The father of popular female rapper , Nicki Minaj has lost his life after he was struck by a hit - and - run driver in New York . 64 - year- old Robert Maraj was walking along a road in Mineola on Long Island at 6 : 15 p . m . Friday when he was hit by a car that kept going, Nassau County police said. search/what-bobrisky]See : See What Bobrisky Was Caught Doing With His Billionaire Boyfriend on Valentine ’ s Day Maraj was taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead Saturday. The Homicide Squad is investigating the case and asking for the public ’ s help in identifying the responsible party . There was not a decent description of the suspect vehicle provided . Police are asking any witnesses to the fatal crash to come forward. Minaj , 38 , was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in the New York City borough of Queens . She has not made any public statement about her father ’ s death.