On a day that should be filled with love and happiness, Nicki Minaj and her family are in mourning after the Queen rapper’s father passed away.
According to a report TMZ published on Sunday (Feb. 14), Minaj’s father Robert Maraj, 64, was walking on the road at the intersection of Roslyn Road and Raff Avenue in Mineola, New York on Friday night. A car heading northbound reportedly struck Maraj and left the scene. Witnesses were not able to catch a legitimate description of the suspect nor the vehicle in question that hit Maraj. A rep for the rapper’s camp did confirm her father’s passing but did not offer any other statement.
Maraj was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition. However, Maraj eventually succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital. The Nassau County Police Department in New York is still hunting for the suspect. They are leaning on the public’s assistance to find Maraj’s killer.
Minaj’s life had been relatively amazing before she lost her dad. The rapper gave birth to her son last year with her husband Kenneth Petty. At the beginning of 2021, Minaj revealed her son to the world for the first time.
“#PapaBear thank you so very much for choosing me to be your mama ,” Nicki Minaj wrote in her Instagram caption. “Wishing you guys a happy & prosperous New Year. Thank you for your love & support throughout this journey. It’s meant so much to me. Becoming a mom is by far the most fulfilling job I’ve ever taken on. Sending love to all the superhero mothers out there. Big hugs to all the women who have been pregnant during this challenging time.”
As of this report, neither the Young Money rapper nor the members of her family have made any public comments about her father’s death. Rest in peace, Robert Maraj.