John Shearer, WireImage With a hugely successful year under her belt, rapper Nicki Minaj is looking to keep her winning streak going at this year's American Music Awards. The Young Money frontwoman snagged two AMA nods and also acted as mistress of ceremonies, announcing the nominees alongside fellow double nominee Pitbull in Los Angeles Tuesday morning (Oct. 11). The 27-year-old 'Pink Friday' creator is up for Favorite Artist and Favorite Album in the Rap/Hip-Hop categories where she will face off against heavyweights like Jay-Z , Kanye West and her boss, Lil Wayne . Despite the competition, Minaj is not worried about going up against Weezy and is sure that she'll take home the trophies. "I'll knock him out," she tells The BoomBox. After a whirlwind year which has seen her topping Billboard charts, touring with Britney Spears and winning tons of accolades for her platinum-plus selling 'Pink Friday' debut, the Queens native is excited to be reco...

On stage, Nicki Minaj is a colorful performer who is full of life, but she has revealed she once struggled through some very dark times. "I kept having doors slammed on my face," the pop star told the November issue of Cosmopolitan magazine of the early days of her musical career. "I felt like nothing was working. I had moved out on my own, and here I was thinking I'd have to go home. It was one dead end after another. "At one point, I was, like, 'What would happen if I just didn't wake up?' That's how I felt. Like maybe I should just take my life?" she revealed. Nowadays, Nicki is more confident, sporting her own style both musically and fashion-wise and she's even ready for bigger success. "I will have put out five albums and will have an Oscar and Grammys," she told Cosmo of her future plans. Those plans also include children -- one day. "And I will be getting married and, a couple of years after that will have a bun in...

Nicki Minaj felt so low as she struggled to land a record deal, she contemplated suicide. The rapper admits she spent years working hard on her music without recognition, and after a series of disappointments, she thought about taking her own life. She tells Cosmopolitan magazine, "I kept having doors slammed in my face, I felt like nothing was working. I had moved out on my own, and here I was thinking I'd have to go home. It was just one dead end after another. At one point, I was, like, 'What would happen if I just didn't wake up?' That's how I felt. Like maybe I should just take my life?' " Minaj insists she has now put the low point behind her and is looking forward to the future, adding, "I will have put out five albums and will have an Oscar and Grammys. And I will be getting married and, a couple of years after that will have a bun in the oven ... My whole life is about being Nicki Minaj now. It's a never-ending saga."

Biography for Nicki Minaj Date of Birth 8 December 1982 , St. James, Trinidad and Tobago Birth Name Onika Tanya Maraj Nickname Nicki Lewinski Nicki The Harujuku Barbie Nicki The Ninja Nicki The Harajuku Barbie Height 5' 3¾" (1.62 m) Trade Mark Pink lipstick Pink wig Trivia Was the first artist to ever have seven songs on billboard charts at the same time. Graduated from LaGuardia High School, where she participated in the drama program. She had planned to sing at LaGuardia but lost her voice on the day of the audition. Has "God you are always with me" tattooed in traditional Chinese letters on her left arm. Minaj will be the supporting act for Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale tour in America and for three of the UK dates. Minaj also featured alongside Kesha in the remix of Britney Spears' song "Till the World Ends". Personal Quotes I know right now she has no idea who I am, but I'd like to collaborate with Enya one day. Of course I'd love ...