SoundCheck: Nicki Minaj
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by Jesus Yanez-Reyes on December 8, 2010 at 11:02 pm under A&E
3 and 1/2 out of Although it may appear she’s a newcomer to the hip-hop/R&B scene, female rapper Nicki Minaj has been making waves with her mixtapes since late 2008. A label signing and more than a year of album development later, her first solo release, Pink Friday, puts forth a well-executed confluence of pop, rap and R&B sounds with a female twist on a male-dominated genre.
Some of the most noticeable tracks on the album are catchy pop-styled songs accompanied by Minaj’s fast-paced rapping. “Fly,” a song that features singer and record-label mate Rihanna, is one of the greatest examples of this; although Rihanna’s vocal melodies make up a bulk of the song, Minaj’s quick and snappy rap verses enter at appropriate and well-timed moments. Without a doubt, the album’s main centerpiece is “Right Thru Me,” a mid-paced track that allows Minaj to showcase both her skilled R&B vocals and her rapping prowess.
One of the most interesting things about Pink Friday is how Minaj manages to sneak in hints of emotion in her lyrics. In tracks like “Roman’s Revenge” and the album’s opener, “I’m the Best,” listeners are treated not only to well-thought-out lyrics and good rapping, but a certain style of acted-out lyric spitting that is noticeably absent from most of today’s rap releases.
Even with all of these positive aspects, Pink Friday still manages to miss on some points. One of the most obvious drawbacks of the album is the fact half of the music either features or stars other artists. While these aren’t bad songs on their own, their presence does raise some doubts about the talent Nicki Minaj can bring to the table on her lonesome.
It certainly speaks volumes that Minaj’s label needed to bring in six different artists for her debut release. Ironically (or maybe not so much), these six tracks happen to be some of the best on the album.
Regardless of these shortfalls, Pink Friday still stands solidly as a rather enjoyable release. For fans of hip-hop and R&B, there is no doubt Nicki Minaj’s first full-length album is certainly one to purchase. But even for non-fans of the genre, Minaj’s talented vocals and fast-paced, quick-witted rapping make the album a genuinely refreshing and eye-popping release, one certainly worth a good listen.
Best tracks: “Right Thru Me,” “Moment 4 Life,” “Save Me”
1 Comment
maybe you didnt get the deluxe edition with 8 songs. that is why doing research is so important before trying to be a journalist/bloggest or whatever. so if 6 tracks feat other artist how is that the majority of 18 tracks. a little math will help also. if you are not a female and not american nor that into hip/hop then it could make you not an expert at all. but then i would be stero-typing you giving you expectations that maybe i shouldnt be giving. now how many rappers would you really listen to that has 18 tracks and they are the only one rapping. since majority dont even create different voices or alter egos we probably would burn the track bc it would be like them talking. who could listen to all wayne all day when you cant understand shit he saying but i like the old wayne when he collab with juvenile and them. so why is nicki expectations higher. lets sit back and appreciate her rapid growth, hard work, her change in image and music allowing for growth and responisbility she feels to her fans, her immediate cross-over after mixtape, her record breaking sales, the fan base she has when she walk to an interview and they are waiting on her and she spends time with them (dont recall any other female rapper doing), her marketing skills, business savy, responsibility to her family as well as fans, rapid fame, and versatile music. she cant rap present slumber party on regis & kelly, letterman so if she wants to be the first balck female mogul then she had to come out of the box. and she is doing that from mixtapes to record sales. go get educated, drink less haterade then try again.