Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982 or December 8, 1984), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, and voice actress. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. When she was five years of age, she moved to the New York City borough of Queens, where she grew up. Minaj trained as an actress before she released three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and signed to Young Money Entertainment. Minaj rose to prominence as a recording artist when she released her debut album, Pink Friday, in November 2010, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her seventh single, Super Bass has since been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold more than four million copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the United States. Minaj released her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in April 2012 which topped charts internationally, also spawning the top 10 singles Starships and Pound the Alarm. Since, the album has become one of the best-selling albums of 2012 according to the Nielsen SoundScan, selling 1,000,000 copies worldwide. Minaj embarked on two worldwide tours, The Pink Friday Tour and Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour. Minaj is known for her unique artistry. Her rapping technique has been noted by critics for its use of alter-egos, accents, and fast-pacing. Minaj is known for her use of outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing and has been recognized as a fashion icon. She featured as a voice-actress in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift and has endorsed brands such as Pepsi, MAC Cosmetics, and Adidas. Minaj's work has earned her six BET Awards, two American Music Awards, one MTV Music Award and Billboards' 2011 Rising Star. Minaj set precedents for female rappers by becoming the first female artist included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List, with The New York Times suggesting that some consider her the most influential female rapper of all time.