With the release of her debut album “Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj broke into an industry that had been dominated by men for years and set the standard for solo female rappers to come. This high bar, however, makes the sequel album, “Pink Friday 2,” seem somewhat lackluster in comparison. While Minaj impresses with her vocal versatility and rap skills, her experimental take on sampling is a hit or miss for each song.
An icon in the realm of rap, Minaj released her long-awaited fifth studio album “Pink Friday 2” on December 8. Through a mish mash of hip hop, pop, and R&B tunes, Minaj reflects on emotional and intimate parts of her life, such as motherhood and the death of her father. The album exhibits Minaj’s typical rap prowess, and showcases her vocal skills as well. In addition, she continues to excel in her versatility and ability to take on characters and portray them musically. The album’s 22-song long tracklist includes features from several majorly successful artists such as J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Lil Uzi Vert among others, and samples many instantly recognizable songs.
The album falls short in songs like “Cowgirl” and “FTCU,” both of which repeat lines and short melodies to the point where they are on the verge of annoying. Track 11, “Everybody,” also had potential to be a great song, but is hurt by the same problem. With parts of the melody taken from “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior, it’s an incredibly fun and catchy song, but the constant repetition of the hook from the sample becomes boring. The overuse of sampling is the clearest in the first track of the album, “Are You Gone Already,” that relies far too heavily on Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over.” Minaj’s rap does not blend well with Eilish’s singing, so when her part comes on, it seems jarring. While I think it’s a unique mix of genres that creates an interesting sound, the track feels more like two completely different songs that were poorly remixed together.
However, “Pink Friday Girls,” which samples “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, escapes this pitfall. The upbeat tune of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” also matches Minaj’s rapping style and makes far more sense in her discography than the somber vocals of Billie Eilish. High points on the album include “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” a promotional single released earlier on March 3, as well as “Needle” and “RNB.” Drake sings a particularly catchy chorus in “Needle.” His part, along with well executed verses from Minaj, combine to create a very enjoyable song. “Blessings” is another favorite of mine that effortlessly blends the vocals of gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who is featured on the song, with a slower and more singing-focused part from Minaj, as well as a solid beat in the background.
Minaj’s new album offers a plethora of new tracks that experiment with backtracks and samples, many of which are worth at least one listen. Despite some of its strengths, “Pink Friday 2” is disappointing when compared to its original. A handful of weak songs bring down the overall quality of the album, and the few excellent ones are not enough to redeem it, earning an overall rating of ⅗ stars.
