Album Review: Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
Nicki Minaj
Pink Friday (released Nov. 22, 2010)
I may have mentioned this before here on Georgia Mae, but if not, I’m down for full disclosure: one of the Bowser household’s favorite movies is Mariah Carey’s 2001 cinematic tragedy Glitter.
Oh yes, we realize it’s horrible, maybe one of the worst movies ever filmed. But watching it is like watching five clown cars collide – an absolutely hilarious disaster.
And honestly, that’s why I decided to review Nicki Minaj’s supremely overhyped debut. Loyal readers know I haven’t been kind to Icky Garbaj during her rise to stardom but I wanted to check out the album nonetheless – hoping to be entertained by what was sure to be the worst album of the year.
But you know what? Nicki has disappointed me yet again. This album is not the entertaining car crash I expected.
But don’t get me wrong, it ain’t very good.
My biggest complaint about Nicki is her scatterbrained, Tourette’s-like raps. A lot of listeners have been fooled into thinking it’s some type of innovative new rap style, but it’s usually just downright distracting. And really, can you be considered a lyricist if you’re just screaming sound effects? Oddly her bizarre Tourette’s has been mostly restrained here in favor of a bunch of pop-rap hybrids.
If you’re familiar with her singles “Right Thru Me” and “Your Love,” then expect more of the same. “Fly” features Rihanna – the dependable go-to girl for bland pop singles – and sounds like something B.o.b. or Bruno Mars would release. “Save Me” actually works a bit better. Nicki handles the vocals herself and doesn’t do a bad job.
When Nicki deviates from the lightweight stuff for heavier fare, things really go south. “Did It On Em” is a (very) poor woman’s “A Milli” – not surprising since both were produced by Bangledesh. That track, along with album opener “I’m The Best” and the infamous “Roman’s Revenge” clearly display Nicki’s shortcomings – unfocused lyrics, extremely distracting vocal tricks (her annoying stuttering effect, for example), and ENDLESS shots at rival Lil Kim. At times the entire album sounds like a demented love letter to Kim – like Eminem’s Stan.
There is one diamond in the rough – “Blazin’,” which features a show-stealing performance from Kanye West. I have to admit that I’m in love with the beat, which sounds suspiciously like a sped up version of Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from The Breakfast Club. My, ahem, “advanced review copy” didn’t come with linear notes.
As much as I love “Blazin’,” I have an equal amout of hate for “Check It Out,” my pick for worst song of the year. Yes, worse than anything by Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka or that “Toot It And Boot It” guy. Will.i.am produced an over-synthesized mess. Black Eyed Peas fans might like it, but it took all my willpower not to skip to the next track. That was four painful minutes. I’d rather get a happy ending from a TSA agent than listen to that atrocity again. Sigh, the things I do for Internet journalism…
I certainly didn’t expect to like “Pink Friday” – I’m not Nicki’s target audience – but I think even many of her fans will be disappointed. Nicki seems overly cautious here, reining in on the maniacal persona that made her famous to travel down the pop-rap path that’s all the rage these days. As I mentioned to a few friends last week, “Pink Friday” is like a Black Eyed Peas album without Fergie – who would want to sit through that?
So no, “Pink Friday” wasn’t the exciting, flaming 8-car pileup I expecting. It’s just a boring, annoying fender bender instead.
Best tracks: “Blazin’,” and uh, “Right Thru Me,” I guess. That’s all I got.
2.5 stars out of 5
Lol you have been pressed and hating