ABC Family and Nicki Minaj have firmed up the cast for scripted comedy Nicki, based on the rap star's life growing up in Queens, New York.

Ariana Neal (Get Hard, Fruitvale Station) will star as Nicki, a role inspired by Nicki Minaj in her early years before she became a Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum superstar; Selita Ebanks (Real Husbands Of Hollywood) will play Grace, Nicki's mom; Wesley Jonathan (The Soul Man) is Vincent, Nicki and Jaylen's father; and McCarrie McCausland (Army Wives, The Originals) will play Jaylen, Nicki's older brother. Whoopi Goldberg will guest star as Nicki's neighbor, Miss Martha. Minaj is executive producer and will also appear in the show.

Kate Angelo (Sex Tape) penned the pilot and will write and executive-produce the series. Minaj, Aaron Kaplan, Stella Bulochnikov and Brian Sher, and Gee Roberson will also serve as executive producers. Nicki will shoot in Queens this winter with director Tim Story.

ABC Family is becoming Freeform on January 12.

Jonathan is repped by Abrams Artists Agency and Marsh Entertainment's Sherry Marsh.