Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982) better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj (/mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York, Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007–2009. She signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009.