Happy 30th birthday, Nicki Minaj! The hip-hop artist’s debut album, Pink Friday, went 4x platinum and had seven singles reach Billboard’s Hot 100 at the same time. Before she signed to YMCMB, Nicki played the clarinet in middle school, and worked as a waitress at Red Lobster after her acting career failed to take off. Nicki was fired from Red Lobster for being rude to customers, and then worked as an office manager on Wall Street. She has two brothers named Makiya and Jelani, her mother has worked as a gospel singer, and her father has worked for American Express. Check out a gallery of sexy and flashback pics of the new 30-year-old. –Joi Pearson @joiapearson
