Who Are Nicki Minaj’s Parents? A Look at the Family History Amid Recent Feud With Cardi B

A recent online argument between rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj has brought new attention to Minaj’s family background, specifically her relationship with her parents. The personal clash saw Cardi B making serious allegations about Nicki’s late father, Robert Maraj, referencing a difficult family history that Nicki has spoken about in the past.

Who Were Nicki Minaj’s Parents?

Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. Her parents are Robert Maraj and Carol Maraj. The family moved from Trinidad to Queens, New York, when Nicki was five years old.

Her mother, Carol Maraj, has had a career in gospel music. In 2019, she released a single titled “What Makes You”. Carol has also started the Carol Maraj Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting women who have survived domestic violence.

Her father, Robert Maraj, worked as a financial executive and also sang gospel part-time. He was of mixed Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian ancestry. Robert Maraj died in February 2021 after being involved in a hit-and-run accident.

A History of Family Struggles

Nicki Minaj has been open in past interviews about a challenging and turbulent childhood, largely connected to her father’s struggles with addiction.

She has described how his substance abuse affected their family life. Minaj shared that her father battled crack cocaine addiction and that his behavior was often violent. She stated, “All of my young and teenage early years we lived in fear that my mother would be killed by my father. It was ridiculous. It was very tough emotionally for me to have a parent who was an alcoholic and a drug addict… My father was violent — physically and verbally.”

In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Minaj spoke about the domestic violence her mother endured. She connected her own drive for success to a desire to rescue her mother from that situation.

“When I first came to America I would go to my room and kneel down at the foot of my bed and pray that God would make me rich so that I could take care of my mother….I felt like if I could take care of my mother, my mother wouldn’t have to stay with my father … so I always felt like being rich would cure everything, and that was always what drove me.”

Minaj also noted that her father eventually sought help, went to rehab, and began attending church, an act she said “saved his life.”

The Recent Clash and Allegations

The history of Minaj’s family life became a central point in a recent, intensely personal social media feud with fellow rapper Cardi B in October 2025.

The dispute began with arguments about album sales and promotional tactics but quickly escalated into deeply personal territory, with both artists making comments about each other’s children. During this exchange, Cardi B made direct references to the abuse within Minaj’s family, making new and specific allegations.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Cardi B directly addressed the childhood trauma she claimed Nicki experienced.

“You said out your own mouth that the lil girl in you haven’t forgave your mother yet and that’s because your mom used to stay silent when your dad used to touch on you everytime he did that crack pipe… I know you experienced a lot of trauma and abuse but drugs is not gonna help you.”

Cardi B advised Minaj to seek professional help for this alleged childhood trauma. She also accused Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, of enabling substance use, alleging he “lets you do drugs all day to numb you so he can max out your credit card.”

Following the online argument, Nicki Minaj issued a public apology directed at Cardi B’s daughter, Kulture, for the negative comments she had made. She wrote, “Dear Kulture, truth is: I did all of this for a bigger purpose and one day you’ll understand… you’re a cute child & lots of kids have cute little funny looking gums before they grow into all of their features.” She added, “I apologize. As a child of God & QUEEN of my community who look to me for integrity… you’re an innocent child & don’t deserve any of this.”

Also Read: Nicki Minaj and Cardi B Reignite Feud in Heated Twitter Exchange

Credits: Rolling Stone, The Cut

---