Nicki Minaj, the Trinidad-born rapper who rewrote hip-hop history, celebrates her 43rd birthday on December 8, 2022, with a legacy of chart-topping albums, genre-defining hits and a new era of motherhood.
Since signing with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2009, Minaj has become the first woman to accumulate 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries and the first female rapper to score three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. Her latest milestone-Pink Friday 2-debuted at No. 1 in December 2023, extending a streak that began with 2010’s Pink Friday and continued with 2012’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
At a Glance
- Minaj’s first three major-label albums all reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200
- Signature singles include “Super Bass,” “Starships,” “Anaconda” and “Super Freaky Girl”
- She served as a judge on American Idol season 12 and voiced characters in Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Angry Birds Movie 2
- Why it matters: Minaj’s commercial success and cultural influence continue to shape the sound and business of hip-hop more than a decade after her debut
From Queens to Global Dominance
Born Onika Tanya Maraj in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj moved to Queens, New York, at age 5. The borough’s vibrant mix of Caribbean culture and hip-hop urgency shaped her rapid-fire delivery and animated alter-egos. After releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009, she caught Wayne’s attention with her verse on BedRock-a Young Money posse cut that cracked the Hot 100’s top 10.
The cosign led to a record deal and immediate impact. Her guest appearances on Lil Wayne and Drake tracks turned into a solo rollout that redefined pop-rap crossover. Pink Friday sold 375,000 copies in its first week, the largest debut for a female rapper since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
Chart Milestones by the Numbers
| Album | Release Year | Billboard 200 Peak | First-Week Sales | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Friday | 2010 | No. 1 | 375,000 | 3× Platinum |
| Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded | 2012 | No. 1 | 253,000 | 2× Platinum |
| Pink Friday 2 | 2023 | No. 1 | 228,000 | Platinum |
Minaj’s singles catalog is equally dominant. “Super Bass” spent 39 weeks on the Hot 100 and sold 12 million digital copies worldwide. “Starships” became a global anthem, topping charts in 12 countries. “Anaconda” broke Vevo’s 24-hour record with 19.6 million views in 2014, while “Super Freaky Girl” debuted at No. 1 in 2022-her first solo leader on the chart.
Beyond the Music
Minaj’s reach extends into television and film. She joined Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson on the American Idol season 12 panel, drawing 19 million viewers for its premiere. Voice roles in Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Angry Birds Movie 2 introduced her to younger audiences, while live-action turns in Barbershop: The Next Cut and The Other Woman showcased her comedic timing.
Family First
In October 2019 Minaj married Kenneth Petty, a childhood friend from Queens. The couple welcomed a son in September 2020, an event she announced with a voice-note on Instagram that amassed 14 million likes in 24 hours. Motherhood has influenced her creative process; she recorded parts of Pink Friday 2 at home, weaving lullabies into interludes and referencing her son in lyrics.
Legacy at 43
With 10 Grammy nominations, five MTV Video Music Awards and twelve BET Awards, Minaj’s trophy case rivals her chart stats. More importantly, she has cleared a path for a new generation of female rappers-Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Latto and Ice Spice have all cited her as a blueprint for combining sharp lyricism with mainstream appeal.
As she enters her 43rd year, Minaj shows no signs of slowing. She is headlining festivals through 2025 and has hinted at a Pink Friday 3 installment. The queen, as she proclaims on stage, remains “in her prime.”
