Nicki Minaj just announced that she is officially a married woman. The rapper, who has been teasing the upcoming wedding with boyfriend Kenneth Petty for a few months prior, shared the happy news with her fans via Instagram.
In a short video, Minaj showed off some matching “Mr. and Mrs.” mugs, as well as baseball caps that read “Bride” and “Groom.” Keeping it short and sweet, Minaj confirmed that the marriage with the caption, “Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 10•21•19.”
Minaj and Petty initially met in their hometown of Southside, Jamaica Queens. They began as childhood sweethearts and announced they were dating last December.
In a January 2019 tweet, Minaj spoke of their pre-fame relationship history, saying: “We were like this about each other since we were very young kids in the hood. He was on my body b4 the big ol’ ghetto booty.”
Facts but we were like this about each other since we were very young kids in the hood. He was on my body b4 the big ol’ ghetto booty 🤪. B4 the fame & fortune. Fought my bf cuz I wouldn’t be his girl. He was always a lil brazy. But anyway, timing is everything. ♥️🙏 https://t.co/RdnXKzSZbu
On an August episode of her popular Queen Radio show, Minaj revealed that she and Petty had filed for a marriage license and would be married in “about 80 days.”
No photos of the actual wedding have been released yet, but we’re excited to see Mrs. Minaj in her bridal white!
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
