Nicki Minaj



Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982),[2] [3]  better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj ( /mɪˈnɑːʒ/ ), is an American[4]  rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress. After success with three mixtapes released between 2007 and 2009, Minaj signed to Young Money Entertainment.

Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its most successful single, "Super Bass", was certified 8× platinum and has sold over four million copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the United States. During this time, Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously charting on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album,Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), topped the Billboard 200 and became one of the best-selling albums of that year. Its lead single, "Starships", peaked at number 5 in the United States and became one of the best-selling singles of 2012. As of 2013, Minaj has sold over 5 million albums globally.[5]  Minaj also served as a judge during thetwelfth season of American Idol.

Minaj is 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."[6]  Her rapping is distinctive for its fast flow, use of alter egos and accents, notably British cockney. Her outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing have given her recognition as a fashion icon. In April 2013, Minaj became the most-charted female rapper in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, with over forty-four appearances. She has endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics, and Pepsi. Revisiting her roots in drama, Minaj has ventured into work as a voice actress in Ice Age: Continental Drift, and made her acting debut in the 2014 film The Other Woman. She has earned seven BET Awards, four American Music Awards, two MTV Music Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award, five Billboard Music Awards and Billboard ' s 2011 Rising Star.



Contents
[hide]  *1 Early life 
 * 2 Career
 * 2.1 2004–09: Early releases, Mixtapes and Young Money
 * 2.2 2010–11: Breakthrough with Pink Friday
 * 2.3 2012–13: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and American Idol
 * 2.4 2014–present: The Other Woman and The Pink Print
 * 3 Artistry
 * 3.1 Public image
 * 3.2 Alter egos
 * 3.3 Musical style
 * 3.4 Influences
 * 4 Other ventures
 * 4.1 Endorsements
 * 4.2 Fashion endeavors
 * 5 Personal life
 * 6 Feuds
 * 6.1 Lil' Kim
 * 6.2 Mariah Carey
 * 7 Discography
 * 8 Filmography
 * 9 Tours
 * 10 See also
 * 11 References
 * 12 External links

Early life
Onika Tanya Maraj was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, on December 8, 1982, to Carol and Robert Maraj.[7] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  She is of mixed Indian and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry and has three siblings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12] Minaj's mother held numerous jobs, including an accounting clerk, a foreign exchange teller, and a gospel singer. Her father worked for American Express, suffered from alcohol and drug addictions, and once attempted to kill her mother by setting their house on fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  Until she was five years old, Minaj lived with her grandmother in Saint James, and was occasionally visited by her mother. She and her mother later moved to the Queens borough of New York City.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe3_15-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  Minaj stated that her upbringing lacked discipline, and caused her to "seek out and practice self-discipline".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj attended P.S 045 Clarence Witherspoon School during her elementary years, and later attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe3_15-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  She then graduated from LaGuardia High School, which specializes in music and the visual and performing arts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe_17-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18]  Minaj participated in the drama program and initially planned to sing at LaGuardia, but lost her voice on the day of the audition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe_17-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17] Minaj described her high school life as being distracted from her academics by “acting and boys”.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  Minaj wanted to become an actress, and in 2001, she was cast in the Off-Broadway play, "In Case You Forget".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[20] After her acting career failed to take off, Minaj worked at Red Lobster in the Bronx at the age of 19 as a waitress.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21]  Minaj was later fired from Red Lobster because of her discourteousness to customers. She stated she had been fired from "at least fifteen jobs" for similar antics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard1_22-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]  Other jobs Minaj held were administrative assistant, customer service, and an office manager position at an unknown business located on Wall Street.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[24]

2004–09: Early releases, Mixtapes and Young Money
Minaj in 2009<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj briefly signed with Brooklyn group Full Force, in which Minaj rapped in a foursome group called "Hoodstars", which consisted of group members Lou$tar (son of "Bowlegged Lou"), Scaff Beezy, and 7even Up.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[25] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[26]  In 2004 the group recorded the entrance song for WWE Diva, Victoria, titled "Don't Mess With", it was featured on the compilation album ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol.6. Minaj left the group, unsatisfied with their lack of success. During this time, Minaj uploaded a few songs on her Myspace profile and sent a few of her songs to people in the music industry. At the time, she was managed by Debra Antney. Fendi, CEO of the Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment, who also found rapper Gravy, discovered the music and contacted Minaj, signing her to his label. Initially, Minaj adopted the pseudonym "Nicki Maraj", later changing to "Nicki Minaj", stating "My real name is Maraj. Fendi flipped it when he met me because I had such a nasty flow! I eat bitches!"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[27]  Under Fendi's label, Minaj appeared on the popular street DVD "The Come Up Volume 11" that featured underground rappers from New York.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over, in 2007 with Dirty Money Records. Her second mixtape, Sucka Free, was released in April 2008. She won the Female Artist of the Year award at the 2008 Underground Music Awards shortly after.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28]  On April 18, 2009, Minaj released her third mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, which received positive coverage on both BET andMTV.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30]  She also appeared in XXL magazine during this time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-XXL_31-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[31]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">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 on The Come Up DVD.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-XXL_31-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[31] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  Minaj generated significant attention when she first appeared on Yo Gotti's "5 Star Chick" video, which gave her mainstream success with the urban community. At the request of Jay-Z, Minaj was asked to feature on Robin Thicke's single "Shakin' It 4 Daddy".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[33]  Following the guest appearance, Minaj was given a solo rap verse in the single "BedRock". The record garnered huge commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. She also appeared on "Roger That," which charted at number 56. The song, particularly Minaj, received positive reviews from critics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[34]  In December 2009, both songs were included in Young Money Entertainment's debut collaborative studio album We Are Young Money. The album charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200, reaching number 9 and later receiving a Gold Certification by the RIAA. Minaj was later featured on Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face" and its music video. The collaboration was well received by critics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[35]

2010–11: Breakthrough with Pink Friday
Main article: Pink FridayMinaj at the 2010 MTV Music Awards<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released from a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights, including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[36]  Minaj was featured on Rihanna's "Raining Men" from her album Loud, which later lead to a second collaboration on Minaj's "Fly" from her debut album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[37]  Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[38]  On August 3, 2010, Minaj revealed on an Ustream.tv channel that the album's name would be Pink Friday, a nod to Black Friday.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[39]  Minaj had received an offer to be apart of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour, but turned down the offer in order to complete her debut album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[41] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[42]  A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[43]  In June 2010, Minaj released "Your Love" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at number 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 top the Rap Songs chart unaccompanied since 2002, and later became the first female artist to be featured on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[44] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[45]  In October 2010, Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[46]  She released two singles in September 2010; one a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am titled, "Check It Out," and the other "Right Thru Me." The music videos for both were released in late October. "Moment 4 Life" was released as the fourth single on December 7, 2010, featuring Canadian rapper Drake, becoming a success on the Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[47]

Minaj performing as an opening act on theFemme Fatale Tour<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The album gained Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[48] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49]  On January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Liveas the musical guest, performing "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life". On February 9, 2011, Pink Friday reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its eleventh week on the chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[50]  Minaj turned down an offer to become a judge on The X Factor, as rapped on her song "Roman Reloaded", due to its salary.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[51]  In June 2011, Minaj was 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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  She and singer Kesha were featured on the remix of Spears' track "Till the World Ends," which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[53]  "Super Bass" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011. The single charted within the top 10 in many countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada, and later was certified as octuple-platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  The song gained positive reviews from critics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[55] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[56]  Minaj went on to attribute the success of the single in part to Taylor Swift, saying in an interview with American radio station 102.7 KIIS FM, "Taylor Swift did her little interview about 'Super Bass' and [it] took off in the States with the people sort of knowing it...It's just really uncanny how all that stuff happens...We didn't plan it like that."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[57]  Minaj voiced a character in the 3D animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift, as Steffie, a woolly mammoth.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[58] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[59]  Minaj is also featured on French DJ David Guetta's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat, on the singles "Where Them Girls At" and "Turn Me On".

2012–13: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and American Idol
Main article: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, was announced in November 2011 through her Twitter account and was released on April 2, 2012, two months later than initially planned.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  The album features collaborations with producers Hit-Boy, Dr. Luke, Rico Beats, Kenoe, RedOne and Oak. Cash Money A&R Joshua Berkman told HitQuarters that Minaj was extremely particular about the beats and music she used saying: "She wouldn't just rap or sing on anything – I could give her a thousand tracks and she may only like one or two."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[61]  Preceding the album's release, three promotional singles were released: "Roman in Moscow" (which did not make the final cut of the album), "Stupid Hoe," and "Roman Reloaded." The first single, "Starships," was released on February 14.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[62]  It peaked at a new best for Minaj of number 2 in the United Kingdom, and reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming her second top 10 success, after 2011's "Super Bass". The music video was released on April 26, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[63]  It became one of the year's best-selling singles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[64]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On February 12, Minaj debuted "Roman Holiday" at the 54th Grammy Awards,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-holidayall_65-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[65]  becoming the first solo female rapper to perform a song on the Grammy stage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[66]  The exorcism-themed performance drew a mixed response online.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[68]  Minaj was featured on "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (with M.I.A.) and "I Don't Give A" from Madonna's twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012);<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[69]  the trio performed the former during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in February.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]  The album's second single, "Right by My Side," which features Chris Brown, was released on March 27, 2012. It peaked at number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and peaked at number 101 in the UK singles chart. The third single, an electro-hop<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone1_71-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[71]  song called "Beez in the Trap", which features 2 Chainz was released to U.S. urban radio on April 24, 2012. It peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Rap Songs Chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[72]

Minaj joined by Tyga at thePink Friday: Reloaded Tour at The O2 Arena, London, on October 30, 2012.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj began her first worldwide tour, the Pink Friday Tour, on May 16, 2012. It was followed by the Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour, which began in October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[73] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[74]  Minaj cancelled her appearance at the 2012 V Festival in the United Kingdom and the final show of her Pink Friday Tour in Dublin due to the damage of her vocal chords.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[75] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[76]  Minaj was scheduled to headline during Hot 97 Summer Jam in New Jersey on June 3, 2012 at MetLife Stadium, but pulled out of her performance the day of after one of the station's DJs (Peter Rosenberg) criticized "Starships" as not being "real hip-hop." Her mentor Lil Wayne heard the remark and pulled his Young Money labelmates from the show.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[77]  Minaj was scheduled to bring out hip-hop artists Nas, Lauryn Hill, Cam'ron, Foxy Brown, among others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[78] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-79" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[79]  She spoke to Hot 97 with Funkmaster Flex, ending the dispute.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-80" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[80]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">An expanded version of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded subtitled The Re-Up was released on November 19, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-voomvideo_81-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[81] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[82] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[83]  The first single from the re-release, "The Boys", with Cassie, was released on September 13, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-84" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[84]  Its music video debuted on VEVO on October 18, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[85]  "Va Va Voom" was released as the fifth single from Pink Friday: Roman Reloadedon October 23, 2012; the second single from The Re-Up, "Freedom", was released on November 3, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[86]  Minaj won the award for Best Female Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, and performed "Girl on Fire" with Alicia Keys and special guest gymnast Gabby Douglas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[87]  In November, Minaj was featured in the three-part [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E! E!] documentary special Nicki Minaj: My Truth.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-voomvideo_81-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[81]  At the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards, Minaj was nominated for Best Hip-Hop, Best Female, and Best Look; she won the former, but lost the latter two to Taylor Swift.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[88]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In September 2012, Minaj was confirmed to join the judging panel of the twelfth season of American Idol, alongsidge fellow new hires Mariah Carey and Keith Urban and returning judgeRandy Jackson, with a salary of $12 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[89] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-90" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[90]  Minaj and Carey have received much media attention for their on-set tension, most notably with a leaked video of the two in the midst of a heated argument during Charlotte, North Carolina auditions. The following day, Carey alleged that Minaj had threatened to "shoot her" during the aforementioned incident, though Minaj and producer Nigel Lythgoe denied such claims.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-91" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[91]  Minaj left the series upon the conclusion of the season.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[92]  On April 12, 2013, Minaj became the most-charted female rapper in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, with forty-four appearances.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-93" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[93]  Minaj led nominations for rap musicians at the Billboard Music Awards 2013 having seven nominations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-94" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[94]  Minaj won Best Female Hip-Hop Artistat the BET Awards 2013, making history as the first female rapper to win the award four times consecutively.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-95" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[95]  Minaj was sued by Chicagoan artist Clive Tanaka for copyright infringement over the single "Starships".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-96" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[96]  On December 30, 2013, Minaj released a freestyle rap to the viral song "Boss Ass Bitch" by PTAF via SoundCloud.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-97" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[97]  It was later removed from her account because of copyright issues.

2014–present: The Other Woman and The Pink Print
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj confirmed plans to launch her own record label, having signed Parker Ighile, Brinx, and Keisha as artists<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3news_98-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[98]  and Blackout Movement as a producer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-99" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[99]  The title "Pink Friday Records" was intended, but was scrapped because it was "Not fair 2 the dudes", with the new name supposed to be released "very soon".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3news_98-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[98]  Minaj has appeared in her first live-action theatrical film, The Other Woman; filming began in spring 2013, and the film was released on April 25, 2014.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-100" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[100]  Minaj played Cameron Diaz's character's assistant.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-101" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[101] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[102]  Minaj is currently working on her third studio album which is scheduled for a 2014 release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[103] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-104" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[104]  which she describes as "a continuation of The Re-Up with a lot more". Minaj also stated her it will focus on her "hip-hop roots".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-105" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-106" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[106]  During an interview with MTV, Minaj stated that the work of her third album would be "next level" and will have "so much to talk about" she exclaimed; " I'm really excited and the people that have been working with me now, have been people that I haven't worked with before so it's like they're bringing a new sound to the album that I've never experimented with."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-107" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[107]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On January 28, 2014, Minaj released a freestyle on her SoundCloud to "Danny Glover" by Young Thug.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nicki_Minaj.27s_SoundCloud_108-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[108]  On February 12, 2014, Minaj released a video for the song "Lookin Ass" from her upcoming third studio album The Pink Print, directed by Nabil.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-109" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[109]  The song is also a part of Young Money's compilation album, Young Money: Rise of an Empire, in which it serves as the official third single.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-110" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[110]  On March 12, 2014, Minaj was featured on the VH1 television series The Fabulous Life of...<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-111" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[111]  On May 3, 2014, a song called "Yasss Bish!!" premiered online. It features and is produced by Soulja Boy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-112" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[112]

Public image
Minaj is known for her outlandish costumes, cosmetics, and wigs.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj has been noted by the media for her curvaceous figure.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-113" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[113] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-114" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[114] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-115" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[115]  In an interview with VIBE, Minaj discussed her sexual image, stating, "When 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," later adding, "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 got to have something else to go with that."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-116" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[116] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-117" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[117]  Minaj has made "signing boobs" part of her movement to empower women.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-118" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[118]  In an interview with The Guardian, Minaj says she is competing with both male and female rappers. "That's why I say stuff like, 'Dick in your face', because I don't even wanna refer to female genitalia any more. I just feel I have bigger balls than the boys," Minaj said, referencing the song "Come on a Cone" from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. In her song "Moment 4 Life", she refers to herself as a king instead of a "queen".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-119" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[119]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj has been described as the "black Lady Gaga" due to her use of outlandish costumes and wigs, though Minaj has rejected such comparisons.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-120" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[120]  She cites Alexander McQueen,Gianni Versace and Christian Louboutin as her favorite designers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-121" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[121]  The Huffington Post described Minaj's fashion as "risk-taking", "bold sartorial choices", and "far-out",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-122" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[122]  with''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo! Yahoo!]'' commenting that her costume was "colorful" and "crazy", and stated that "the world would certainly be very quiet without Ms Minaj".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-123" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[123]  Minaj has been invited to attend various events for fashion designers. Donatella Versace invited Minaj to perform for the launch of the collaboration of Versace for H&M alongside Prince. She also performed "Super Bass" at aVictoria Secret fashion show in November 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-124" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[124]  Minaj was personally invited to be seated with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour during New York Fashion Week to see designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-125" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[125]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">With over 17,000 tweets and 16 million followers, Billboard ranked Minaj the sixth-most active user of microblogging website Twitter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-126" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[126]  In March 2011, Billboard named Minaj the fourth most active musician on social media, through their Social 50 chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-127" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[127]  The chart tracks Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, and Instagram usage. On Twitter, she is the most followed rapper in the world.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-128" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[128]  On Twitter and in public appearances and interviews, Minaj refers to her fans collectively as "Barbz" and her male heterosexual and LGBT following as "Boyz" and "Ken Barbz", respectively,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-129" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[129]  alluding to her "Harajaku Barbie" persona. Minaj deleted her Twitter account for eight days in April 2012, following a dispute between her and her fans who wanted to leak snippets of her then-unreleased album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-130" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[130]  At the time, she possessed 11 million followers and lost over a million followers as a result of the ordeal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-131" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[131]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2012, amateur cartoonist David Monger authored a popular web series based on Nicki Minaj called The Nekci Menij Show. Featuring pop icons from Madonna to Marina and the Diamonds, the characters are illustrated in an intentionally crude manner accompanied by SMS language so as to mirror the Internet meme Dolan Duck.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mashable_132-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[132] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pop_133-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[133]  Since September 2012, the show has garnered more than 2,500,000 views onYouTube. Primarily crafted using Microsoft Paint, the show is intended as a satire of celebrity syndrome and stan culture.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mashable_132-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[132] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pop_133-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[133]  Minaj is the first, and only, female rapper to reach over one billion video views on YouTube.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-134" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[134]  For the 2013 Met Gala, designer Tommy Hilfiger gifted Minaj a Rolex watch valued at $32,000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-135" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[135]  In 2013 Minaj's style underwent transformation, into a more "natural" look she described in order to be taken more seriously, including less colorful makeup and wigs which made its debut during the later episodes of American Idol.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-136" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[136] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-137" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[137]

Alter egos
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">While growing up, Minaj's home life was often chaotic, with her parents constantly fighting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NewYorkAlterego_138-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[138]  As a means of escape, she would create characters and live her life through them, saying, "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."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NewYorkAlterego_138-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[138]  Minaj also introduced "Point Dexter" on her skit on SNL as an alter-ego, but Point Dexter as since, has not been mentioned as one of her main alter-egos.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On November 18, 2010, Minaj assumed an alter ego named "Nicki Teresa".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_139-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[139]  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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_139-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[139]  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).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-140" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[140] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For Pink Friday, Minaj created another alter ego, "Roman Zolanski," which Minaj claims is her "twin brother" that was born inside her, out of rage, and becomes him when she is angry. She has also said he is "a demon inside her."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RomanLewinksy_141-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[141]  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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-142" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[142]  On the collaboration, she said "The new album is going to have a lot of Roman on it ... And if you're not familiar with Roman, then you will be familiar with him very soon. He's the boy that lives inside of me. He's a lunatic and he's gay and he'll be on there a lot."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-143" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[143]  Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski,"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-144" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[144]  who also appeared on "Roman's Revenge," with a British accent,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-145" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[145]  and on "Roman Holiday", singing for the first time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-146" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[146] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-147" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[147]  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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RomanLewinksy_141-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[141]  Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RomanLewinksy_141-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[141]  Minaj also produces with her management team and personal friends as Pink Friday Productions, most notable for producing in her second studio album.

Musical style
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">"When I started rapping, people were trying to make me like the typical New York rapper, but I'm not that," Minaj says. "No disrespect to New York rappers, but I don't want people to hear me and know exactly where I'm from."

—Minaj talking about her rapping technique in an interview with Billboard.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard1_22-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj is known for her animated rapping style, particularly her flow. She often combines metaphors, punchlines, and wordplay into her work, which has received comparisons to her mentor, Lil Wayne. The New York Times described Minaj as "a sparkling rapper with a gift for comic accents and unexpected turns of phrase. She's a walking exaggeration, outsize in sound, personality and look. And she's a rapid evolver, discarding old modes as easily as adopting new ones."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-148" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[148]  While many critics describe her technique as bubblegum rap, Minaj explained, "What people don't know is that before I was doing that craziness I was doing me, I was just doing regular sounding rap that anyone could hear and identify with. But once I started doing all that weird shit—im not mad at it because it got everyone's attention".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-149" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[149]  Widely recognized as a rap artist, Minaj heavily lends herself to electronic music genres,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-150" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[150]  especially electropop. Her debut album Pink Fridaymarked her exploration of the genre, spawning a string of electro-hits, including "Super Bass".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-151" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[151]  Following the same conventions of combining rap with electronic synths, Minaj's second album pervasively toiled in the electropop genre and generated various songs, including "HOV Lane", "Whip It", "Automatic", "Come On A Cone", "Young Forever", and "Fire Burns",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-152" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[152]  and the Billboard hits, "Roman Holiday"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-holidayall_65-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[65]  and "Beez in the Trap".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone1_71-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[71]  At this stage in Minaj's career, she adventured into collaborations with other artists, producing additional electronic hits "The Boys" with "Me & U" singer Cassie and "Beauty and a Beat" with Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-153" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[153]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Her verse in Kanye West's "Monster" was well received by critics, stating she had the best verse in the song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-154" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[154]  Her alter egos are incorporated in her lyrics through her use of British accents (Roman Zolanski) and being soft-spoken (Harajuku Barbie.) Ice-T says of Minaj's rapping style, "[Minaj] does her thing. She has her own way of doing it. She has an ill vocal delivery. She kind of reminds me of a female Busta Rhymes, like how she throws her voice in different directions."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-155" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[155]

Influences
Rapper Jay-Z has been a major influence to Minaj.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Lil Wayne, Smokey Robinson, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Remy Ma,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-156" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[156] Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-157" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[157] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-158" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[158]  She was also inspired by Janet Jackson,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-159" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[159]  Madonna, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Jones,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-160" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[160]  M.I.A., and Cyndi Lauper.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-161" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[161] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-162" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[162] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-163" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[163]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj cites Foxy Brown and Jay-Z as major influences, saying, "I really loved [Foxy] as a female rapper. I was really interested in her mind and her aura, I was really, really into Jay-Z. Me and my friends in high school, we were reciting all of the Jay lyrics. His words were our words in our conversations all the time. I never really told Foxy how much she has influenced me and how much she changed my life, and you've gotta tell people that when they're alive to even be able to take the compliment, instead of paying tribute to them when they're no longer here."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-164" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[164]  She has said that Foxy Brown was "the most influential female rapper" and that her album Broken Silence changed her life.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-165" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[165]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Jada Pinkett Smith is one of Minaj's role models in her acting career.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-166" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[166]  Minaj was inspired by R&B singer Monica, and used to sing her song "Why I Love You So Much" at every talent show she was in. Minaj referred to Monica as one of her biggest musical influences of all time whilst performing in Atlanta on her Pink Friday Tour.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-167" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[167]  Kanye West, Trina, and Drake have been named as influences to Minaj.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-168" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[168]  Betsey Johnson is another one of Minaj's fashion inspirations, saying, "[Betsey] is a free spirit. When I met her the other day, I felt like I knew her for my whole life. She's so warm and considerate and caring. She's amazingly talented and I've been wearing her clothes forever, so to meet her was like, 'Yay!' [I was] bowing down to her; she's dope!"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-169" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[169]  Speaking on Cyndi Lauper, Minaj has expressed her love for Lauper's style and how her videos inspired her image as a teenager saying "When I first went to get my hair colored, I was about 14 and I wanted blonde highlights. The beautician said, 'No, you have to get your mother on the phone,' and I was just crying and begging. I've always been experimenting. Cyndi Lauper's videos - that's what intrigued me."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[170]

Endorsements
A custom-made Barbie byMattel, modeled after Minaj<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj has signed contracts with a variety of corporate interests and manufacturing companies. Minaj created her own app titled after her official website "MyPinkFriday" which featured her self-created slang dictionary the "Nictionary" for Android and iPhone users in 2010. In April 2011, she helped launch Casio's TRYX digital camera in Times Square, along with The Roots.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-171" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[171]  In April 2012, Minaj launched the Nokia Lumia 900 in Times Square followed by a performance of "Starships," "Super Bass," and "Right by My Side."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[172] Minaj contracted a promotional deal with Pepsi in February 2012, in which she appeared in a commercial, which was shot in Argentina for the global LiveForNow campaign, and internet advertisements. The commercial featured a remix of "Moment 4 Life."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-173" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[173] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-174" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[174]  In December 2011, Mattel produced a custom Nicki Minaj-themed Barbie to be auctioned oncharitybuzz and was valued at an estimate of $US15,000 dollars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[175] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-176" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[176]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">MAC Cosmetics collaborated with Minaj on many business ventures, such as a limited edition lipstick called Pink 4 Friday that went on sale for four consecutive Fridays starting November 26, 2010 to promote the release of Pink Friday,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-177" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[177]  and also as part of the Viva Glam campaign with Ricky Martin in Latin America, which has raised $US270 million dollars for MAC AIDS Fund.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-178" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[178] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-179" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[179]  Minaj fronted their Viva Glam 2013 campaign, releasing a new shade of lipstick "Nicki 2" and matching lip-gloss. Minaj announced that her clothing line would be launched through retailer Kmart on January 9, 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-180" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[180]  Minaj has collaborated with OPI Products on a six-piece nail polish collection with colors named after her songs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-181" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[181]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">With designer Jeremy Scott, Minaj signed an endorsement deal with Adidas' fall and winter 2012 campaign to appear in Internet advertisements and commercials for Adidas Originals. The ad was filmed in a disclosed location in Brooklyn, also featuring Big Sean, Derrick Rose, Sky Ferreira and 2NE1, all around the world wearing Adidas attire. The commercial used Minaj's song "Masquerade" as the theme song for the ad.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-182" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[182] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-183" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[183] On February 14, 2013, Bluewater Comics revealed Minaj would star in the "Fame" biographical comic series, and would make her debut in the comic book titled Fame: Nicki Minaj that was released to stores February 13, 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-184" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[184]  In April 2013, Minaj partnered with Beats Electronics to launch the "Pink Pill" speaker, sold exclusively through AT&T; she and actor DeRay Davis appeared in its commercial later that month.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-185" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[185] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-186" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[186]  On June 6, 2013, Minaj released a press release regarding the moscato beverage called "Myx Fusions". The press release revealed that Minaj would not only front the campaign, but also has shared ownership of the company.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-187" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[187]

Fashion endeavors
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj plans to launch her clothing line "The Nicki Minaj Collection" in Fall 2013, and described it as "Harajuku Barbie." Minaj's line includes fashion, accessories, and houseware, announced January 2013 with Adam Levine on the same contract, that it would be sold in mass retail stores such as WalMart and Target. Minaj's clothing line "The Nicki Minaj Collection" will be exclusively sold at K-Mart, announced January 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-188" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[188] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-189" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[189] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-190" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[190]  Minaj revealed via Twitter that she is working on two books.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-191" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[191]  In September 2012, Minaj launched her first fragrance Pink Friday with Give Back Brands; the bottle resembles Minaj as she appears on the cover of the album Pink Friday.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[192] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-193" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[193] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-194" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[194]  It is sold under exclusive license to Macy's in the United States and Elizabeth Arden internationally.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-195" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[195] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[196]  In April 2013, the limited version Pink Friday Special Edition was launched.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-197" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[197]  In July 2013, Minaj announced that her second fragrance Minajesty would be released in September 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-198" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[198]

Personal life
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj is the first and only female rapper to be featured on Forbes's Hip Hop Cash Kings list. She made her first appearance on the list in 2011, having earned $US $6.5 million from May 2010 to May 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-199" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[199] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-200" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[200]  In 2012, she ranked at No. 8 on the list, having earned US $15.5 million from May 2011 to May 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-201" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[201]  Minaj further rose on the list in 2013, ranking at No. 4, being behind P Diddy, Jay-Z, and Dr. Dre, with total earnings of US $29 million, from June 2012 to June 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[202]  In the aftermath of the catastrophic Hurricane Sandy, Minaj donated $15,000 to the Food Bank For New York City and held a turkey drive at her alma mater, P.S. 45 in New York.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-203" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[203]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj is a Christian.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-204" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[204] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-205" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[205]  She stated that after her father went to rehab and started attending church, "he got saved and started changing his life."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-206" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[206] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-207" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[207] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-208" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[208]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In July 2011, Minaj's cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, New York City.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-209" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[209]  Minaj referenced Telemaque in the song "Champion" through the lyrics, "Cause they killed my little cousin, Nicholas/ But my memories only happy images."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-210" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[210] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-211" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[211]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Critics have noted Minaj's use of various sexual identities within her music,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-212" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[212]  with some implying that she is bisexual.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-213" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[213]  However, she has said that she does not date or have sex with women,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe_17-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17]  but added in an interview with Out magazine, "I don't date men either."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-214" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[214]  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. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don't wanna be defined."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-215" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[215]

Lil' Kim
See also: Hip hop rivalry<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Minaj has been embroiled in a feud with veteran rapper Lil' Kim since her success with Pink Friday.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blackfridaydiss_216-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[216]  Kim accused Minaj of copying her image saying, "If you are going to steal my swag, you gonna have to pay. Something gotta give. You help me, I help you. That's how it goes to me."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blackfridaydiss_216-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[216]  Minaj's single "Roman's Revenge" with Eminem was believed to be a response to Kim's comments,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-217" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[217]  although she later denied this,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-218" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[218] she responded to the situation in an interview with HOT 97's Angie Martinez saying, "She picked a fight with Foxy, then she picked a fight with Eve, then she picked a fight with Remy, then it was Mrs. Wallace, then it was Nicki Minaj. Every time you in the news, it's 'cause you gettin' at somebody! Where's your music? Put your music out, and when I see your name on Billboard, that's when I'll respond to you. Other than that, goodbye. It's Barbie, bitch."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-219" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[219]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Lil' Kim reignited the feud with the release of her mixtape Black Friday (the title of which directly referenced Minaj). The artwork portrays Lil' Kim decapitating Minaj with a sword.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blackfridaydiss_216-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[216]  A fragment of a diss track called "Tragedy" was released in response by Minaj in April 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-220" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[220]  Following the release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, critics suggested that the track "Stupid Hoe"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-221" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[221]  may have contained attacks directed at Kim. Lil' Kim later suggested in an interview with 105's Breakfast Club that the song "Automatic" was similar to her unreleased material, also calling Minaj "obnoxious" and "catty".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-222" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[222]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The feud has drawn attention from various other recording artists and rappers. Minaj's labelmate and rapper, Drake said "[he] didn't give a f--- [sic] what Lil Kim or nobody else is talking about."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-223" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[223]  50 Centcommented on the situation in an online interview with Power 98.3 FM remarking, "It's obvious ... she [Minaj] was inspired by some of Kim's [style]. But that's not bad. There's not a whole lot of female artists that you can make reference to, so you'll see those little influences even stronger. I think she's hot – I think she's got a good little thing going right now, as far as Nicki Minaj is concerned."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-224" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[224]  Diddy spoke of his love and respect for Kim, attributing his personal success, in part, to her, however he defended working with Minaj stating that "I wouldn't be around Nicki if I ever heard anything negative said about Kim. I've never heard anything like that."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-225" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[225]  Mary J. Blige commented on the rivalry, saying, "Kim is my friend and I love and respect Nicki, just met her and got to know the young lady and she's a sweetheart," adding that the feud had arisen because of "crews" behind it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-226" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[226]

Mariah Carey
See also: American Idol (season 12)<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In October 2012, a video was leaked to TMZ that showed Minaj and fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey in the midst of a heated argument during auditions in Charlotte, North Carolina.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-227" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[227]  Minaj was alleged to have been heard saying off-camera, "If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-228" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[228]  which she denied.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-229" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[229]  Host Ryan Seacrest commented that the dispute "went a little too far",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-230" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[230]  while fellow judge Keith Urbanjokingly said "I was the UN".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-231" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[231]  The feud elicited a comment from President Barack Obama that Carey and Minaj will "sort it out".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-232" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[232]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In January 2013, Carey claimed in an interview with Barbara Walters on The View that Minaj created an "unsafe work environment" and increased her personal security.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-233" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[233]  She later commented that she had since made up with Minaj. Carey's husband Nick Cannon claimed that the feud was used by producers to generate interest and ratings,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-234" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[234]  though producer Nigel Lythgoe denied responsibility for leaking the video or that it was a publicity stunt, adding that they had no plans the use the footage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-235" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[235] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-236" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[236]  Fox executive Mike Darnell described the buzz due to the feud as being great.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-237" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[237]  The episode in which Charlotte auditions were aired did not show the tirade; the minor conflict shown appears to have no linear connection with the leaked footage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-238" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[238]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In April 2013, Carey noted during an episode of American Idol that Minaj had not had a number one song on the US Billboard Hot 100. The following day, Minaj took to Twitter to post what have been described as "extremely harsh" insults against Carey. She labelled the singer as "insecure" and "bitter", while also referencing a rumor that series producers wanted to bring Jennifer Lopez back to the panel after a significant decline in ratings that season; "All dem #1s but JLo phone ringin? Lol. I guess having a personality, being a secure woman, and giving genuine critique still trumps that", Minaj tweeted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-239" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[239] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-240" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[240] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-241" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[241] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-242" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[242]  In November 2013, Carey stated that American Idol "was like going to work everyday in hell with Satan".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-243" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[243]

Discography
Main article: Nicki Minaj discography*Pink Friday (2010)
 * Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
 * The Pink Print (2014)

Filmography
Main article: Nicki Minaj videography*Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
 * The Other Woman (2014)