Early Life and Education of Nicki Minaj: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Nicki Minaj. A timeline of key moments.

Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, is a highly influential Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Recognized as the "Queen of Rap," she's celebrated for her unique rap flow, clever lyrics, versatility, and use of alter egos. Minaj is widely credited with spearheading the revival of female rap's popularity in mainstream music from the 2010s onward.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1956: Robert Maraj's Birth

In 1956, Robert Maraj, Nicki Minaj's father, was born. He was a financial executive and part-time gospel singer.

December 8, 1982: Onika Tanya Maraj's Birth

On December 8, 1982, Onika Tanya Maraj, who later became known as Nicki Minaj, was born in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

December 1987: Arson Incident

In December 1987, Nicki Minaj's father, who was an alcoholic and crack cocaine addict, committed arson on their house.

1995: Husband's Conviction

In 1995, Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj's husband, was convicted of attempted rape at age 16, serving four years in prison and registering as a sex offender upon release.

November 2010: Minaj Assumed the Alter Ego Nicki Teresa

In November 2010, Nicki Minaj assumed the alter ego Nicki Teresa, wearing a colorful headdress and calling herself "healer to her fans" during a visit to the Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse Studios in New York.

December 2010: Introduction of Rosa Alter Ego

In December 2010, Nicki Minaj introduced another alter ego, Rosa, to commemorate her appearance on Lopez Tonight.

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2011: Cousin Nicholas Telemaque's Murder

In 2011, Nicki Minaj's cousin, Nicholas Telemaque, was murdered near his home in Brooklyn. This event was later referenced in her songs "All Things Go" and "Champion".

2011: Barbie Doll for Project Angel Food

In 2011, a Barbie doll was created in Nicki Minaj's likeness to raise funds for Project Angel Food, a charity providing food to HIV/AIDS victims.

2012: Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

In 2012, Nicki Minaj donated $15,000 to the Food Bank For New York City and held a turkey drive at her alma mater, PS 45, following Hurricane Sandy.

2015: Comment on Charleston Church Shooting

In 2015, Nicki Minaj commented on the Charleston church shooting, where multiple people were murdered.

August 2017: Hurricane Harvey Donation

In August 2017, Nicki Minaj donated $25,000 to the Red Cross to support humanitarian aid efforts following Hurricane Harvey.

2018: Student of the Game Charity

In 2018, Nicki Minaj announced she would launch an official charity called Student of the Game for student loans and tuition relief, after paying college tuition and education expenses for fans on Twitter.

2018: Donations on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

In 2018, Nicki Minaj gave out over $150,000 in donations to her fans during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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2019: Pulling Out of Saudi Arabia Concert

In 2019, Nicki Minaj pulled out of headlining a concert in Saudi Arabia after online backlash from activists due to the detention and arrest of women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. She expressed support for women's rights, the LGBTQ community, and freedom of expression.

February 2020: Husband's Indictment

In February 2020, Kenneth Petty was indicted for failing to update his residence on the sex offender registry after moving to California; he registered in the state's database by the following month.

2020: Donation to St. Jude's Home for Girls and Bail Project

In 2020, Nicki Minaj donated $25,000 to the St. Jude's Home for Girls in Trinidad. Following the release of "Trollz" with 6ix9ine, she announced that a portion of its proceeds and merchandise profits would go to the Bail Project amid the Black Lives Matter protests.

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2020: Support for End SARS Protests

In 2020, Nicki Minaj supported End SARS, a series of protests against police brutality in Nigeria, expressing solidarity with the young people on the front lines.

August 2021: Lawsuit Filed Against Couple

In August 2021, Jennifer Hough, Petty's accuser, filed a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty alleging harassment, intimidation, and emotional distress. Hough eventually dismissed the case against Minaj.

September 2021: COVID-19 and Vaccination Stance

In September 2021, Nicki Minaj explained her absence from public events due to COVID-19 concerns for her infant son, revealing she tested positive and had to quarantine. She stated she planned to get the COVID-19 vaccine after research. Her tweet about her cousin's friend in Trinidad experiencing swollen testicles and impotence after vaccination received backlash and was denied by Trinidad and Tobago's health minister.

2021: Father Robert Maraj's Death

In 2021, Nicki Minaj's father, Robert Maraj, was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Long Island. Charles Polevich was charged with leaving the scene of an incident involving death and tampering with evidence.

May 2022: Attending the Met Gala

In May 2022, Olivia Truffaut-Wong of The Cut speculated that Nicki Minaj likely received the COVID-19 vaccine, as proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test were required to attend the 2022 Met Gala, which Minaj attended.

2022: Nicki Minaj identifies as Christian

In 2022, Nicki Minaj stated that she is a Christian.

December 2023: Death of Martha

In December 2023, Nicki Minaj confirmed that her alter ego Roman Zolanski's mother, Martha, had died of old age.

2023: Independent Assessment Philosophy

In a 2023 interview, Nicki Minaj expressed her preference for making independent assessments without influence from others, rejecting being told who to campaign for and emphasizing the complexity of government.

April 2024: Open Letter Against AI in Music

In April 2024, Nicki Minaj was one of over 200 artists who signed an open letter demanding safety from the "predatory use of AI" in the music industry.

April 2024: Alleged Assault on Tour Employee

In April 2024, while working on her Pink Friday 2 tour, Nicki Minaj allegedly struck Brandon Garrett, a day-to-day manager, multiple times. He claimed he was then informed by Minaj's former manager that he would not be joining the tour for their next date. Minaj's lawyer denied the allegations.

May 25, 2024: Detained at Amsterdam Airport

On May 25, 2024, Nicki Minaj was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, after marijuana was found in her luggage. She was boarding a plane to perform a concert in Manchester, England, and was fined and released the same day.

2024: Citizenship Status

In 2024, Nicki Minaj stated that she does not have U.S. citizenship, despite being a long-time legal permanent resident.

January 2025: Lawsuit Filed by Former Tour Employee

In January 2025, Brandon Garrett, a former tour employee, filed a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj alleging assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

November 2025: Denouncing Violence Against Christians in Nigeria and Speech at the UN

In November 2025, Nicki Minaj denounced violence against Christians in Nigeria on social media. She later delivered a speech at the United Nations advocating for an end to religious violence, gaining media attention for her support of Donald Trump's stance on the issue.

November 2025: Hurricane Melissa Relief Supplies to Jamaica

In November 2025, Nicki Minaj sent a team to Jamaica to deliver relief supplies to people affected by Hurricane Melissa.

December 2025: Criticism of Gavin Newsom's Statement

In December 2025, Nicki Minaj criticized California governor Gavin Newsom's statement about wanting to "see trans kids", arguing for healthy, safe, and happy children.

January 2026: Citizenship Paperwork

In January 2026, Nicki Minaj stated she was finalizing her U.S. citizenship paperwork following a public appearance with President Donald Trump.

March 2026: Minaj posts about being neurodivergent

In March 2026 Nicki Minaj posted on Twitter about being neurodivergent.

2026: Pledge to Trump Accounts

In 2026, Nicki Minaj pledged to donate to the Trump Accounts, an investment program created to aid the financial future of American children. She stated the program encourages financial literacy.