Trinidad-born rap ‘Queen’ Nicki Minaj honed skills in Jamaica…Queens

Hip-hop had already endured growing pains in 1982 when Onika Tanya Maraj made her debut in Saint James, Port of Spain. However, after migrating here, the Trinidad & Tobago native superbly enhanced the male-dominated genre to now rule over a kingdom she claims with a title, the Queen of Rap.

Jamaican Dancehall DJ Buju Banton musically stated, it’s “Not An Easy Road.”

And for the TT migrant, the journey began when at age 24 she was granted temporary residency (a green card or alien registration) in the USA. As fate would have it, the Trini made her first stop to the Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop. There with the Minaj household she socialized to the popular music trend.

No longer immersed in the soca/kaiso/calypso sphere, she embraced a different beat by honing skills a generation celebrates for its endurance and global appeal but mostly the 50 years it has sustained evolution and constant scrutiny.

Now 40, Minaj recalls moving to Jamaica, Queens where she penned original lyrics, compiled mixtapes and in 2007 emerged a phenomenon.       

“Although she celebrates Trinidad and Tobago, I don’t believe the culture particularly influenced her raps,” Rhea Smith, a TT expat said. 

“I believe she found a circle when she arrived here and that heightened her appreciation for hip-hop. But I don’t think the musicality of her performance was cultivated in Trinidad.”

Consider the fact Minaj might have been hungry for success.

Village Voice reporter explained that “assimilation” is not unusual to many new generation arrivals. He cited Belize-born rapper Shyne (Moses Michael Levi Barrow) Barbados-born Douglas Davis aka Doug E. Fresh, Britain/Jamaica-born Shinehead and others who adapted their stylized music form to deliver winning chart success.

Each uniquely added a different flavor to the already established music form which expanded hip-hop’s original reach. 

When the “human beat box” used his voice to mimic musical instruments, hip-hop opened a new path for others to follow and a new style of delivery was born.

Shinehead combined his native dancehall/reggae to tell stories hip-hop audiences related.

And Shyne will forever wear the Bad Boy label because even though he returned home to enter the political arena, there is really no other from his country that dared to make an imprint on the genre.

“I’m proud of the fact Nicky is a cultural icon from Trinidad who is making a positive impact” on the global stage, Noel added. 

Minaj’s flavorful style upped the game by dressing for success. Some might say, she was desperately seeking attention. Others would contend she used the fashion industry to punctuate the lyrics she penned.

From the early stages of her entre, one could not help noticing the head to toe statements she made. Minaj emphasized her Betty Davis eyes, Betty Boop sexiness, animated delivery and boundless coifs. It’s no wonder she gained monarchy status. 

Through all the physical manifestations, Minaj recorded powerful lyrics. She has released four studios albums, one compilation album, three mixtapes, 134 singles, 19 promotional singles and in the process accumulated 132 chart entries.

With 23 top ten singles in her career Minaj has sold 100 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female rapper of all time.  Billboard Magazine ranked her the greatest female rapper of all time.

Collaborating with Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, DJ Khalid, Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Rihanna, Drake and others, Minaj has amassed a diverse discography to cross other genres. 

“Playtime is Over” (2007) “Beam Me Up Scotty” (2009) “Ghetto Barbie,” (2012) “Pink Friday” (2010) “Queen” (2018) increased her appeal which in 2023, when the 50th anniversary of hip-hop is celebrated, positions her success as gainer of 37 number one songs.

Minaj is also credited with launching her own record label – Heavy On It Records, a division of Republic Records.

Queen Radio also identifies her radio show. In addition, her outspokenness attracts scores of fans who dubs Minaj a social media influencer who they are committed to protect from cyber bullies. 

The relentless and fierce supporters refer to themselves as Barbz and will defend any critical commentary or controversial opinion aimed at discrediting the queen. 

With 222 million followers on Instagram, 27 million on Twitter Minaj reigns supreme — the most followed female rapper.

In 2019 Fendi Fashion House launched the Nicky Minaj collection. The following year the collaboration expanded to a 127-piece collection of pink and metal products.

Minaj seems to adhere to a lifestyle that promotes the notion that pink is the new black. Therefore, she launched her own fragrance line in 2010 through a licensing deal with Elizabeth Arden branding Minajesty and Pink Friday which are packaged in bottles to the likeness of the queen of rap.

To date there are nine fragrances including six standard releases and three limited edition samplers. Queen is the latest.

And how would her pouty expression fare without Pinkprint lipstick? An arrangement with M.A.C sells Nicki’s Nude, in shades of brown “with a tiny hint of pink.”

Through it all, renowned calypsonian David Rudder might consider his fellow national Nicky Minaj “Trini to the Bone.” 

All hail the queen.