History of Nicki Minaj in Timeline
Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, is a highly influential Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, and songwriter. Often hailed as the "Queen of Rap", she rose to prominence in the late 2000s with a series of mixtapes and is recognized for her unique flow, lyrical wit, versatility, and use of alter egos. Minaj is widely credited with spearheading the resurgence of female rap into the mainstream during the early 2010s, solidifying her position as a major force in contemporary music and pop culture.
1956: Father's Birth Year
In 1956, Nicki Minaj's father, Robert Maraj, was born.
April 7, 1978: Kenneth Petty's birth
April 7, 1978, is the birthdate of Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj's husband.
1981: "Super Freak" Sampled
In 1981, Rick James released "Super Freak". This song was sampled by Nicki Minaj in August 2023 for her song, "Super Freaky Girl".
December 8, 1982: Nicki Minaj Born
On December 8, 1982, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
December 1987: House Fire Incident
In December 1987, Nicki Minaj's father committed arson onto their house.
1995: Kenneth Petty's conviction
In 1995, Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj's husband, was convicted of attempted rape at age 16.
1998: Compared to Lauryn Hill's Album Sales
In 1998, Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill had higher sales than Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday, the latter having the largest sales week for a female rap album in the 21st century.
1998: Lauryn Hill's Album Sales Record
In 1998, Lauryn Hill's album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" achieved the largest album sales week of all time, a record that Nicki Minaj later approached.
2001: Off-Broadway Play Casting
A week after graduation, Nicki Minaj was cast in the Off-Broadway play In Case You Forget in 2001.
2002: Joined Hoodstars
From 2002, Nicki Minaj rapped in a New York hip hop group called Hoodstars.
2003: Relationship with Safaree Samuels began
In 2003, Nicki Minaj began dating rapper Safaree Samuels.
2004: Recorded Entrance Song for WWE Diva Victoria
In 2004, the group Hoodstars recorded the entrance song for WWE Diva Victoria, "Don't Mess With".
2006: Signed to Dirty Money Entertainment
In 2006, Nicki Minaj was signed to Dirty Money Entertainment.
July 5, 2007: Released First Mixtape, Playtime Is Over
On July 5, 2007, Nicki Minaj released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over.
2007: Gained Recognition with Mixtapes
In 2007, Nicki Minaj gained recognition with her mixtapes.
2007: Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings Inception
In 2007, The Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list started, and Nicki Minaj is the first woman to be featured on the list.
April 12, 2008: Released Second Mixtape, Sucka Free
On April 12, 2008, Nicki Minaj released her second mixtape, Sucka Free.
April 18, 2009: Released Third Mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty
On April 18, 2009, Nicki Minaj released her third mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, which received favorable coverage.
October 2009: Performed at BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher
In October 2009, Nicki Minaj performed a freestyle at the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher.
2009: We Are Young Money Album Appearance
In 2009, Nicki Minaj appeared on "BedRock" and "Roger That" on the compilation album, We Are Young Money.
2009: Continued Recognition with Mixtapes
In 2009, Nicki Minaj continued gaining recognition with her mixtapes.
February 2010: First Appearances on Billboard Hot 100
In early February 2010, Nicki Minaj made her first two appearances on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with her features on "Knockout" and "Up Out My Face".
March 29, 2010: Released "Massive Attack"
On March 29, 2010, Nicki Minaj released "Massive Attack" featuring Sean Garrett, which was later dropped from the album due to poor performance.
November 2010: Nicki Teresa Alter Ego
In November 2010, Nicki Minaj assumed the alter ego Nicki Teresa during a visit to the Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse Studios in New York, wearing a colorful headdress and calling herself a "healer to her fans".
November 2010: MAC Cosmetics Collaboration
In November 2010, Nicki Minaj collaborated with MAC Cosmetics and launched the lipstick "Pink 4 Friday" to promote her debut studio album.
November 2010: First Grammy Nomination
In November 2010, Nicki Minaj received her first Grammy Award nomination for her guest verse on Ludacris' song "My Chick Bad".
November 19, 2010: Released Pink Friday
On November 19, 2010, Nicki Minaj released Pink Friday, which later reached number one on the Billboard 200.
December 7, 2010: Release of "Moment 4 Life"
On December 7, 2010, "Moment 4 Life" featuring Drake, was released as the fourth single from Pink Friday, reaching number 13 on the Hot 100.
December 2010: Rosa Alter Ego
In December 2010, Nicki Minaj introduced another alter ego, Rosa (pronounced with an exaggerated R), to commemorate her appearance on Lopez Tonight.
December 2010: Pink Friday Certified Platinum
In December 2010, Pink Friday was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling a million units in the US, marking the first album by a solo female rapper to achieve this status in seven years.
2010: First Female Solo Artist with Seven Songs on Billboard Hot 100
In 2010, Nicki Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.
2010: First Woman on MTV's Hottest MC List
In 2010, Nicki Minaj became the first woman to appear on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List since its inception in 2007.
2010: VH1 Divas Salute the Troops
In 2010, Nicki Minaj performed a cover of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", alongside singer Katy Perry, for service members during the 2010 VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concert.
2010: Pink Friday Album Release
In 2010, Nicki Minaj released her debut studio album, Pink Friday, which topped the Billboard 200.
2010: Subduing Sexuality in Career
In 2010, Nicki Minaj said that she intended to subdue her sexuality because she "[wants] people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You've got to have something else to go with that."
2010: Minaj Aims to Be a Balanced Artist
In 2010, Nicki Minaj stated her aim to be a "balanced artist", emphasizing her focus on learning her style and doing something different to capture attention.
January 29, 2011: Saturday Night Live Performance
On January 29, 2011, Nicki Minaj performed "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life" on Saturday Night Live.
February 2011: Lil' Kim's "Black Friday" Mixtape
In February 2011, Lil' Kim released the mixtape Black Friday, which referenced Minaj and included artwork depicting Lil' Kim decapitating Minaj, marking the start of controversies.
March 2011: Ranked on Billboard Social 50 Chart
In March 2011, Billboard listed Nicki Minaj as the fourth-most-active musician on social media on its Social 50 chart.
April 2011: Release of "Super Bass"
In April 2011, "Super Bass" was released as the fifth single from Pink Friday, ultimately peaking at number three on the Hot 100 and becoming a commercial success.
July 2011: Cousin's Murder
In July 2011, Nicki Minaj's cousin, Nicholas Telemaque, was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, an event she referenced in her songs.
August 7, 2011: Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
On August 7, 2011, Nicki Minaj experienced a wardrobe malfunction during a performance on Good Morning America, resulting in apologies from both ABC and Minaj.
December 2011: Grammy Nominations
In December 2011, Nicki Minaj received three Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album for Pink Friday.
2011: Nicki Minaj Barbie Doll
In 2011, Mattel crafted a Barbie doll with the avatar of Nicki Minaj for charity, which she described as a "major moment" in her career.
2011: Ranked on Rolling Stone's "Kings of Hip Hop"
In 2011, Nicki Minaj was ranked sixth on the Rolling Stone master ranking of the "Kings of Hip Hop", which is based on record sales and social media metrics.
2011: Revealed Early Career Stifling
In a 2011 interview, Nicki Minaj said that before she met Lil Wayne, she had stifled a lot of her playfulness due to career advice.
February 6, 2012: Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Performance
On February 6, 2012, Nicki Minaj performed "Give Me All Your Luvin" with Madonna and M.I.A. during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.
February 2012: Release of "Starships"
In February 2012, "Starships" was released as the lead single from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
February 2012: Nicki Minaj's MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam launch
In February 2012, Nicki Minaj launched her own range of lip products for MAC Cosmetics' Viva Glam, marking her foray into the cosmetics industry.
April 2, 2012: Release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
On April 2, 2012, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was released, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
April 2012: Nokia Lumia 900 Launch
In April 2012, Nicki Minaj participated in the launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 in Times Square, showcasing her influence in technology and marketing.
May 16, 2012: Pink Friday Tour Begins
On May 16, 2012, Nicki Minaj began her headlining Pink Friday Tour.
September 2012: Fragrance Line Launch
In September 2012, Nicki Minaj's line of fragrances first launched, partnering with 'Give Back Brands' to introduce her first fragrance "Pink Friday".
October 14, 2012: Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour Begins
On October 14, 2012, the Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour began.
November 19, 2012: Release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up
On November 19, 2012, an expanded version of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, subtitled The Re-Up, was released.
2012: Forbes 30 Under 30
In 2012, Forbes included Nicki Minaj in its 30 Under 30 listicle of music.
2012: Most Influential Female Rapper
In 2012, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called Nicki Minaj "the most influential female rapper of all time".
2012: Ice Age: Continental Drift Film Role
In 2012, Nicki Minaj played a role in the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift.
2012: Last Album to Top Billboard 200 Until 2023
In 2012, Nicki Minaj released an album, prior to Pink Friday 2, that topped the Billboard 200 charts. It was not until December 8, 2023, with the release of Pink Friday 2 that she topped the chart again.
2012: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Album Release
In 2012, Nicki Minaj released her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which hit number one in the US and explored dance-pop.
2012: Most-Followed Rapper on Twitter
In 2012, Nicki Minaj was the most-followed rapper on Twitter.
2012: Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
In 2012, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Nicki Minaj donated $15,000 to the Food Bank For New York City and held a turkey drive at her alma mater, PS 45.
February 2013: Fame: Nicki Minaj Comic Book Release
In February 2013, Nicki Minaj starred in Bluewater Comics' Fame biographical-comic series, with her comic book, titled Fame: Nicki Minaj.
April 2013: Pink Pill Speakers partnership with Beats Electronics
In April 2013, Nicki Minaj partnered with Beats Electronics to introduce her "Pink Pill" speakers, appearing in a commercial with DeRay Davis that same month.
June 2013: MYX Fusions Launch
In June 2013, Nicki Minaj and Mona Scott-Young launched MYX Fusions, a line of fruit-infused, single-serve moscato wine beverages.
September 2013: Minajesty fragrance launch
In September 2013, Nicki Minaj's fourth fragrance "Minajesty" was launched.
December 2013: Pink Friday: Deluxe Edition fragrance release
In December 2013, the "Pink Friday: Deluxe Edition" flanker edition of Nicki Minaj's fragrance was released.
2013: Most-Charted Female Rapper on Billboard Hot 100
In 2013, Nicki Minaj became the most-charted female rapper on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, with 44 entries.
2013: Viva Glam spring campaign
In 2013, Nicki Minaj fronted the Viva Glam spring campaign, introducing her limited-edition lip product collection, "Nicki 2".
2013: American Idol Judge
In 2013, Nicki Minaj served as a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol.
April 25, 2014: Premiere of "The Other Woman"
Nicki Minaj's first live-action theatrical film The Other Woman premiered on April 25, 2014.
May 2014: Release of "Pills n Potions"
In May 2014, "Pills n Potions" was released as the lead single from The Pinkprint.
June 2014: Minajesty: Exotic Edition fragrance release
In June 2014, "Minajesty: Exotic Edition" was released exclusively to the Home Shopping Network.
September 2014: Onika fragrance launch
In September 2014, Nicki Minaj launched her sixth fragrance "Onika".
November 9, 2014: Hosted 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards
On November 9, 2014, Nicki Minaj hosted the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland. She also won the Best Hip-Hop Award for a second time.
December 15, 2014: Release of The Pinkprint
On December 15, 2014, The Pinkprint was officially released and debuted at number two in the U.S.
2014: Exception to the Unwritten Rule
In 2014, Erik Nielson of NPR said that Nicki Minaj's success over the last decade has stood as an exception to the unwritten rule that women rappers no longer have a place among elite artists.
2014: Relationship with Safaree Samuels ended
In 2014, Nicki Minaj ended her relationship with rapper Safaree Samuels.
2014: Last Appearance on Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings
In 2014, Nicki Minaj made her fourth consecutive appearance on Forbes "Hip Hop Cash Kings" list
2014: The Other Woman Film Role
In 2014, Nicki Minaj played a role in the live action comedy film The Other Woman.
2014: Image Reinvention
In 2014, Nicki Minaj reinvented her image, sporting a "natural" and "softer" look, wearing fewer wigs and less colourful costumes.
2014: The Pinkprint Album Release
In 2014, Nicki Minaj returned to her hip hop roots with her third album, The Pinkprint.
2014: "Anaconda" Controversy
In 2014, the cover art and music video for Nicki Minaj's single, "Anaconda", attracted significant media attention upon release.
2014: Kmart clothing collections released
Throughout 2014, Minaj released spring, summer, and fall-themed clothing collections for Kmart.
March 2015: Co-ownership of Tidal
In March 2015, Nicki Minaj became a co-owner of the music streaming service Tidal, joining other major artists like Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
March 2015: The Pinkprint Tour Begins
In March 2015, Nicki Minaj embarked on her third world tour, The Pinkprint Tour, and became the first female artist to chart four songs simultaneously in the top 10 of Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.
May 2015: Announcement of Barbershop Film Role
In May 2015, it was announced that Nicki Minaj would feature in Barbershop: The Next Cut.
August 2015: Madame Tussauds Wax Figure Unveiled
In August 2015, Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax figure of Nicki Minaj, depicting a pose from the "Anaconda" music video.
September 2015: Announcement of ABC Family Comedy Series
In September 2015, it was announced that Nicki Minaj would executive produce and appear in a scripted comedy series for ABC Family (now Freeform) based on her life.
November 2015: Kmart Holiday Capsule Clothing Collection
In November 2015, Nicki Minaj released a holiday capsule clothing collection for Kmart and its affiliated e-commerce platform, ShopYourWay, and a limited-edition couture collection.
2015: The Pinkprint fragrance release
In 2015, Nicki Minaj released her seventh fragrance, "The Pinkprint", named after her third studio album.
2015: Feminism Views
In 2015, Nicki Minaj spoke about feminism in an interview with Vogue, saying "There are things that I do that feminists don't like, and there are things that I do that they do like. I don't label myself. I just say the truth about what I feel. I feel like women can do anything that they put their minds to."
2015: Top Celebrities on Twitter
In 2015, Nicki Minaj was among the forty most-followed celebrities on Twitter.
2015: Forbes Celebrity 100
In 2015, Nicki Minaj was featured in Forbes' Celebrity 100 listicle.
2015: World's Biggest Female Rap Superstar
In 2015, Vanessa Grigoriadis from The New York Times Magazine called Nicki Minaj "the world's biggest female rap superstar".
2015: Relationship with Meek Mill began
In early 2015, Nicki Minaj began dating rapper Meek Mill.
January 2016: Filming of Nicki Pilot Episode
In January 2016, the pilot episode for Nicki was filmed in Minaj's hometown.
March 2016: Pink Friday Certified Triple-Platinum
As of March 2016, Pink Friday has been certified triple-platinum.
April 15, 2016: Release of Barbershop: The Next Cut
On April 15, 2016, Barbershop: The Next Cut was released, featuring Nicki Minaj as Draya.
October 2016: Postponement of Nicki Filming
In October 2016, Nicki Minaj stated that the filming of Nicki was postponed for undisclosed reasons.
December 2016: Nicki Minaj: The Empire mobile game released
In December 2016, Nicki Minaj and Glu Mobile released "Nicki Minaj: The Empire", a role-playing mobile game for IOS and Android.
2016: Last Best Female Hip Hop Artist Win Until 2024
In 2016, Nicki Minaj last won Best Female Hip Hop Artist, until her win at the BET Awards in 2024.
2016: Barbershop: The Next Cut Film Role
In 2016, Nicki Minaj played a role in the live action comedy film Barbershop: The Next Cut.
2016: Top Celebrities on Twitter
In 2016, Nicki Minaj was among the forty most-followed celebrities on Twitter.
2016: Trini Girl fragrance released
In 2016, Nicki Minaj's eighth fragrance, "Trini Girl", was released.
2016: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2016, Time named Nicki Minaj one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2016: Time 100
In 2016, Time named Nicki Minaj one of the most influential people in the world in its annual Time 100, and featured her on one of the physical covers of the issue.
2016: RIAA Modernizes Certification Process
In 2016, following Nicki Minaj's advocacy, the RIAA announced that it would be modernizing the certification process for albums, including on-demand audio and video streams.
January 2017: Relationship with Meek Mill ended
In January 2017, Nicki Minaj ended her relationship with rapper Meek Mill.
February 2017: Featured on "Make Love" and "Swalla"
In February 2017, Nicki Minaj featured on Gucci Mane's song "Make Love" and Jason Derulo's single "Swalla".
March 20, 2017: Broke Billboard Hot 100 Record
On March 20, 2017, with the three songs she released, Nicki Minaj broke the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries for a female artist, previously held by Aretha Franklin.
May 2017: College Tuition and Loan Payments for Fans
In May 2017, Nicki Minaj offered via Twitter to pay college tuition fees and student loans for 30 of her fans and revealed that she has been donating money to a village in India for a few years via her pastor, Lydia Sloley.
May 2017: Opened 2017 Billboard Music Awards
In May 2017, Nicki Minaj opened the 2017 Billboard Music Awards with a medley performance.
August 2017: Donation to Red Cross After Hurricane Harvey
In August 2017, Nicki Minaj donated $25,000 to the Red Cross after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas, answering a social media challenge by Kevin Hart.
September 2017: MAC Cosmetics Lipstick Collaboration
In September 2017, Nicki Minaj released two lipsticks, "Nicki's Nude" and "The Pinkprint", in collaboration with MAC Cosmetics.
November 2017: H&M Holiday Campaign
In November 2017, Nicki Minaj starred in H&M's holiday campaign alongside other celebrities such as Anna Ewers and Jesse Williams.
2017: "Super Bass" Ranked by Billboard
In 2017, Billboard ranked "Super Bass" as the second-biggest US Hot 100 hit by a female rapper of all time.
2017: Collaboration with Katy Perry
In 2017, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry collaborated on "Swish Swish".
2017: Most Hot 100 Entries by a Female Artist
In 2017, Nicki Minaj broke the record for the most Hot 100 entries by a female artist, surpassing Aretha Franklin.
March 2018: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Commercial
In March 2018, Nicki Minaj appeared in a commercial for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class car.
April 12, 2018: Release of "Chun-Li" and "Barbie Tingz"
On April 12, 2018, Nicki Minaj simultaneously released two singles, "Chun-Li" and "Barbie Tingz", from her upcoming fourth studio album, Queen. "Chun-Li" reached number ten in the US, while "Barbie Tingz" reached number twenty-five.
June 11, 2018: Release of "Rich Sex"
On June 11, 2018, Nicki Minaj released "Rich Sex" featuring Lil Wayne as the first promotional single from her album Queen.
June 14, 2018: Release of "Bed"
On June 14, 2018, Nicki Minaj released "Bed", featuring Ariana Grande, as the second single from Queen, and it reached number 42 on the Hot 100.
August 10, 2018: Release of Queen
On August 10, 2018, Nicki Minaj's album Queen was released after multiple delays. It debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200.
August 2018: Madden NFL 19 Video Game Trailer
In August 2018, Nicki Minaj starred in the trailer for EA Sports' Madden NFL 19 video game alongside other celebrities.
September 4, 2018: Appearance and Donations on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
On September 4, 2018, Nicki Minaj appeared as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and, with the participation of Walmart, gave out over $150,000 in donations to fans.
October 12, 2018: Featured on "Woman Like Me"
On October 12, 2018, Nicki Minaj featured on the song "Woman Like Me" by British girl group Little Mix.
November 2018: Madden NFL 19 Holiday Campaign
In November 2018, Nicki Minaj co-starred with Quavo and Chris Redd in the holiday campaign for Madden NFL 19.
December 2018: Relationship with Kenneth Petty began
In December 2018, Nicki Minaj began dating her childhood friend Kenneth Petty.
2018: Queen Radio Show
From 2018, Nicki Minaj hosted the radio show Queen Radio.
2018: First Woman with 100 Entries on Hot 100
In 2018, Nicki Minaj became the first woman to accumulate 100 entries on the Hot 100.
2018: Queen fragrance release
In 2018, Nicki Minaj released her ninth fragrance, "Queen", named after her fourth studio album.
2018: Altercation with Cardi B
In 2018, at a New York Fashion Week after-party, rapper Cardi B threw a shoe at Nicki Minaj and attempted to physically attack her, leading to a public feud and accusations of cyberbullying.
2018: Lyric Reference
In 2018, the lyric was written for Nicki Minaj's single, "Chun-Li".
2018: Controversy over Sexuality Discussion
In a 2018 interview, Nicki Minaj discussed sex workers, her own sex appeal, and sexuality in music and on social media, which attracted criticism.
2018: Roman's Revenge Origin
In a 2018 interview, Nicki Minaj explained that she wrote the song "Roman's Revenge" after "a veteran got at me, and I hit them with 'Roman's Revenge' and then I kept on going."
January 2019: Queen Certified Platinum
In January 2019, Nicki Minaj's album Queen was certified Platinum by the RIAA for moving over 1 million equivalent units.
April 2019: Guest Appearance at Coachella
In April 2019, Nicki Minaj made a surprise guest appearance at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival during Ariana Grande's set.
June 2019: Release of "Megatron"
In June 2019, Nicki Minaj released a standalone single titled "Megatron" along with an accompanying music video.
August 2019: Features on "Hot Girl Summer" and Appears in Angry Birds Movie 2
In August 2019, Nicki Minaj featured on the song "Hot Girl Summer" alongside Megan Thee Stallion and had a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie 2.
October 14, 2019: Fendi Prints On capsule collection release
On October 14, 2019, the "Fendi Prints On" capsule collection, a collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Fendi, was released.
October 2019: Marriage to Kenneth Petty
In October 2019, Nicki Minaj announced her marriage to Kenneth Petty.
2019: Billboard Game Changer Award
In 2019, Billboard Women in Music awarded Nicki Minaj with the Game Changer Award.
2019: Most Important Female Rapper of the Decade
In 2019, Complex ranked Nicki Minaj eighth on their list of best rappers of the 2010s, calling her "the most important female rapper of this decade—and quite possibly of all time".
2019: 100 Million Certified Units by RIAA
In 2019, Nicki Minaj became the first female rapper to achieve 100 million certified units by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), across her albums and songs.
2019: The Angry Birds Movie 2 Film Role
In 2019, Nicki Minaj played a role in The Angry Birds Movie 2.
2019: Pulls Out of Concert in Saudi Arabia
In 2019, Nicki Minaj pulled out of headlining a concert in Saudi Arabia following online backlash from activists, after women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was detained.
2019: Billboard Women in Music Game Changer Award
In 2019, Nicki Minaj was honored with the Billboard Women in Music Game Changer Award.
2019: "Tusa" tops Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart
In 2019, Nicki Minaj's collaboration with Karol G, "Tusa", was the first song by two lead female artists to debut atop the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
January 2020: Featured on "Nice to Meet Ya"
In January 2020, Nicki Minaj was featured on "Nice to Meet Ya" by Meghan Trainor.
February 2020: Kenneth Petty Indictment
In February 2020, Kenneth Petty was indicted for failing to update his residence on the sex offender registry after moving to California.
July 2020: Pregnancy Announcement
In July 2020, Nicki Minaj announced via Instagram that she was expecting her first child.
August 2020: Featured on "Expensive"
In August 2020, Nicki Minaj featured on Ty Dolla Sign's track "Expensive".
September 30, 2020: Birth of Son
On September 30, 2020, Nicki Minaj gave birth to a son, publicly referred to as "Papa Bear".
December 2020: Minaj Surpassed by another Artist for Hot 100 entries
In December 2020, Minaj lost her record for the most Hot 100 entries by a female artist.
2020: Best Rapper of the Past Ten Years
In 2020, Nick Soulsby of PopMatters called Nicki Minaj the "best female rapper and the best rapper of the past ten years – no gender preposition required."
2020: Billboard Hot 100 Number-One Singles
In 2020, Nicki Minaj achieved her first two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles as a featured artist on Doja Cat's "Say So" and 6ix9ine's "Trollz".
2020: Donations 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 and announced that a portion of the proceeds from "Trollz" would go towards the Bail Project amid the Black Lives Matter protests.
February 2021: Father's Death
In February 2021, Nicki Minaj's father, Robert Maraj, died in a hit-and-run accident in Long Island.
May 2021: Reissue of Beam Me Up Scotty
In May 2021, Nicki Minaj released a reissue of her mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty (2009), which debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200.
August 2021: Lawsuit filed against Minaj and Petty
In August 2021, Jennifer Hough filed a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty alleging harassment, intimidation, and infliction of emotional distress.
September 2021: COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
In September 2021, Nicki Minaj tweeted about her cousin's friend experiencing swollen testicles and impotence after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, leading to backlash and a denial from Trinidad and Tobago's health minister.
October 2021: Appears as Surprise Host for The Real Housewives of Potomac Reunion
In October 2021, Nicki Minaj appeared as a surprise host for the season six reunion of The Real Housewives of Potomac.
November 2021: "Super Bass" Receives Diamond Certification & Wins Best Hip Hop Award
In November 2021, Nicki Minaj's 2011 single "Super Bass" received a Diamond certification by the RIAA and she won the Best Hip Hop award in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2021.
2021: Best-Selling Female Rapper
As of 2021, Nicki Minaj has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female rapper and one of the best-selling music artists globally in 2021.
2021: Father's Death Year
In 2021, Nicki Minaj's father, Robert Maraj, passed away.
2021: Beat Selection Refined
In 2021, Zoe Johnson of XXL stated that in recent years, Nicki Minaj's beat selection has moved to refined production full of grit and hip-hop flare.
2021: "Anaconda" Music Video Reaches One Billion Views
In 2021, the music video for Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" became the first female rap solo song to surpass one billion views on YouTube.
February 4, 2022: Release of "Do We Have a Problem?"
On February 4, 2022, Nicki Minaj released "Do We Have a Problem?" with Lil Baby, which debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
March 2022: Marc Jacobs 'Heaven' campaign
In March 2022, Nicki Minaj fronted the campaign for the "Heaven" spring 2022 collection by Marc Jacobs.
May 2022: Creative Director of Maxim
In May 2022, Nicki Minaj was named the new creative director of American men's magazine Maxim and became the global ambassador and advisor for MaximBet.
May 2022: Met Gala Attendance
In May 2022, it was suggested that Nicki Minaj had likely been vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend the 2022 Met Gala, which required proof of vaccination.
July 2022: Rap Snacks collaboration
In July 2022, Nicki Minaj collaborated with Rap Snacks and released her own potato chip flavor, "Barbie-Que Honey Truffle".
December 2022: MaximBet shutdown
In December 2022, MaximBet, a sports betting brand for which Nicki Minaj served as global ambassador, was shutdown.
2022: First Solo Number-One Single
In 2022, Nicki Minaj had her first solo US number-one song with "Super Freaky Girl".
2022: Pink Friday on Rolling Stone's List
In 2022, the album Pink Friday was included in Rolling Stone's list of "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time" at number 31.
2022: "Super Freaky Girl" Debuts at Number One
In 2022, with the number-one Hot 100 debut of her single "Super Freaky Girl", Nicki Minaj became the first solo female rapper to debut atop the chart since Lauryn Hill in 1998, and the first female rapper to debut a solo song at number one in the 21st century.
March 3, 2023: Nicki Minaj Announces Record Label
On March 3, 2023, Nicki Minaj announced the launch of her record label imprint on an episode of her radio show, "Queen Radio".
March 5, 2023: Surprise Performance at Rolling Loud California
On March 5, 2023, Nicki Minaj appeared as a surprise performer during Lil Wayne's set at the Rolling Loud California festival.
March 13, 2023: "Heavy On It Records" revealed
On March 13, 2023, Minaj revealed the name of her record label imprint as "Heavy On It Records".
March 2023: "Nocho Nachos" flavor released
In March 2023, Minaj released a "Nocho Nachos" nachos flavor with Rap Snacks, inspired by her 2023 single, "Red Ruby Da Sleeze".
March 2023: Release of "Red Ruby da Sleeze"
In March 2023, Nicki Minaj released "Red Ruby da Sleeze" as the second single from her album.
July 2023: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II release
In July 2023, a playable character model of Minaj in her "Red Ruby" persona was released as downloadable content for the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music's origin.
August 2023: Release of "Super Freaky Girl"
In August 2023, Nicki Minaj released "Super Freaky Girl", the lead single from her upcoming album. It debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking Minaj's third US number-one, her first solo chart-topper, and the first solo song by a female rapper to debut at number one in the US in the 21st century.
September 2023: Release of "Last Time I Saw You"
In September 2023, Nicki Minaj released "Last Time I Saw You" as the third single from her album.
October 2023: Closure of Queen Radio on Amp
In October 2023, Nicki Minaj's radio show Queen Radio was discontinued on Amp as a result of the platform's closure.
December 8, 2023: Pink Friday 2 Album Release
On December 8, 2023, Nicki Minaj's fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2, was released, which is a sequel to her debut album. It received favorable reviews and debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking Minaj's first album since 2012 to do so. It also broke records for female rap albums.
December 2023: Gag City launch on Roblox
In December 2023, Nicki Minaj and Roblox introduced the virtual world Gag City on the game platform to promote her fifth album, Pink Friday 2 (2023).
December 2023: Martha's Death Confirmed
In December 2023, Nicki Minaj confirmed that Martha, the mother of her alter ego Roman Zolanski, had died of old age.
December 2023: Pink Friday 2 fragrance release
In December 2023, Nicki Minaj released her tenth fragrance "Pink Friday 2" to JCPenney, in support of her fifth album of the same name.
2023: Ranked Greatest Female Rapper
In 2023, Billboard and Vibe ranked Nicki Minaj as the greatest female rapper of all time.
2023: MTV Europe Music Award
In 2023, Nicki Minaj became the first black artist and the first female rapper to win the MTV Europe Music Award for Best US Act.
2023: First Female Rapper with Three Number-One Albums
In 2023, Nicki Minaj became the first female rapper to earn three number-one albums on the Billboard 200.
2023: Founded Heavy On It Records
In 2023, Nicki Minaj founded the Heavy On It Records label imprint.
2023: Hosting and Emceeing Awards Ceremonies
In 2023, Nicki Minaj hosted the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, after emceeing the 2022 ceremony with LL Cool J and Jack Harlow.
2023: Pink Friday 2 Album Release and Concert Tour Success
In 2023, Nicki Minaj released her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2, which debuted at number one in the US, and its concert tour became the highest-grossing tour for a female rapper in history.
2023: Tenth-Greatest Rapper of All Time
In 2023, Nicki Minaj was ranked as the tenth-greatest rapper and greatest female rapper of all time on Billboard and Vibe's list of the 50 greatest rappers.
January 2024: Release of "Everybody" and "FTCU"
In January 2024, Nicki Minaj released "Everybody" and "FTCU" as subsequent singles; both reaching the top 15 on the Hot 100.
January 26, 2024: Megan Thee Stallion Releases "Hiss"
On January 26, 2024, Megan Thee Stallion released the song "Hiss", which was believed to include jabs at Nicki Minaj and her husband, sparking a response from Minaj.
March 2024: Pink Friday Nails launched
In March 2024, Nicki Minaj launched her press-on nails line, Pink Friday Nails, which is vegan and cruelty-free.
March 2024: Pink Friday 2 Certified Platinum
In March 2024, Nicki Minaj's album Pink Friday 2 was certified platinum by the RIAA.
April 2024: Alleged Assault Incident on Pink Friday 2 Tour
In April 2024, Brandon Garrett, then working as a day-to-day manager on Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 tour, claims Minaj struck him multiple times after he had another employee collect her prescription. He also alleges that Minaj's former manager informed him he would not continue on the tour.
April 2024: Signs Open Letter on AI Use in Music
In April 2024, Nicki Minaj was one of over 200 artists who signed an open letter speaking to and asking for safety from the "predatory use of AI" in the music industry.
May 2024: "Bang Bang" Certified Diamond by the RIAA
In May 2024, "Bang Bang" was certified diamond by the RIAA, becoming the first all-female collaboration to achieve the certification.
May 25, 2024: Minaj Detained at Amsterdam Airport for Marijuana Possession
On May 25, 2024, Nicki Minaj was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam after marijuana was found in her luggage. She was attempting to board a plane to Manchester, England for a concert. She was fined and subsequently released the same day.
September 2024: Plans for Gag City Reloaded Scrapped
In September 2024, Nicki Minaj announced she had scrapped the deluxe version of her album titled Gag City Reloaded, in favor of making her sixth studio album.
October 2024: "Super Bass" Views on YouTube
As of October 2024, the music video for "Super Bass" has over 1 billion views on YouTube and Billboard ranked it as the biggest Hot 100 hit of Minaj's career.
October 2024: End of Pink Friday 2 World Tour
In October 2024, Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 World Tour, her most extensive tour yet, concluded, becoming the highest-grossing tour by a female rapper in history, grossing over $108 million in revenue based on the first 70 shows.
November 2024: "Starships" Certified Diamond by RIAA
In November 2024, "Starships" was certified diamond by the RIAA, for moving over ten million units in the US.
November 2024: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Certified Four-Times Platinum
In November 2024, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was certified four-times platinum by the RIAA, becoming Minaj's highest-certified album yet.
2024: Most-Streamed Female Rapper on Spotify
As of 2024, Nicki Minaj is the most-streamed female rapper on Spotify, with over 36 billion streams across all credits.
2024: Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century
In 2024, Billboard ranked Nicki Minaj at number 13 on its "Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century" list.
2024: Apex of Rap Mountain
In 2024, Billboard stated that Nicki Minaj "remains at the apex of the rap mountain 15 years after the release of her breakout mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty".
2024: Multiple Diamond-Certified Solo Songs
In 2024, Nicki Minaj became the first female rapper with multiple diamond-certified solo songs.
2024: Not a U.S. Citizen
In 2024, Nicki Minaj stated that she is not a US citizen.
2024: Pink Friday named as one of the "50 Greatest Black Albums of the Modern Era"
In 2024, Vibe named Pink Friday as one of the "50 Greatest Black Albums of the Modern Era".
2024: Pink Friday 2 World Tour Grosses Over $108 Million
Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 World Tour (2024) grossed over US$108 million, becoming the highest-grossing tour by a female rapper and the first among female rappers to surpass US$100 million in revenue.
January 2025: Lawsuit Filed Against Minaj 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. Minaj's lawyer denied the allegations.
2025: Nomination for Hip-Hop Tour of the Year
In 2025, the Pink Friday 2 World Tour was nominated for Hip-Hop Tour of the Year at the Pollstar Awards.
