Following her five-year break, queen of rap Nicki Minaj released her new album Pink Friday 2. Ever since its release in early December, I have had it on repeat. Not only does this album reaffirm Minaj’s title as the top female rapper in the industry, but its various samples and features make every song different from the next. This album serves as a full circle moment as a sequel to her debut album in 2010, Pink Friday.
Minaj reclaims the throne with her top-tier lyricism in “Barbie Dangerous,” whose background piano and steady beat serve as the artist’s blank canvas for her creative genius. It’s safe to say that the only thing wrong with this song was its length, as I was left wanting more and found myself replaying the song several times once it had finished. Similar to this intense and short-lived rap was “Beep Beep,” which is easily one of my favorite songs on the album. Minaj’s raps are accompanied by a suspenseful melody and heavier beat that make for the perfect hype song.
Following “Beep Beep” is one of my other favorites, “Fallin 4 U,” whose background vocals and steady, intense melodies and beat matched perfectly with Minaj’s catchy chorus and crafty lyricism. Of all of the parts of this album that make it unique, Minaj’s lyricism is a top contender. Her lively emphasis on certain lyrics makes you want to immediately memorize all the words just to sing along. Minaj’s energy is palpable in all of her songs, especially in “Big Difference,” whose confident and catchy chorus is truly inspiring.
Keeping her sound fresh, Minaj incorporates many features into her songs in this album, though among my favorites were Drake’s feature in “Needle” and Future’s feature in “Nicki Hendrix”. Drake started the song with a smooth yet catchy rap, making his feature the perfect addition to Minaj’s part. Of all of the songs with features on the album, this song perfected the formula between Minaj and the various artists involved. While I also enjoyed “Nicki Hendrix” and its more vulnerable tone in contrast to the upbeat tune of “Needle”, I found Future’s part to be rather long and would have preferred if Minaj had shared some of his rap with him.
From hype to hymn-like, Minaj seamlessly transitions from her upbeat tone in “Blessings” to the more reflective lyrics and melody of “Last Time I Saw You,” displaying her effortless talent as a storyteller through her catchy lyrics. This song’s more pop-like feel is the kind you listen to on blast, singing along, hair-brush in hand. Continuing this rather reflective sound, Minaj concludes the album with “Just The Memories,” which conveys a pensive tone through repetition of lyrics. Minaj tells the story of her career and the challenges she endured with a melancholy and wise perspective. Connecting her professional life to her personal life, Minaj attaches both parts of herself in this song as she culminates her experiences and persona, finishing the album on a lovely note.
Five years following her latest album drop, Minaj’s successful career as the proclaimed queen of rap is perfectly continued into the 22 songs of Pink Friday 2. I would rate this album a 4.5 out of 5, my only critique being that many of the songs I enjoyed and wanted to hear more of were much shorter than expected. I would have liked for many of Minaj’s more intense rap-focused songs to have been at least half a minute longer, but other than that, this album has no flaws and is both a hype and heartwarming addition to Minaj’s discography.
