Nicki Minaj’s ethnicity is mixed; she is Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian. Because of her ethnicity, she is considered half-black and half-Asian. The music star, who was born Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, is from Trinidad and holds American citizenship.
Nicki is one of the most influential female artists well known for her persona, flow, alter egos, and versatility in music. Her uniqueness and fame have made many want to know more about her, including her ethnicity and nationality.
Where is Nicki Minaj From?
Nicki Minaj is from Trinidad. She was born at Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on December 8, 1982. While she is from Trinidad, she also holds American citizenship. The rapper was born to Robert Maraj and Carol Maraj, who are both from Trinidad.
The rapper grew up with her older brother, Jelani, and her two younger siblings, Micaiah and Ming, alongside her eleven cousins, under the care of their grandmother in Saint James. At the age of five, Nicki Minaj relocated with her family to Queens, New York, after her mother got her green card. From then until she came of age, she stayed under the care of her parents.
Nicki Minaj attended Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School and began taking up minor jobs upon her graduation. She also ventured into acting, and in 2001, she performed in the off-Broadway play titled In Case You Forget.
In 2004, she got signed by the Brooklyn group Full Force, where she co-rapped under a group known as the Hoodstars with 7even Up, Lod$tar, and Safaree Samuel. Between 2007 and 2009, she gained worldwide recognition, which she maintains to date after releasing three mixtapes.
Today, Nicki is referred to as the Queen of rap. She so far has one compilation album, four studio albums, 123 singles, and three mixtapes. The rapper has also been featured in about four movies.
Tracing Nicki Minaj’s Ethnicity
As stated above, Nicki Minaj’s ethnicity is mixed. It comprises Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian, which she inherited from both parents. The rapper is both Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian from her father, Robert Maraj, and Afro-Trinidadian from her mother, Carol Maraj.
Following this, she is half Asian and half black. Nicki Minaj’s ethnicity mix is evident in her physical features. She has slant eyes, light brown skin, and long curly black hair.
Meanwhile, some sources still claim that the rapper’s great-grandfather has Japanese roots, which means that she inherited them. The rapper once made a revelation in a tweet about her Japanese roots. She stated that she would only tweet in Japanese for the next week to honor her great-grandfather.
Despite the revelation, the public still remains skeptical about her Japanese roots. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is a lover of Japanese culture and always promotes it when the need arises. She wears Japanese clothes and uses the language in her songs.
Meet Nicki Minaj’s Parents
Robert Maraj and Carol Maraj are Nicki Minaj’s parents. Her parents are a greater part of her life, and here is all there is to know about them.
Robert Maraj
Nicki Minaj’s father is Robert Maraj. He was born on July 12, 1956, in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He gained public recognition for being the father of the Queen of Rap. Despite being thrust into the limelight, he kept details about himself away from the limelight.
Following this, the details of who his parents are and what they do for a living have been kept off the records. It was revealed that he is the eldest son of his parents, though the number of siblings that he has is not known. His only known family member is Suzie Maraj, an entrepreneur. He is Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian and maintains a strong Hindu faith.
Rober Maraj did not reveal any detail about his education, but it is assumed that he was well-educated following his profession. He was a financial executive and part-time gospel singer in Douglas. Nicki Minaj’s father became a drug addict after he moved to New York, and due to his addiction, he lost his job. As a result, he was forced to steal in order to purchase drugs.
After quitting the habit, he went to rehab and later became a pastor in a church. Robert maintained a good relationship with Nicki and other family members before his death.
He Died in an Accident
The rapper’s father was hit by a hit-and-run driver while walking on a road in Mineola, on Long Island, on February 12, 2021. He was taken to the hospital but eventually passed away on February 13, 2021. Robert was 64 years old at the time of his death.
The hit-and-run driver was later arrested after he turned himself in to the New York Police Department. The killer, a 70-year-old man, known as Charles Polevich, was reported to have asked the rapper’s father if he was all right after he hit him but did not care to call for help.
He was granted bail with his driver’s license and passport suspended but was arraigned in Nassau County Court. Charles was later sentenced to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine. In addition, his driver’s license was banned for six months.
Carol Maraj
Carol Maraj is Nikki Minaj’s mother. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, on December 24, 1959. She is the tenth child out of eleven children born to her parents, who are Afro-Trinidadians. While she is from Trinidad, she also holds American citizenship. She has not revealed much about her family, including who her parents are.
Carol had a very rough upbringing, though she stayed strong. She attended St. Agnes Primary School before moving on to Tranquility Government Secondary School. The rapper’s mother later relocated to New York in search of greener pastures, and her family joined her after some time.
Carol Maraj is currently a gospel singer, playwright, and songwriter. Some of her songs include God’s Been Good, I Am Free, What Makes You, and Endless. She is also a motivational speaker who lends her voice to women who suffer abuse.
Nicki Minaj’s Parents Got Married in 1976
Nicki’s parents were married for 45 years before her father died. They kept details of their relationship a secret, and as such, where and how they met is not known. According to reports, Carol Maraj was 20 years old at the time of their marriage.
There are no details about the kind of wedding that they had. Their marriage was not a rosy one, as Carol suffered physical abuse from her husband. Robert once set their house on fire with his wife inside, but fortunately, she escaped unharmed.
After he was sent to rehab because of drug abuse, Carol took her children and left. However, her plans to divorce him after he comes out of rehab did not go through as they settled their differences and lived together till Robert’s death.
