One of the most high-profile examples is Nicki Minaj, the Trinidadian-born rap icon whose career has been defined by chart-topping success and public fascination. Born Onika Tanya Maraj in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she moved to Queens, New York, as a child and later rose to become one of the most influential rappers of her generation. Despite decades of living and working in the U.S., she remains a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2024, Minaj made headlines by confirming she is a Trinidad and Tobago national living in the U.S. as a permanent resident. However, her status became a major talking point again in early 2026 when she posted an image of what she called a Trump “Gold Card”, a controversial fast-track program offering U.S. residency and citizenship in exchange for a $1 million investment in the U.S. Treasury (plus additional fees).
Minaj captioned the post with “Welp…” and later stated she was “finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President.” This suggests she is currently in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship, but has not yet completed the process.
Her journey highlights the complex and often costly pathways to legal status in the U.S.—even for global superstars. It also underscores how fame and immigration intersect, with high-profile cases shining a spotlight on a system many fans never consider.
But Minaj is not alone.
Other Top Artists Who Are Not American Citizens
21 Savage, born in London, became a major hip-hop figure in Atlanta. His legal status became public in 2019 when he was detained by ICE, revealing he was a British citizen who entered the U.S. as a child. The case sparked widespread public debate, and he later secured permanent residency in 2023. Despite being a foreign national, he continues to dominate the U.S. music scene.
Canada has also supplied multiple chart-toppers, including:
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Justin Bieber, born in Ontario, Canada, who has long lived and worked in the U.S. under residency and visa arrangements but remains a Canadian citizen. While reports once suggested he considered American citizenship, it has never become a priority for him.
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The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye in Toronto, is another global superstar who works in the U.S. without naturalizing. His music has defined a decade of pop and R&B.
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Drake, often associated with the “Canadian invasion” of U.S. charts, presents a unique case. Born to a Canadian mother and an American father, he technically holds dual citizenship, yet remains widely identified as Canada’s biggest musical export.
What This Reveals About the U.S. Music Industry
The presence of these artists makes one thing clear: America’s music scene has never required citizenship to thrive. Residency and citizenship are not the same, and many artists live and work in the U.S. under permanent residency or long-term visas. These statuses allow them to work, pay taxes, and build careers, but they still come with limitations: they cannot vote, hold certain government jobs, or access full legal privileges reserved for citizens.
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a long and bureaucratic process, involving years of residency, background checks, and strict requirements. Yet the music charts remain indifferent to legal status. In the world of entertainment, success is measured by streams, sales, and influence—not by passports.
And as the careers of Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, The Weeknd, Drake, and others show, the U.S. music industry continues to be shaped by talent from around the world—whether or not they ever become American citizens.