Nicki Minaj just released her long-awaited album 'Pink Friday 2.' Here's what critics are saying.
- Nicki Minaj released her fifth studio album "Pink Friday 2" on Friday.
- The album is framed as a sequel to her 2010 debut. Minaj described it as a return to form.
Nicki Minaj has finally unveiled "Pink Friday 2" after multiple delays.
Minaj's fifth studio album is framed as a sequel to her 2010 debut, which spawned hits like "Moment 4 Life" and "Super Bass." It's her first full-length release of new material since 2018's "Queen."
In an interview with Vogue, Minaj described "Pink Friday 2" as an optimistic return to form.
"When I look back at a lot of my music, I'm like, Oh, my God, where was the me in it?" she said. "So for this album, I went back to the old game plan."
The 22-song tracklist features guest appearances from longtime collaborators like Drake, Lil Wayne, and Future, as well as newcomers to Minaj's Barbie-pink world, like J. Cole and Lourdiz.
Numerous samples include Billie Eilish's "When the Party's Over," Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," Blondie's "Heart of Glass," and Junior Senior's "Move Your Feet."
Keep reading to see what critics have said about the new album so far.
"Pink Friday 2" is a lengthy blockbuster album that serves to remind us how Minaj became a superstar.
"'Pink Friday 2' feels like a consolidation and refinement of everything Minaj can do — including dropping pop culture references that no other artist would think of. 'Ducking 'em like Björk?' That's surely a wink to the Icelandic musician's infamous skirmish with a photographer. Thirteen years after 'Pink Friday,' Nicki Minaj hasn't lost her ability to catch us by surprise." — Nick Levine, NME
"She roams from menacing, minimal trap on 'FTCU' to futuristic gospel on 'Blessings,' and gives numerous convincing reasons why that throne is still hers." — David Smyth, The Standard
"She admits to self-doubt on the closer 'Just the Memories' … but swiftly turns imperious again, reeling off her achievements, swaggering about her abilities. It may be as imperfect as 'Pink Friday' was, but 'Pink Friday 2' offers more than enough supporting evidence to make the latter claims sound like anything but hollow boasts." — Alexis Petridis, The Guardian
"Refusing to be hemmed in, it's a record of real ambition, an example mirroring fan-pleasing tendencies with actual artistic growth. Sometimes the sequels really are better." — Robin Murray, Clash
Minaj uses a variety of styles, big-budget samples, and high-profile features to assert her dominance.
"Throughout the record, she traverses through sonic corners of hip-hop, R&B, and pop in this way. Almost like she's waving a wand over the entire rap world, turning everything she touches into pink gold." — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone
"Minaj may have broken the itty-bitty piggy bank clearing some of the samples on 'Pink Friday 2' … It speaks to her supreme confidence that she'd take on such ubiquitous songs that have their own identity and reshape them to be the soundtrack of Gag City." — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone
"This album is Nicki's world, and she seamlessly brings every collaborator into it. Whether it's J. Cole, Future, or Drake, they don't take over the songs they're featured on because Nicki has complete control over them." — Jordan Rose, Complex
Rare moments of vulnerability like "Blessings" and "Last Time I Saw You" stand out as album highlights.
"What makes this album really compelling are more vulnerable moments like 'Last Time I Saw You,' a pop-R&B gem on which she grapples with her father's death, and the reggae-flecked album closer 'Just the Memories.'" — Nick Levine, NME
"In the most unexpectedly profound moments of 'Pink Friday 2,' like the outright gospel banger 'Blessings,' Nicki slows down and looks inward." — Nadine Smith, The Independent
"'Last Time I Saw You' is reminiscent of the 2018 'Queen' hidden gem 'Come See About Me.' Minaj could be ruminating about the tragic loss of her father or another soured relationship. Perhaps it's motherhood, but there's a certain aspect of growth and maturity shown coming from her last album to 'Pink Friday 2.' Nicki also takes full advantage of the guitar-driven instrumental." — Michael Saponara, Billboard
However, some critics say Minaj is resting on her laurels instead of breaking new ground.
"'Pink Friday 2' shows flashes of the inventive brilliance that made Nicki such an undeniable superstar, but like so many legacy sequels, it mostly just makes you wish you were listening to the original." — Nadine Smith, The Independent
"I can say there are good moments in which Nicki is spitting and showcasing her rap prowess and creativity. There are also lows in which she leans heavily into singing and no obvious standout hits. Overall, I wouldn't put 'Pink Friday 2' in contention with classic projects of the last few years. And it certainly doesn't stand up to the 2010 original album." — Jessica Mckinney, Complex
Business Insider's own music team rates the album a 7.5/10.
Despite the masterful raps and polished production, "Pink Friday 2" doesn't sound like the evolution its title suggests.
Minaj is so obsessed with clinging to her "queen of rap" moniker, she barely has the time to explore new themes or expand her scope in a meaningful way — even on a too-long album that stretches for over an hour. She relies heavily on pop samples in her quest for ubiquity, and while they often sound good, the strategy gets old.
Worth listening to:
"Are You Gone Already"
"Barbie Dangerous"
"Beep Beep"
"Fallin for U"
"Let Me Calm Down (feat. J. Cole)"
"RNB (feat. Lil Wayne & Tate Kobang)"
"Needle (feat. Drake)"
"Big Difference"
"Red Ruby Da Sleeze"
"Forward from Trini (feat. Skillibeng & Skeng)"
"Bahm Bahm"
"My Life"
"Blessings"
"Last Time I Saw You"
"Just the Memories"
Background music:
"FTCU"
"Pink Birthday"
"Cowgirl (feat. Lourdiz)"
Press skip:
"Everybody (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)"
"Pink Friday Girls"
"Super Freaky Girl"
"Nicki Hendrix (feat. Future)"
*Final album score based on songs per category (1 point for "Worth listening to," .5 for "Background music," 0 for "Press skip").
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