(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Nicki Minaj is mourning her cousin Nicholas who was murdered on Sunday night in New York.

The singer posted a message on her Twitter page describing her grief at losing her relative.

Although she did not state the exact circumstances of her cousin's death the rapper was clearly devastated.

"My cousin Nicholas. Also goes by Juse, or @brolicalcoholic Murdered. Last nite. Near his home. Brooklyn,NY, Lived in Brooklyn his whole life. My precious cousin. My baby. Killed last nite (sic)," she tweeted.

The 26-year-old star received scores of messages of condolence from fans.

She is believed to have been very close to her cousin as she had posted several photographs of him on her Lockerz photo account.

Nicki was riding high after winning the BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop artist last week.

She is currently supporting Britney Spears on the Canada leg of the pop star's Femme Fatale tour. (C) Cover Media