Robert Maraj, the father of rapper Nicki Minaj, has died. The 64-year-old was the victim of a hit-and-run driver who struck him down in New York, police said.
Robert Maraj was walking along a road in Mineola on Long Island at 6:15 pm on Friday; when a car hit him and just kept going, Nassau County police said. Maraj was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Saturday. Police are asking any witnesses to the fatal crash to come forward.
Minaj, 38, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and grew up in the New York City borough of Queens. Her father Robert worked as a financial executive and was a part-time gospel singer.
Sadly, he was a drug addict, which caused a lot of angst in their relationship. Robert was also allegedly abusive to his wife, Carol, Nicki explained on Wendy Williams.
Nicki said one night, Robert got so angry after an argument with Carol that he set the family house on fire, nearly killing her. Carol had predicted he might do this and luckily sent Nicki and her brother away to sleep at a friend’s house.
Nicki Minaj has not made any public statement about the death of her father.