Nicki Minaj to bring family story to life in TV comedy series

Nicki Minaj (right) performs with fellow artist Taylor Swift at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. PHOTO: AFP

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Nicki Minaj is bringing the story of her New York upbringing to television with a comedy series for ABC Family. "This is one of the more unique adventures I've ever embarked on," Minaj, 32, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Minaj's family moved to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago in the early 1990s.

The musician will produce the still-untitled show as well as act in it, although her role has not been announced. Revealing the news on Twitter on Tuesday, she said she was scouting for at least one lead: "I am now launching a nation wide search to find #YoungNicki."

Shooting will begin this winter in the Queens borough of New York but no date has yet been set for broadcast. "Nicki is an international superstar, yet not everyone knows how inspiring and hilarious her true story is," said Karey Burke, ABC Family's executive vice president programming and development, in a statement.

Minaj is to appear next year on the big screen in Barbershop 3, starring as a hairdresser alongside rapper Ice Cube.

ABC Family is a unit of Walt Disney Co.

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