Minaj was born on December 8, 1984 in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago[7][3][4][8][9] to parents of Indian and Afro Trinidadian descent.[10] She lived inSaint James, Trinidad and Tobago[11] with her grandmother until age five, because her parents were looking for a place to live in the Queens borough ofNew York City. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to Queens.[3] According to Minaj, her father drank alcohol, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.[12] She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet.[3] She graduated from LaGuardia High School.[13][14] At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program.[13] She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition. She once worked at a Red Lobster restaurant in the Bronx.[13]
Alter egos
While growing up Nicki was surrounded by constant trouble and fighting between her parents.[24] To escape her real life problems she would create characters and live her life through them.[24] 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 "HarajukuBarbie", then "Nicki Minaj". Fantasy was my reality.”[24]
For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski".[25] 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". 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.[26] In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" it is Nicki rapping.[25] Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.[25]
I like Nicki Minaj's fashion style. She is edgy, feminine and very unique. I have to admit that at first listen her rapping was nothing to write home about but now that I actually listen to her words she has steadily won my heart as a fan. I think what I like most about her is that she is real or at least that is what it seems to me, not some made up caricature pretending to be someone purely for sales. Team Nicki has a home here!
Lipstick Diva,
