Why Nicki Minaj 'hates' her stage name after changing it 18 years ago

Nicki Minaj is not a fan of her stage name despite using it for the past 18 years in concerts and tours across the globe.

The rapper, real name Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, has been in the headlines a lot recently after expressing her support for President Donald Trump.

As such, many music fans have been delving into Minaj's history and how she was landed with the stage name of Nicki Minaj in 2007.

It was when the 43-year-old signed a record label deal with Dirty Money Entertainment that her stage name came about, but it was something she immediately fought against.

Originally known as Nicki Maraj, the record label are said to have convinced the singer to have changed to 'Minaj' as a result of a 'nasty rapping flow'.

Though Minaj has gone on to 'hate' her stage name in recent years.

The singer has had the stage name for 18 years and it has helped create her brand (Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to The Guardian in 2012, Minaj recalled: "Somebody changed my name. One of the first production deals I signed, the guy wanted my name to be Minaj and I fought him tooth and nail.

"But he convinced me. I've always hated it."

Minaj added that her whole stage name 'feel it's like one big theatre piece' and is reminiscent of a 'show'.

Minaj was later asked if she likes being called by her stage name, to which she replied: "No, I don't. My rule is, whatever you were calling me four years ago is what you should be calling me now, because I don't like it when my family or close friends call me Nicki Minaj.

"To me I'm not Nicki Minaj when I'm with them."

Nicki Minaj is not a fan of her stage name (Taylor Hill/WireImage)

It comes after Minaj spoke on a recent podcast about why she's been so vocal in her support of Trump and addressed the backlash she's received recently from some of her fans.

Addressing the hate in particular, Minaj quipped: "I felt that same, you know, a lot of that bullying in this man's campaign, and all of the lying. I felt that that had been done to me for so many years, and I was watching it in real time happen to someone else, and I didn't think he deserved it.

"And it made me think, I can't do this anymore."

Elsewhere in the podcast discussion, Minaj went on to state it was the importance of 'religious freedom' that made her support the president.

Speaking of how she believes that relates to Trump, the singer continued: "President Trump, because when I saw how he was being treated over and over and over, I just couldn't handle it."