Robert Maraj Tragically Died at 64 — Who Are Nicki Minaj's Parents?

Just a day before Valentine's Day, superstar rapper Nicki Minaj and her family were hit by tragedy as her 64-year-old father, Robert Maraj, was killed in a hit-and-run collision.

Just barely a day to Valentine's day, rapper Nicki Minaj's father, unfortunately, passed away after he was involved in a tragic hit-and-run incident.

Robert Maraj, Nicki Minaj's father, was only 64 years old when he passed away, leaving the rapper, her siblings, and her mother, Carol, behind. Learn some interesting facts about the rapper's parents.

NICKI MINAJ'S PARENTS

Born Onika Maraj, Minaj was born to her Trinidadian mother and father, Robert and Carol Maraj, on December 8, 1982. According to The Sun, Robert was a financial executive and a part-time gospel singer.

The on-and-off singer had many flaws that plagued him and his family, including a dire battle with drug addiction that nearly caused a permanent rift between him, his wife, and children.

Robert and Minaj are not the only members of their family who have interests and talents in music. The rapper's mother, Carol, is also a gospel singer and songwriter.

ROBERT MARAJ AS A FATHER

Robert was only a man who struggled with his problems like everyone else does. However, these personal battles that plagued him were so great that their ripple effect on Minaj and her siblings and mother would affect every aspect of their lives.

Although their genres greatly differ, Carol has admitted to wanting to collaborate with her daughter on a gospel song.

Minaj has often opened up about her turbulent childhood, including the gory unfiltered details about her father's abusive nature towards her mother and, ultimately, towards her and her siblings.

The '90s in their Queens, New York home brought a lot of angst for the family. Opening up about those horrid times and the trauma that followed her into adulthood, Minaj bared it all in her 2018 "Queen" documentary. She said:

"My mother would let my father be violent with her... That's why I vowed from that age no man would ever abuse me..."

The rapper also admitted that this age-old resolution is why many people would term her feisty attitude as abrasive. Indeed, there was a story behind it and a reason for her personality.

The tell-all documentary came years after she had an outburst in a 2012 interview and harshly admitted that she and her siblings often wished that their father died as they were afraid for their mother's life. He threatened to kill his wife several times.

CAROL ON HER HUSBAND'S STRUGGLES

Although more popularly known, Minaj was not the only one who opened up about Robert's struggles and their effects. Carol also bore it all in 2014, describing how she suffered at the hands of her abusive husband.

The gospel singer said that her husband used to get high on cocaine and alcohol and then return home to terrorize the whole family, and this would happen quite often.

The mother of two also revealed that her now-late husband once burned down their house. According to her, she woke up one night to the smell of smoke and only barely made it out as the house was engulfed in flames.

Minaj, who has also vividly shared this story from her perspective, and her siblings were thankfully at a neighbor's house, oblivious to the chaos between their parents.

Years after these horrific incidents, Robert eventually cleaned up his act and went to rehab, where he overcame his addiction and worked to become a better father and husband.

MINAJ'S MOTHER, CAROL

As one might expect, Minaj and her mother share a close-knit bond. With all that they have been through together, the mother and daughter duo are like two peas in a pod and never hesitate to show the world how close they are.

In 2015, when the rapper was honored at the BET Awards show, she invited her mother to the stage as she remained one of the most special people in her life.

Minaj thanked her mother profusely, touching the hearts of the audience and fans as a result. The duo does not only share a bond as mother and daughter but also as two musicians.

Although their genres significantly differ, Carol has admitted to wanting to collaborate with her daughter on a gospel song. The doting mother also revealed that her daughter has found her own personal standing with faith and even found healing in tithing.

During an interview, while discussing her hope that her daughter, Nicki Minaj, would one day find a place for Christianity, the mom said to the Christian Post:

"I trust that one day Onika will sing unto the father, because a seed has already been planted. Nothing is too big to God."

Months after Minaj tied the knot with her teenage love, Kenneth Petty, Carol gushed about how much she was looking forward to becoming a grandmother. The proud mom has now gotten her wish as Petty and Minaj welcomed a son in September 2020.

THE SUDDEN MARAJ TRAGEDY

On Friday, February 12, Robert was struck by a vehicle while walking on a road in Mineola, Long Island, New York. The perpetrator fled the scene, leaving the 64-year-old to battle for his life.

He was reportedly rushed to a hospital where he was being catered to until he eventually succumbed to the accident's fatal effects and passed away over the weekend.

Although Minaj has not yet commented on her father's death, fans will understand that the family is going through a tough time and need time to heal.