The Queen returns together with her first LP since 2018 with options from Drake, Future, Lil Wayne, and extra.
Nicki Minaj on the premiere of “Barbie” held at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Corridor on July 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Christopher Polk for WWD
The Queen has returned to her rap throne. Nicki Minaj delivered her first album in 5 years with the extremely anticipated Pink Friday 2 sequel on Friday (Dec. 8).
PF2 was slated to land on November 17, however was delayed to Dec. 8 which additionally serves as Minaj’s forty first birthday. Pleasure for the LP continued to construct this week, and maybe boiled over when a member of the rapper’s loyal Barbz military brought up Minaj’s album throughout a San Antonio Metropolis Council assembly on Thursday (Dec. 7).
Pink Friday 2 arrives 13 years after the Queens legend unleashed her acclaimed 2010 debut, the primary Pink Friday, which topped the Billboard 200 and cemented Minaj as one of many style’s stars and premier MCs, able to take over the 2010s.
The legendary rapper typically clashes with the perfect the style has to supply when it’s album time, and Minaj isn’t afraid to push her pen towards any rhymer. This time round, she invitations Younger Cash brethren Drake and Lil Wayne to make appearances, in addition to frequent collaborators Lil Uzi Vert and Future and a primary official team-up with J. Cole.
For her fifth studio album, Nicki made certain to reconnect together with her roots. “After I look again at quite a lot of my music, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, the place was the me in it?’” she advised Vogue final month. “So for this album, I went again to the outdated sport plan … The concept saying one thing like that might give hope to folks — that optimistic outlook is one thing I feel I bought away from.”
Discover all 22 songs from Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 ranked beneath.
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“Bahm Bahm”
Minaj reportedly previewed “Bahm Bahm” on Instagram Stay and relayed it wasn’t a match for her album — and she or he in all probability ought to’ve saved to that considering. The monitor simply wasn’t very additive to the LP total, which is already full of 22 songs. — M.S.
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“Ahead From Trini” (feat. Skillibeng & Skeng)
Minaj showcases Carribbean pleasure whereas connecting to her Trinidadian roots. She heads to Jamaica to work with a pair of dancehall standouts in Skillibeng and Skeng. “Ahead From Trini” might simply present the soundtrack to Onika’s subsequent journey to Trinidad for Carnival 2024. — M.S.
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“FTCU”
ATL Jacob builds the “FTCU” beat round Waka Flocka Flame’s Flockaveli standout however the lazy try doesn’t join with Nicki’s bars funneling right into a monotonous gap. The monitor is overshadowed by an eye-grabbing Tory Lanez-Iggy Azalea name-drop, and it isn’t clear who she’s shading right here. — M.S.
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“Fallin 4 U”
Powered by a catchy refrain with Nicki leaning into her swooning vocals over violin strings, Minaj jumps from falling for a sure particular person to laying her chips on the desk to declare herself the best to do it. “I’m No. 1, y’all go argue over prime 4,” she raps. “Fallin 4 U” lands as a middling tune for PF2. — M.S.
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“Beep Beep”
With Murda (Beatz) on the beat and homicide on her thoughts, Minaj burns by the 1:36 of “Beep Beep” with a single verse and bridge, clocking her haters with a legitimate query: “If I don’t know you exist, is that beef?” Whereas the size is suitable for a transitional monitor, it leaves extra to be desired— luckily, these on the lookout for extra aggressive Minaj can discover it elsewhere on the album. — M.M.
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“RNB” (feat. Lil Wayne & Tate Kobang)
Lil Wayne reuniting together with his Younger Cash mentee is all the time a welcomed sight for followers who have been raised on YM and have seen this fruitful journey blossom over the course of the final 15 years. The jingly manufacturing reps for R&B as Minaj provides the style acronym a brand new that means, a “actual n—a b–ch.” Wayne is one other rapper of the 12 months candidate, as he’s delivered limitless high quality visitor verses, and provides to his tally right here prefer it’s nonetheless ’07. — M.S.
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“Pink Birthday“
Each Sagittarius and Barb has their new birthday anthem because of a splash of fuschia and the uplifting “Pink Birthday.” “It’s your birthday, you may do what you need to,” Minaj testifies. The monitor arrives amid a stellar run for Pink Friday 2 and manages to face tall whereas sandwiched between Lil Wayne and Drake options. Travis Scott even earned a co-writing credit score on right here too. — M.S.
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“Huge Distinction”
Minaj is sort of a quarterback absolutely answerable for the sport on the mid-point of PF2. The Queens native slows the tempo down to deal with these beneath her with one other earworm of a refrain. Nicki salutes her husband’s road cred and lets her haters know she’s bought shooters on deck when wanted. A deep reduce that might rise to a fan-favorite as time goes on. — M.S.
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“My Life”
A reflective Nicki Minaj is a deadly Nicki Minaj in terms of her songwriting and lyricism. “My Life” finds the Queen dismissing the drama in her life and since individuals are going to guage her both means, she’s gonna do what she desires regardless and the Barbz are going to be there cheering her on. — M.S.
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“Blessings” (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard)
A palette cleanser from the dessert part of Pink Friday 2. Minaj provides her tackle a gospel monitor with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and she or he’s by no means shy about giving up the glory to God. It does really feel a bit contradictory to have Jesus-praising bars over a BNYX beat — however that’s vary. — M.S.
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“Barbie Harmful”
This isn’t the primary time Minaj has lifted from The Infamous B.I.G. in her profession, as she interpolates bars from Biggie’s traditional “Infamous Thugs” whereas flexing her skill and belittling the competitors. “Barbie Harmful” appears like a lyrical train for the rap legend as she breezes by the Hollywood Cole manufacturing which can land in the course of the pack for Pink Friday 2. — M.S.
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“Purple Ruby Da Sleeze”
“Purple Ruby Da Sleeze” served because the introduction of one other braggadocios alter-ego for Minaj in March because the music reached No. 11 on the Billboard Scorching 100. A worthy single setting the tone for the album and Republic Information opened up the vault for yet one more catchy pattern that discovered NM using Lumidee’s 2003 hit “By no means Depart You.” — M.S.
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“Tremendous Freaky Lady”
When this music dropped as a single, followers have been equally delighted as they have been shocked by the playful launch sampling Rick James’ funky, Grammy-nominated hit “Tremendous Freak.” The viral motion, propelled by TikTok dances and a remix that includes Minaj’s alter ego Roman Zolanski, gave Minaj her first unaccompanied solo Scorching 100 No. 1 and third total. Due to earlier tracks like “RNB” and “Cowgirl,” we’re nicely conscious at this level that Minaj is a “Tremendous Freaky Lady,” nevertheless it’s a welcome addition to a handful of tracks that reassert Nicki as a pop famous person. — M.M.
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“Cowgirl” (feat. Lourdiz)
Pop Nicki followers, stand up: your new anthem is right here. The empowered female ethos of the Pink Friday period is reimagined on this dreamy bop with the assistance of songwriter and rising artist Lourdiz. Lourdiz’s fragile falsetto paints the act of driving “Cowgirl” as an uncharacteristically elegant act, however give house for Nicki to flesh out verses that vary from tender, Harajuku Barbie-esque supply to edgier factors that give a style of fan-favorite alter ego Roman Zolanski. — M.M.
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“Simply the Reminiscences”
An ethereal album nearer, Minaj glides over the clouds and to the end line whereas reminiscing on the darkish hurdles of her childhood. Whether or not that was her fifth-grade crush being killed or getting arrested for assault with a lethal weapon, she persevered to perform her targets.
Minaj units the file straight declaring that she’s the best feminine rapper to ever choose up a pen and a lie detector take a look at decided that to be the reality. “Best feminine rapper to ever dwell, and that’s on my child,” the Queen raps. “In the event that they ask about me, inform ’em I used to be one-of-one.” — M.S.
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“Pink Friday Ladies”
One other anthem that was constructed round a famend pattern, the newest recipient being Cyndi Lauper’s “Ladies Simply Wanna Have Enjoyable” banger. It looks like Nicki made it a degree to have extra enjoyable with elements of this album and get again into her pop-rap bag circa 2010-2012, when she was principally operating the sub-genre. The bubbly, Aqua-lifting “Barbie World” with Ice Spice additionally scorched the charts earlier this 12 months — so why not follow the successful method? — M.S.
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“Let Me Calm Down” (feat. J. Cole)
Minaj airs grievances towards her lover with a powerful help from collaborator J. Cole. The duo’s trade explores the complexity of grownup relationships, with Cole’s signature prophetic tone shining as he involves Minaj’s protection. As he pertains to Minaj’s wrestle, he takes a jab on the critics and references one of the vital chaotic public relationship fall-outs in latest reminiscence: “Phrase to Willy Smith, these foolish n—as heckle and shun/ As in the event that they life is in some way good they usually by no means been plunged.” — M.M.
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“Are You Gone Already”
In step with latest tendencies of sped-up samples, “Are You Gone Already” options Billie Eilish’s “When the Social gathering’s Over.” Eilish’s haunting vocals lay the muse for Minaj to dive straight into heavy lyrics as she previews overarching themes of the album: love, loss, guilt, and worry, with the magnitude of those concepts emphasised by punctuating bass. — M.M.
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“Needle” (feat. Drake)
Oozing with island vibes, “Needle” is bound to have hips gyrating on the dance ground this weekend. The wavy tune might’ve simply landed on Drake’s house-fused Actually, Nevermind album. It wasn’t the kind of collab most have been in all probability anticipating between Drizzy and Nicki, however this can sate the urge for food for 2023. — M.S.
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“Final Time I Noticed You”
“Final Time I Noticed You” is harking back to the 2018 Queen hidden gem “Come See About Me.” Minaj may very well be ruminating concerning the tragic lack of her father or one other soured relationship. Maybe it’s motherhood, however there’s a sure side of progress and maturity proven coming from her final album to Pink Friday 2. Nicki additionally takes full benefit of the guitar-driven instrumental. — M.S.
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“Nicki Hendrix” (feat. Future)
The sky is the restrict for a possible Future and Nicki Minaj undertaking. The duo reunites and delves into their R&B aspect as Pluto goes full HNDRXX mode singing his coronary heart out and now a sequel is required in 2024. “Feeling damaging results in destruction,” Future warbles with a syrupy circulate. “Nicki Hendrix” provides a distinct texture to the undertaking — and to assume Minaj had followers nervous it wouldn’t even make Pink Friday 2. — M.S.
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“All people” (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
This anthem appears destined to go quadruple-platinum on TikTok, with followers creating varied dances and clips to the groovy tune. The Junior Senior “Transfer Your Ft” pattern will sound acquainted to only about each era however not many might level out the Danish duo strolling down Madison Avenue. Lil Uzi Vert is a part of the group undertaking with out contributing an excessive amount of heavy lifting, as Minaj will look to — if the music lifts off because it ought to — lock down her fourth No. 1 hit on the Scorching 100. — M.S.