Lisa Idzikowski - Nicki Minaj: Musician and Fashion Superstar

Published in 2020 by Enslow Publishing, LLC. 101 W. 23rd Street, Suite 240, New York, NY 10011 Copyright 2020 by Enslow Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Idzikowski, Lisa, author.

Title: Nicki Minaj: musician and fashion superstar / Lisa Idzikowski. Description: New York: Enslow Publishing, [2020] | Series: Stars of hip-hop| Audience: 2 | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018050380| ISBN 9781978509610 (library bound) | ISBN 9781978510401 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781978510425 (6 pack) Subjects: LCSH: Minaj, NickiJuvenile literature. | Rap musiciansUnited StatesJuvenile literature. Classification: LCC ML3930.M313 I48 2019 | DDC 782.42164092 [B] dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018050380 Printed in the United States of America To Our Readers: We have done our best to make sure all websites in this book were active and appropriate when we went to press. However, the author and the publisher have no control over and assume no liability for the material available on those websites or on any websites they may link to.

Any comments or suggestions can be sent by email to . Photo Credits: Cover, p. Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images. CONTENTS NICKIS START N icki Minaj is a famous hip-hop star. Some say she is the greatest female of all time. Her real name is Onika Tanya Maraj.

She was born on December 8, 1982, in Trinidad. Trinidad is an island. It was home for Nicki and her parents, Robert and Carol. It was home for many other family members, too. But her parents moved away when she was very little. Nicki Minaj is excited to attend the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California. Nicki Minaj is excited to attend the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California.

Nickis parents were looking for better jobs and a better life. Nicki couldnt go along. Instead she stayed with her grandmother. But she had one big wish. And it came true when she was five years old. NICKIS NEW HOME Nickis mother and father sent for her! It was time to move to her new home.

She said goodbye to her friends and family in Trinidad. Nicki was happy to be with her parents again. But her happiness did not last. I think before I could remember wanting to do anything else, I knew that I wanted to be in charge. There was not much to like about New York City for Nicki. It was cold.

Her house was small. It was in a bad neighborhood. People sold drugs on the streets. Big troubles started. Her father lost his job. He started drinking alcohol to deal with his problems.

He also began using drugs a lot. Her parents screamed and fought all the time. Nicki hated all the problems at home. Her father took things from their house. He sold some of their furniture to buy drugs. Nicki Minaj and her mother, Carol Maraj, pose together at the BET Awards show.

NICKIS FIRST RAP Nickis father got mad all the time. He punched holes in the walls. One night, he even set their house on fire! Nicki wasnt at home that night. Luckily, her mother wasnt hurt. But Nicki lost all her toys and clothes. Nicki Minaj sings to the crowd in a flashy costume during the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2011. Nicki Minaj sings to the crowd in a flashy costume during the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2011.

Nickis Many Characters Nicki pretends to be different characters in her songs. This started when she was a young girl with her first character, Cookie. Her characters include a Barbie, a ninja, and others. How did Nicki deal with it? She loved to sing and write. She loved to read. Nicki also liked to dress up and play pretend.

And when she was eleven, she wrote her first . It was about a girl named Cookie. THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR NICKI N icki Minaj has said, Acting was my first thing. She might say that her career started in high school. The Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York was a special place.

Kids who wanted to sing, dance, and act went there. Nickis mother knew it was the right high school for her daughter. That school changed my life [E]veryone was able to express themselves. This is a look at Nicki Minajs high school today. At first, Nicki was turned down. Her singing tryout didnt go well.

But her mother wouldnt let her give up. Nicki tried again. This time she landed a spot in the program for acting. At first Nicki was scared. But she knew that it was the right place for her. A PERFECT FIT Nicki worried about going to a new school.

Would she make new friends? Would people like her? Yes. She fit right in. Everyone was creative. The school didnt have a . Kids dressed exactly the way they wanted. Nicki also had a boyfriend.

For a while, she was more interested in him than in school. She skipped classes. Luckily, she took extra classes and graduated. Great Grads Many famous entertainers went to Nickis high school. Actors Jennifer Aniston and Ansel Elgort graduated from there. Nicki Minaj performs at a 2011 Staples Center show. Nicki Minaj performs at a 2011 Staples Center show.

Her colorful style started in high school. OFF INTO THE WORLD By the end of high school, showed interest in Nicki. They thought she had good acting skills. Nicki thought it was her ticket to stardom. But not so fast. She really wanted to live on her own.

And that meant having to pay for everything. None of the talent scouts offered her steady work. So she found jobs for herself. At a 2010 concert in California, Nicki Minaj sings to the US military. Music was the key to her happiness. At first, she tried work as a waitress.

Later, she worked in an office. Nicki hated both jobs. She realized that only one thing would make her truly happy. She had to make it big in the world of music. NICKIS RISE TO FAME N icki Minaj dove into music. She wrote lyrics.

She listened to all kinds of popular music. She sang to anyone who would listen. It wasnt easy. But she never gave up. She worked and worked. She just had to be a big hit.

A friend asked Minaj to help him with some music. She wrote parts of his song. He loved her work. That did it! Minaj was going to make herself the best female , or rapper.