Hip-hop star here for Manila concert

HIP-HOP star Nicki Minaj arrived in Manila yesterday for her concert on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Minaj, 29, is one of the world’s hottest recording stars. Her debut album, “Pink Friday,” released in November 2010, sold a million copies after only a month, and went No. 1 on the US Billboard chart.

She was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Queens, New York when she was five. She played the clarinet in grade school. At LaGuardia High School, known for its visual and performing arts program, she enrolled in drama after flunking her singing audition because she lost her voice at the time.

She was discovered by rap superstar Lil Wayne, who signed her up with his record label, Young Money Entertainment, in August 2009.

Minaj’s collaborations with other artists have set new records on Billboard's Hot 100, bagging the most singles on the chart at one time—among them Ludacris’ “My Chick Bad,” Lil Wayne’s “Knockout,” Trey Songz’ “Bottoms Up,” Usher’s “Lil Freak,” Sean Kingston’s “Letting Go (Dutty Love),” and Jay Sean’s “2012 (It Ain’t the End).”

“Super Bass,” Minaj's seventh single from “Pink Friday,” has been certified quadruple-platinum (4 million copies sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Her second studio album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” was released in April.

Her concert at the MOA Arena is a production of Wilbros Live and presented by Globe Telecom and BlackBerry.