first disc features collaborations with artists from the R&B, hip hop and pop world such as Lil Wayne,...
on "Where Them Girls At
Where Them Girls At
"Where Them Girls At" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from American rapper Flo Rida and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released for digital download from May 2, 2011 by Virgin Records , serving as the lead single from Guetta's upcoming fifth studio...
" and "Turn Me On
Turn Me On (David Guetta song)
"Turn Me On" is a song by French disc jockey David Guetta from his fifth studio album Nothing but the Beat. It features Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj on vocals. It was written by Minaj herself and Ester Dean, who previously helped Minaj co-wrote her hit single, "Super Bass"...
".
On November 22, 2011, Minaj announced via twitter that her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was currently in the works set to be released on Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
2012. She later retweeted to one of her fans saying that she would release a teaser of the LP's first single on the week of December 6th-9th.
Musical style and image
Image
In an interview with Vibe Minaj discussed her sexual image stating, "[w]hen I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly. The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot... and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing."In an interview with Interview
Interview (magazine)
Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
, Minaj commented on her sexual image again stating, "I made a conscious decision to try to tone down the sexiness, I want people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You’ve got to have something else to go with that.”
Minaj has a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
in Chinese characters that reads "" (shangdi yu ni chang zai) on her left arm, meaning, "God is always with you."
Alter egos
While growing up, Minaj's home life was often chaotic, with her parents constantly fighting. As a means of escape, she would create characters and live her life through them. In an interview with New YorkNew York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
she stated, "To get away from all their fighting, I would imagine being a new person. 'Cookie' was my first identity – that stayed with me for a while. I went on to 'Harajuku
Japanese fashion
Japan began to emulate Western fashion during the middle of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 21st century it had altered into what is known today as 'street fashion'. The term 'street fashion' is used to describe fashion where the wearer customizes outfits by adopting a mixture of current...
Barbie,' then 'Nicki Minaj.' Fantasy was my reality."
For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski". She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
it is not Minaj rapping, but instead Roman Zolanski, and claims that Roman is her "twin sister". She claims that she was born inside her, out of rage, and becomes her when she is angry. She has also said 'She is a demon inside her'. Roman has been compared to Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's alter ego Slim Shady, and on the song "Roman's Revenge
Roman's Revenge
"Roman's Revenge" is a song performed by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj from her debut studio album Pink Friday. It was written by Minaj and rapper Eminem, who is also featured in the song, and was produced by Swizz Beatz. It was released exclusively on October 30, 2010 through the US iTunes store,...
" from Pink Friday, Minaj and Eminem collaborate, using these alter egos. Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski", who also appeared on the song Roman's Revenge, with a British accent. Martha appears in the video for "Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" where she appears to be Minaj's magical Godmother. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)
All I Do Is Win
"All I Do Is Win" is the second official single from DJ Khaled’s fourth studio album Victory. The track features artists T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross. It was released on February 8, 2010, along with "Put Your Hands Up". The single was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA. It is the...
" it is Minaj rapping. Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.
On November 18, 2010 Minaj assumed a different alter-ego named "Nicki Teresa". Wearing a colorful scarf around her head, she went around as the "healer to her fans" as she visited them at The Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse studios in New York City. Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight was an American late-night television talk show hosted by comedian George Lopez. The hour-long program premiered on November 9, 2009, on cable network TBS. Lopez was the first Mexican American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network in the United States. The...
on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" .
Influences
Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Lil WayneLil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
, Jadakiss
Jadakiss
Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
, Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle...
, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
and Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
. She was also inspired by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
and Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
.
Personal life
While some songs and interviews have implied that Minaj is bisexual, she has said that she does not date nor have sex with women, but added in an interview with OutOut (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine, "I don’t date men either." In an interview with Vibe she commented, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. And I say girls are beautiful and girls are sexy and they need to be told that, and if they don’t have anyone to tell them that and mean it, I’m gonna tell them that. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined." She reiterated her dislike of being labeled in an interview with Out, saying: "The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle
Kinsey scale
The Kinsey scale, also called the Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale, attempts to describe a person's sexual history or episodes of his or her sexual activity at a given time. It uses a scale from 0, meaning exclusively heterosexual, to 6, meaning exclusively homosexual...
, and you’ve got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it."
During an interview in the May 2010 issue of Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
, Minaj was asked if she felt hip-hop was becoming more gay-friendly. She responded, "I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced, people view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."
In July 2011, Minaj's cousin, Nicholas, was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, New York. Minaj tweeted that she was devastated.
Discography
- Pink FridayPink FridayPink Friday is the debut studio album by hip hop recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe editions through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown. The intended lead single from the album, "Massive Attack", flopped...
(2010) - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
Awards and nominations
|-| style="text-align:center;"|2008
|rowspan="3"|Nicki Minaj
|Underground Music Awards
|
|-
| rowspan="16" style="text-align:center;"|2010
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
|
|-
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Best New Artist
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Young Money
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Best Group
|
|-
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Best New Artist
|
|-
|"BedRock" (Young Money feat. Lloyd
Lloyd (singer)
Lloyd Polite, Jr. , who performs under the mononym Lloyd, is an American R&B recording artist, who experienced as a member of the group N-Toon before embarking on a solo career in 2004....
)
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Viewer's Choice
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
Choice Breakout Artist – Female
|
|-
|"Massive Attack
Massive Attack (song)
"Massive Attack" is a song by Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj. The song features American singer-songwriter and producer Sean Garrett who wrote the song with Minaj and produced the song with Alex da Kid. It served the first single from Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday, with Billboard later...
"
|MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
|
|-
|rowspan="9"|Nicki Minaj
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
People's Champ
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Rookie of the Year
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Made You Look
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Hustler of the Year
|
|-
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Lyricist of the Year
|
|-
|MOBO Awards
MOBO Awards
The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
Best International Act
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
MTV O Music Awards
The MTV Online, Open, Ongoing Music Awards, also known as the OMAs, are one of the major annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space. It uses a "spinoff" of the VMAs, but using online features, such as Twitter, YouTube,...
for Fan Army FTW
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
MTV O Music Awards
The MTV Online, Open, Ongoing Music Awards, also known as the OMAs, are one of the major annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space. It uses a "spinoff" of the VMAs, but using online features, such as Twitter, YouTube,...
for Favorite Animated GIF
|
|-
|MTV O Music Awards
MTV O Music Awards
The MTV Online, Open, Ongoing Music Awards, also known as the OMAs, are one of the major annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space. It uses a "spinoff" of the VMAs, but using online features, such as Twitter, YouTube,...
for Must Follow Artist on Twitter
|
|-
| rowspan="33" style="text-align:center;"|2011
|"My Chick Bad
My Chick Bad
"My Chick Bad" is a song by American rapper Ludacris. The song features American recording artist Nicki Minaj, who co-wrote the song with Ludacris, Samuel Lindley and Derrelle Davidson. The track was produced by The Legendary Traxster. "My Chick Bad" serves as the second single from Ludacris'...
" (Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
featuring Nicki Minaj)
|Grammy Awards 2011
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
|
|-
|Nicki Minaj
|NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding New Artist:...
|
|-
|"2012 (It Ain't the End)
2012 (It Ain't the End)
-Music video:The music video for "2012 " was shot in Los Angeles on July 19, 2010, with Nicki Minaj. The video is set to lots of flashing lights and a typical hip-hop club scene environment. But in post-production, Sean says the music video's director Erik White will be zooming out to show parties...
" (Jay Sean featuring Nicki Minaj)|| UK Asian Music Awards
UK Asian Music Awards
The UK Asian Music Awards, also known by the abbreviation UK AMA, is an award show that is held annually in the United Kingdom since 2002. It is presented by B4U Music since 2008...
Best Video ||
|-
|rowspan="3"|Nicki Minaj
|NARM
National Association of Recording Merchandisers
The National Association of Recording Merchandisers is a United States not-for-profit trade association based in Marlton, New Jersey that serves music retailing businesses in lobbying and trade promotion...
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
|
|-
|Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for Top New Artist
|
|-
|Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for Top Rap Artist
|
|-
|Pink Friday
Pink Friday
Pink Friday is the debut studio album by hip hop recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe editions through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown. The intended lead single from the album, "Massive Attack", flopped...
|Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for Top Rap Album
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|"Bottoms Up
Bottoms Up (song)
"Bottoms Up" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. It is produced by Kane Beatz, and features Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj. The song serves as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure...
" (Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
featuring Nicki Minaj)
|Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for Top R&B Song
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|"Check It Out
Check It Out (song)
"Check It Out" is a song performed by American rapper will.i.am and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. The song, written by will.i.am and Minaj, samples the 1979 hit single, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. After release, it debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 78 and number 48...
" (Nicki Minaj featuring will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
)
|MTV Video Music Awards Japan
MTV Video Music Awards Japan
The MTV Video Music Awards Japan are the Japanese version of the MTV Video Music Awards.Like the MTV Video Music Awards in the United States, in this event artists are awarded for their songs and videos through online voting from the same channel viewers...
for Best Collaboration
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|Nicki Minaj
|BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
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|"Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
||BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Viewer's Choice
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|"Super Bass
Super Bass
"Super Bass" is a song by Trinidadian-American recording artist and songwriter Nicki Minaj, from her debut album, Pink Friday. The song impacted radio as the album's seventh single on April 5, 2011 and was released on May 13, 2011. Written by Minaj, along with Daniel Johnson and Ester Dean, the...
"
|Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
for Best Summer Song
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|Nicki Minaj
|Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
for Best R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
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|"Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for Best Collaboration
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|rowspan="2"|"Super Bass
Super Bass
"Super Bass" is a song by Trinidadian-American recording artist and songwriter Nicki Minaj, from her debut album, Pink Friday. The song impacted radio as the album's seventh single on April 5, 2011 and was released on May 13, 2011. Written by Minaj, along with Daniel Johnson and Ester Dean, the...
"
|MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for Best Female Video
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|MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for Best Hip-Hop Video
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|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|MOBO Awards
MOBO Awards
The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
Best International Act
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|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Lyricist of the Year
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|Pink Friday
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
CD of the Year
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|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
MVP of The Year
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|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
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|"Monster"
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
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|"Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|BET Hip Hop Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt...
Verizon Peoples Champ (Viewers Choice)
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|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|MTV O Music Awards
MTV O Music Awards
The MTV Online, Open, Ongoing Music Awards, also known as the OMAs, are one of the major annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space. It uses a "spinoff" of the VMAs, but using online features, such as Twitter, YouTube,...
for Fan Army FTW
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|American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
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|"Pink Friday"
|American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
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|Nicki Minaj
|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Girl
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|rowspan="2"|"Super Bass"
|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Video of 2011
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|The 4Music Video Honours for Best Big Beat
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|"Moment 4 Life
Moment 4 Life
"Moment 4 Life" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It serves as the third single from Minaj's debut album Pink Friday . The song was produced by T-Minus and written by both artists...
" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
|Soul Train Award for Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
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|rowspan="2"|Nicki Minaj
|Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s "Rising Star"
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|Sucker Free Awards for Artist That Ran 2011
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|"Fly"
Fly (Nicki Minaj song)
"Fly" is a song by Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj featuring Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna. The track was produced by J.R. Rotem and co-produced by Kevin Hissink. The song is inspired by the emotion of soaring above and overcoming all stereotypes and negativity, only to have come out...
|Virgin Media Music Awards for Best Collaboration
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|rowspan="6"|2012
|Nicki Minaj
|People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
for Favorite Hip Hop Artist
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|Nicki Minaj
|Grammy Award for Best New Artist
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967...
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|Loud
Loud (Rihanna album)
Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, first released on November 12, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, predominantly during Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour and filming for her first feature film Battleship...
(featured artist)
|Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
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| Pink Friday
|Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
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| "Moment 4 Life"
|Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance was an honor presented to recording artists at the 31st Grammy Awards in 1989 and the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990 and again from 2012 for quality rap performances...
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