By sonam kothari | February 9, 2014 0 Comments

NET WORTH: $45 MILLION

CAREER / PROFESSION: SINGER

First female rapper to make it to Forbes list

Making her debut with Pink Friday, success came easily to Nicki Minaj. She climbed up the stairs of success on by one with each of her albums. She is also a rapper, writes song and television artist. She even mixes up with artist and gives guest rap appearances. Famous for her colored wigs and tantrums, she is also first female to the in to the Forbes top 15 list.

Birth and since

Born on December 8, 1982 in Saint James (a suburb in Spain), Nicki Minaj’s birth name was Onika Tanya Maraj. She is a daughter of Robert and Carol Maraj. Having a mixed origin from India as well as Afro-Trinidadian, she has three brothers and sisters. Both her parents were working. Her mother switched jobs from being a clerk to exchange teller to a singer while her father used to work for American Express. Sadly his was a drug addict and once even attempted to kill his wife by setting the house on fire. Minaj was raised by her grandmother who lived in Saint James. The child and the mother then moved to Queens in New York.

She did her schooling from Clarence Witherspoon School and Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School. She did her higher studies in LaGuardia High School and was involved in music and arts ever since. She dreamt of being an actress in her childhood. She was even a waitress but was soon fired. She lost many jobs because of her discourteousness.

Career move

Minaj started her career in 2004, first shot with the “Hoodstars” group. In 2009, she signed with the Young Money Entertainment and appeared with co-artist Lil Wayne. She tasted success with her albums like 5 Star Chick, Bedrock, and Beam Me Up Scotty. However, her career reached heights of success in 2011 with her album Pink Friday. Her other songs include Your Love, Check It Out, will I am, Black Eyed Peas, Moment 4 Life.  She was also a Judge in American Idol.

Marital status: Single

The 32 turned rapper, Minaj is currently single. She had an affair with the singer Drake. However the relationship could not go longer and ended soon. It is also rumored that Nicki is bisexual.

Endorsements

• “Nictionary”- Her own Slang Dictionary

She came up with her own slang dictionary and named it “Nictionary” for Android and iPhone.

• She also launched Casio’s TRYX camera and Nokia Lumia 910. She was also signed by Pepsi and she shot many of its commercials.
• Nicki Minaj’s themed Barbie collected 15,000 dollars.
• With her endorsements with MAC cosmetics and Viva Glam she collected 270 million dollars which was later donated to MAC AIDS Fund.
• She was also signed by Adidas for Ads of Adidas Originals.
• She is soon to start her own clothing line with the name “The Nicki Minaj Collection”. This collection house will include accessories, fashion and home-wares.

Controversies

Nicki has been caught up in various controversies and feuds during her singing and rap career. She once had a dispute with the co singer Lil’ Kim who accused Minaj of copying her style. The matter got heat up when both the singers commented on each other repeatedly. Nicki also had issues with Mariah Carey during American Idol. Mariah was a fellow judge and was caught up in an argument with Nicki who later called her bitch! However, the matter was sorted out later on and claimed to be a publicity stunt by the producers and the directors.

Awards and recognitions

• She won The American Music Awards (6 times), BET Awards (6 times), BET Hip Hop Awards (6), Billboard Music Awards (4), MOBO Awards (1), MTV Video Music Awards ( 2), People’s Choice Awards (1), Soul Train Music Awards (1), Teen Choice Awards (3),
• She was nominated for The American Music Awards (4 times), BET Awards (10 times), BET Hip Hop Awards (13 times), Billboard Music Awards (18), Brit Awards (1), Grammy Awards (4), MOBO Awards (3), MTV Video Music Awards (7), People’s Choice Awards (2), Soul Train Music Awards (5), Teen Choice Awards (9), World Music Awards (10).
• She was the first female rapper to be made it to the top 15 list of Forbes with the earning of 6.5 dollars in 2012 and 29 dollars in the year 2013.

Fun quotes

• “I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined”.
•  “When you’re a girl, you have to be everything, You have to be dope at what you do, but you have to be super sweet, and you have to be sexy, and you have to be this and you have to be that and you have to be nice, and you have to – it’s like, I can’t be all of those things at once. I’m a human being”.
• “I can rap in a London accent, make weird faces, and wear spandex, wigs, and black lipstick. I can be more creative than the average male rapper”.
• “I don’t agree that everyone should agree with everyone’s lifestyle. I think that some people aren’t going to agree, but I think that when you’re mean and when you ridicule people it’s a sign of your own insecurities”.