Brandon Clack, Staff Writer
Nicki Minaj, the Queen of Rap, celebrated her 41st birthday in grand style by gifting the world with her highly anticipated album, Pink Friday 2. The sequel to her groundbreaking debut album, Pink Friday (2010), was initially intended to be released on October 20th but experienced two date changes, finally dropping on her birthday, December 8th.
Despite limited pre-release information, the album had the global audience buzzing with excitement. The hype began in the summer of 2020 when Nicki cryptically tweeted “PF2.” Fans eagerly awaited details, and it wasn’t until June of this year that she unveiled the album’s name.
Pink Friday 2 boasts an impressive lineup of 22 tracks featuring collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry. Drake, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future all contribute to the album, making each feature more impactful when experienced in the full tracklist. She also samples songs from artists, such as Billie Eilish, Rick James, and Cyndi Lauper
The lead single, “Super Freaky Girl,” samples Rick James’ classic “Super Freak,” setting the tone for an album filled with nostalgia and innovative sound. The second single, “Last Time I Saw You,” dropped after Nicki’s 2023 MTV VMAs performance, adding to the album’s momentum. “Red Ruby Da Sleeve” was released as a promotional single in March, giving fans a taste of what was to come. Teasing fans further, she previewed the track now known as “Big Difference” on an Instagram livestream.
Pink Friday 2 marks Nicki Minaj’s fifth studio album and her first full-length release since 2018’s Queen. The album made an immediate impact on the iTunes Chart, dominating the top 10 and top 25 songs, ultimately claiming the #1 spot on the U.S. iTunes Album Chart.
The album kicks off with “Are You Gone Already,” a track that samples Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over.” The samples are prevalent throughout the album, and Nicki showcases her creativity more by sampling Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” on “Pink Friday Girls.”
A standout track, “Everybody,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, is a high-energy party anthem that samples Junior Senior’s 2002 retro dance hit “Move Your Feet” and stands out as a dance-worthy track. “Red Ruby Da Sleeve” samples Lumidee’s 2003 hit “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh),” adding another layer to the album’s Y2K sound.
Leading up to the release, Nicki’s fan base, the Barbz, played a crucial role in promotion. They created “Gag City,” a meme with a pink AI metropolis inspired by the album cover, generating a lot of attention on social media with Nicki Minaj further promoting this herself.
Personal favorites from the album include “Are You Gone Already” and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”. “FTCU” showcases Nicki’s impressive lyricism, while the short but sweet “Beep Beep” impresses with its rhythmic beat and flow switches.
Pink Friday 2 proves to be a birthday gift not only to Nicki herself but to fans worldwide, solidifying her status as a rap icon with each track being meticulously crafted.
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