Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (née Maraj; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj (/mɪˈnɑːʒ/ min-AHZH), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is often regarded as one of the greatest female rappers of her generation, as well as being one of the most influential rappers of all time. Minaj first gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accents. She is also credited with the revival of female rap in the mainstream.