Tyka Evene Nelson was born on May 18, 1960 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Mattie Della Nelson ("née" Shaw; 1933–2002) and John Lewis Nelson (1916–2001). Her parents were both African-American and her family ancestry is centered in Louisiana, and all four of her grandparents hailing from that state. Her father was a jazz pianist and songwriter, and her mother was a jazz singer. Her brother Prince Rogers was born on June 7, 1958. Both siblings developed a keen interest in music, which was encouraged by their father. According to a 2008 interview with "City Pages", she began writing songs when she was 10 and “hasn’t collaborated” with her brother since they were young.