Born Onika Maraj in Trinidad before moving to Queens, New York as a child, Nicki Minaj harbored artistic ambitions early in her life, and attended Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School – the performing arts academy made famous in the movie Fame. After graduation, she toiled on the fringes of New York's music community. Her
This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: Hip-Hop Family Tree: Nicki Minaj’s New York City