American superstar rapper Nicki Minaj has lost her dad Robert Maraj in a hit and Run accident in New York.

Mr Maraj was said to be walking on the road between Roslyn road and Raff Avenue, when he was hit by a vehicle heading Northbound. Cops said the driver then fled the scene without meaningful description from the witness.

He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to the critical injuries he sustained and passed away over the weekend, according to TMZ online.

An investigation has started by the Homicide Squad is investigating the case and is seeking help from the public in identifying those who are responsible.

Mr Marah died at the age of 64.

Nicki Minaj hasn’t said anything yet concerning the incident however, fans and super star celebrities have taken to their various social media platform to sympathize with Nicki on the death of her Dad.

Also, the statement by Officers from Nassau County Police Department didn’t say Robert Maraj was Nicki Minaj’s dad, but a police spokesman confirmed to AFP that he was her father.

The rapper – whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty – was born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in the Queens borough of New York City.

She’s been nominated for 10 Grammys, won five MTV Video Music Awards and broken the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a solo female artist.

She announced she was ‘retiring’ in 2019 but has released new music since then.

The 38-year-old recently paid $450,000 to the singer Tracy Chapman to settle a copyright dispute after sampling one of her songs.