Trinidad and Tobago is the place of birth of Nicki Minaj.
Onika Tanya Maraj ( born December 8 , 1982 ) , known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( [ langpronnɪkɪ_mɪ ` nɑːdʒ ] ) , is a Trinidadian-born American rapper , singer , songwriter and model . Born in Saint James , Trinidad and Tobago ( a district of Trinidad 's capital Port of Spain ) and raised in South Jamaica , Queens , New York , Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 .