On December 8, 2023, Nicki Minaj released Pink Friday 2, an album with a large number of songs and a sequel to the original Pink Friday released back in 2010. The original album featured huge hit songs, like “Super Bass” and “Fly,” with features from popular artists such as Rihanna. I don’t think this album has lived up to all of the popularity around the first. I think Nicki Minaj is not putting in as much effort as she used to.
Although she did succeed in having the opportunity to make a song sampling the original “Barbie Girl” by Aqua for the Barbie movie this past summer, the same results weren’t seen in this new album. The album features a wide variety of songs, some of which are using her usual formula in trying to make a new top hit and multiple sampling other songs, mimicking the success of “Barbie World” earlier this year.
The album starts off with “FTCU” and” Beep Beep,” which are both dark, straight rap songs. These types of songs haven’t done well for her in the past and seem like fluff on the album. There really isn’t anything being added to these songs. It’s not the best way to start a record with the songs not really reflecting at all what the album is about. In my opinion, they should’ve just been kept in the shadows and not shown in her discography.
Throughout the rest of Pink Friday 2, she has songs with other popular artists in the rap scene, like J. Cole, Drake, and Lil Uzi Vert. When I first listened to each of the songs featuring other artists, it just sounded like a song from the featured artist, with Nicki Minaj having a small part in it. For example, “Needle,” featuring Drake, sounds exactly like a beat Drake used to use back in 2017, and Minaj doesn’t exactly fit that type of beat considering the rest of her work. I think that it’s bizarre to have these types of songs mainly focusing on other artists on your own album.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked a few songs on the album, such as “Fallin 4 U” and “Pink Friday Girls,” which I think truly reflect a sequel to the original Pink Friday album. I like the original work that she does as an artist, but this album doesn’t fully capture the music that she’s known for. I would give this album a two out of five stars since I was just confused after listening to it because of the large variety and the odd changes in songs focused on the artist being featured.
Piaudra • Jan 17, 2024 at 11:49 pm
This is a great album. It is very creative. She was very vulnerable on with songs like, Are you gone already, where she talks about her dad passing away and never getting a chance to meet her son. Also in, Let me calm down, were she talks about her husband. J Cole’s verse on the song is genius because he is pretty much talking to her husband giving him advice. My life, is an awesome song were she talks about how people are always having opinions on what she should and shouldn’t do but it’s her life. The song Needle with Drake is awesome it gives me an island vibe. Everybody, is a banger the way she it shows how talented she is to even com up with the concept speaks volumes. Blessings, is super up lifting. Cowgirl is so relaxing and smooth. Every song on the album is top tier and i’m not a barb. Just a fan of good music. This album is a 5/5
Carmen • Jan 16, 2024 at 6:33 pm
You definitely didn’t listen to the album if you don’t even know what the starting songs were. It’s giving you a full oN HATER ? Her album is phenomenal chart topping we got through we just like she said numbers don’t lie but negative spirited people do!
Steven • Jan 16, 2024 at 3:36 pm
How are we not talking about the best song on the album “RNB” ft Lil Wayne?? That song is hands down my personal favorite. I do agree with everything mentioned in this article, however. Specifically giving too much weight to those meant to only spotlight the album. Confusing? Yes. I would rate orca 3 out of 5.