Jump to content

Nicki Minaj: Difference between revisions

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m rv 141.133.84.83 (good faith) please supply a reliable source
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
| Background = solo_singer
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Onika Tanya Maraj
| Birth_name = Onika Tanya Maraj
| Spouse = Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (2010-Present)
| Born = <!-- {{Birth date and age|1984|12|08|mf=yes}}<br />
| Born = <!-- {{Birth date and age|1984|12|08|mf=yes}}<br />


Revision as of 02:25, 2 March 2011

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj, better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj ([pronunciation?]), is a Trinidadian hip hop and R&B recording artist and songwriter.[1][2][3][4][5] She first saw fame when she signed a record deal with Young Money Entertainment and then later Cash Money Records. She has successfully released her first debut album, which charted at number-one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

In August 2009, Minaj signed to Young Money Entertainment with distribution from Universal Motown.[6] In Minaj's early career, she released three mixtapes, Playtime Is Over, Sucka Free, and Beam Me Up Scotty.[7][8] Minaj was discovered by fellow American rapper Lil Wayne and, after the three mixtapes, Minaj signed a deal with Young Money Entertainment.[9] After signing the deal, Minaj began working on her debut album, titled Pink Friday, which charted at number-two on the US Billboard 200, kept off the top spot by Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.[10] Minaj became the first artist ever to have seven songs within the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.[11] Her second single, "Your Love", reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002.[12] Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List[13] One month after the release of Pink Friday, Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States.[14] Minaj is known for collaborating with numerous artists and guest raps on many popular singles.[15]

Early life

Minaj was born in 1984[1] in Saint James,[3][16][17] (a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital city Port of Spain). She celebrated her 26th birthday (December 8, 2010)[2][18] on December 9, 2010.[19][20] Her parents were of Indian and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry[21][22] and she lived in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago[3] 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.[1] According to Minaj, her father drank alcohol, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.[23]

She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet.[1] She graduated from LaGuardia High School.[24][25] At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program.[24] She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition.[24]

Music career

2007–09: Career beginnings and mixtapes

Nicki Minaj released her first mixtape 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.[6] In 2008 she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the Underground Music Awards.[26] 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. [27][28]

2010–present: Pink Friday

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.[29] In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, Rihanna 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.[30] Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album.[31]

On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel for her fans that the albums 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,!”[32] A deluxe edition of the album was also released after the standard addition.[33] Nicki Minaj released the artwork for her album cover on Friday, October 15, 2010.[34]

Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010.[35] A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April.[36] 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[13] and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002.[37] In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously.[11] 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 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.[38] Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.[14]

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.[39]

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."[40] 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.”[41]

Alter egos

While growing up Nicki was surrounded by constant trouble and fighting between her parents.[42] To escape her real life problems she would create characters and live her life through them.[42] In an interview with New York she stated, “[t]o 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.”[42]

For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski".[43] She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz it is not Nicki 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.[44] Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski"[45], who also appeared on the song Roman's Revenge, with a British accent. [46] Martha Appears in the video for "Moment 4 Life" where she appears to be Nicki's magical Godmother. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" it is Nicki rapping.[43] Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.[43]

On November 18, 2010 Nicki Minaj assumed a different alter-ego named "Nicki Teresa".[47] 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.[47] Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" (pronounced Rrrrrosa).[48]

Influences

Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott.[49][50]

Personal life

While some songs and interviews have implied that Minaj is bisexual,[51][52] she has said that she does not date nor have sex with women,[53] but added in an interview with Out magazine, "I don’t date men either."[54] 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."[55] 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."[54]

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."[52]

Discography

Main article: Nicki Minaj discography

Award and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Nicki Minaj Underground Music Awards[26] Won
2010 BET Awards Best Female Hip-Hop Artist[56] Won
BET Awards Best New Artist Won
BET Awards Best Group (Young Money) Won
BET Awards Best New Artist (Young Money) Nominated
"BedRock" BET Awards Viewer's Choice (Young Money feat. Lloyd) Nominated
Nicki Minaj Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout Artist – Female[57] Nominated
"Massive Attack" MTV Video Music Awards[citation needed] Nominated
Nicki Minaj BET Hip Hop Awards People's Champ Won
BET Hip Hop Awards Rookie of the Year Won
BET Hip Hop Awards Made You Look Won
BET Hip Hop Awards Hustler of the Year Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Lyricist of the Year Nominated
MOBO Awards Best International Act[58] Nominated
2011 Grammy Awards 2011 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
My Chick Bad (with Ludacris)[59] 		Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist[60] Pending

References

  1. ^ a b c d O'Connor, Siobhan (June 23, 2010). "Character Study: Just How Real Is Nicki Minaj? (Pg 3)". Vibe. Retrieved October 26, 2010."...Nicki was a little girl in Trinidad who missed her mom. Born in 1984, Onika Tanya Maraj spent her first five years in a clown-car of a house, full of cousins and friends and animals. Like lots of people awaiting entry to the United States, Nicki idealized what her life would be like once she got to New York. "
  2. ^ a b "Le phénomène Nicki Minaj accessdate = August 13, 2010". August 7, 2010 publisher = Culture Femme. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Telesford, Nigel (November 1, 2010). "Minaj magic". Trinidad Express. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  4. ^ "Nicki Minaj gets wining lesson". The Trinidad Guardian. November 10, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  5. ^ Starbury, Allen (2009) "Nicki Minaj Wants Fans To Focus On Her Music, Not Her Sexy Image", BallerStatus, May 21, 2009
  6. ^ a b "FEATURE: Nicki Minaj:Climax", XXL, November 24, 2008
  7. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of July 31, 2010 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  8. ^ Weiner, Jonah (February 22, 2010). "Who's That Girl?". Slate. Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  9. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (Jaunary 15, 2010). "Nicki Minaj: Artists To Watch 2010". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 29, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History at Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Nicki Minaj Makes History With Seven Billboard Hot 100 Songs". RapFix. MTV News. MTV Networks. October 8, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  12. ^ Trust, Gary (June 30, 2010). "Chart Beat Wednesday: Train, Dirty Heads, Nicki Minaj". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "MTV's Hottest MC List". MTV. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  15. ^ Minaj raps on a lot of artists singles
  16. ^ Pink Friday (Media notes). Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records/Universal Motown. 2010. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help) "TRINIDAD!!! WE DID IT!!! Thank you so very much for all the love and support. I am truly honored to have been born on the most beautiful island in the world!"
  17. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (September 22, 2010). "Nicki Minaj Fans Scammed, Rapper To Perform In Trinidad". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  18. ^ Cline, Georgette (December 8, 2010). "Nicki Minaj celebrates 26th birthday". The Boombox. AOL.com.
  19. ^ "Nicki MInaj celebrates 26th birthday in Las Vegas". HipHopWired.Com. December 10, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  20. ^ "Lil Wayne -- Alcohol-Free at Nicki Minaj's Birthday". TMZ.Com. December 10, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  21. ^ McGarry, Kevin (2009) "The New Queen Bee | Meet Nicki Minaj", New York Times, June 4, 2009
  22. ^ "Girls". Complex Magazine. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  23. ^ "Nicki Minaj: Hip-Hop's Hottest Sidekick Goes Solo". Details. Condé Nast Publications. 2010. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ a b c O'Connor, Siobhan (June 23, 2010). "Character Study: Just How Real Is Nicki Minaj?". Vibe. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  25. ^ Jeffries, David. "Nicki Minaj > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Nicki Minaj – Beware Sucka MCs", HipHopRuckus, August 28, 2008
  27. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2009) "Lil Wayne Introduces Nicki Minaj", MTV, May 4, 2009
  28. ^ "SoundOff TV: One On One With LowKey & Nicki Minaj", BET, May 1, 2009
  29. ^ Reid, Shaheem (October 15, 2009). "Nicki Minaj Says Her Debut Single Will Drop Next Month – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". Mtv.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  30. ^ Rihanna launches 'Loud' in London. Capital FM. Retrieved on 2010-12-24.
  31. ^ "Nicki Minaj Looks to Kanye West, Swizz Beatz for Debut Album". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  32. ^ "Nicki Minaj Announces Album Title". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  33. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (August 6, 2010). "Nicki Minaj Finishing Next Single, Says Young Money 'Keeps Me Grounded'". Billboard. Nielsen Media Research. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  34. ^ Nicki Minaj 'Pink Friday' Album Cover Hits Net. Billboard.com (2009-09-14). Retrieved on 2010-12-24.
  35. ^ "Pink Friday" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  36. ^ "New Music: Nicki Minaj f/ Sean Garrett – ‘Massive Attack’". Rap-Up. March 29, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  37. ^ "New Song: Nicki Minaj – 'Your Love' (2nd Single)". NWMASS – When Hollywood Needs A Reality Check. NW Mass Media. May 10, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  38. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (December 21, 2010). "Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  39. ^ "Nicki Minaj Hits No. 1 in 11th Week on Billboard 200". Billboard.com. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  40. ^ "Nicki Minaj & Friends Cover". VIBE. June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  41. ^ Rachel, T. Cole (April 2010). "Nicki Minaj". Interview Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  42. ^ a b c Lizzy Goodman (June 20, 2010). "Nicki Minaj, the Rapper With a Crush on Meryl Streep". New York (magazine). Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  43. ^ a b c Sandra Rose (July 14, 2010). "Was That Nicki Minaj's Alter Ego in the Now Classic "Ate the Box" Video?". Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  44. ^ Dawson, Imani A. "Nicki Minaj Gets 'Revenge' With Eminem". Rap-Up.com. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  45. ^ "Nicki Minaj Turns Heads In London". Blogstodiefor.com. January 20th, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ vodpod.com/.../5073722-nicki-introduces-the-world-to-roman-martha-and- rosa
  47. ^ a b "Nicki Minaj Has Healing Powers". Rap-Up.com. November 18th, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ "Nicki Minaj Introduces New Alter Ego". Rap-Up.com. December 6th, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ "Nicki Minaj Interview With Vibe [Speaks On Wayne As An Influence". New Lil Wayne. June 28, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  50. ^ "Nicki Minaj Says Her Album Drops First Quarter Next Year; Can Her Looks Carry Her To Platinum Status?". DimeWars. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  51. ^ Jonah Weiner (February 22, 2010). "Who's That Girl?". Slate.
  52. ^ a b "Nicki Minaj: Hip-Hop's Hottest Sidekick Goes Solo". Details.
  53. ^ "Character Study: Just How Real Is Nicki Minaj?". VIBE. June 23, 2010.
  54. ^ a b Ganz, Caryn (September 10, 2010). "The Curious Case of Nicki Minaj". OUT magazine. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  55. ^ "EXTRA, EXTRA: Lost Nicki Minaj Quotes". VIBE. July 6, 2010.
  56. ^ "Best Group | Nominees". BET Awards 10 Official Site. BET. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  57. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2010: Second (Giant) Wave Of Nominees Announced!". Hollywood Crush. MTV. June 28, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  58. ^ "Nominations Announced for the MOBO Awards 2010!". MOBO. September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  59. ^ "Final Nominations List: 53rd Grammy Awards" (PDF). grammy.com. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  60. ^ ""42nd NAACP Image Awards" Nominees Announced" (PDF) (Press release). NAACP Image Awards. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicki Minaj.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Nicki_Minaj&oldid=416665878"