Nicki Minaj

Released: July 8, 2009

You know, a lot of people ask me why I feel that, you know, I've gotten a lot of notoriety so quickly
And I don’t know, people seem to be under the impression that I’ve made it to this point fast
And, you know, obviously for me, I don’t feel like that
'Cause it's me, you know? I feel like I’ve been doing it for ten billion years
But every time someone says something like that to me
I remember to just thank God for getting me this far
'Cause sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve gotten
Until you look around and look at the people who are still trailing so far behind you
And I know that no matter what, in the end, it's not going to be about my talent, you know?
It's not going to be about connections
It’s not gonna be about my looks
It's gonna be about who wants it the most
And I want it the most

Born December 8, 1982, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-American rapper, actress, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur.

Nicki was discovered by Lil Wayne via her mixtapes Sucka Free and Beam Me Up Scotty, and broke into the mainstream as an artist signed to Wayne’s label Young Money Entertainment. Her first successful songs, “Your Love,” “Moment 4 Life” (with Drake), and the smash-hit “Super Bass,” are featured on her 2010 chart-topping debut album Pink Friday.

She continued her run with her second studio album, Pink Roman Reloaded, which contained “Starships,” a song which would further develop Nicki’s pop/rap style. “Starships” gave Nicki a Billboard milestone, when it charted for 21 weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, a feat no other artist has achieved without the aid of streaming services.

more tracks from the album

Beam Me Up Scotty

From the album

Beam Me Up Scotty (2009)

Nicki Minaj popular songs

IntroNicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

Beam Me Up Scotty