Nicki Minaj’s ‘Pink Friday 2’ Album: Songs Ranked – Billboard

The Queen returns with her first LP since 2018 with features from Drake, Future, Lil Wayne, and more. Nicki Minaj at the premiere of “Barbie” held at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on July 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Christopher Polk for WWD. The Queen has returned to her rap throne. Nicki Minaj delivered her first album in five years with the highly anticipated Pink Friday 2 sequel on Friday (Dec. 8). PF2 was slated to land on November 17, but was delayed to Dec. 8 which also serves as Minaj’s 41st birthday. Excitement for the LP continued to build this week, and perhaps boiled over when a member of the rapper’s loyal Barbz army brought up Minaj’s album during a San Antonio City Council meeting on Thursday (Dec. 7). Pink Friday 2 arrives 13 years after the Queens legend unleashed her acclaimed 2010 debut, the first Pink Friday, which topped the Billboard 200 and cemented Minaj as one of the genre’s stars and premier MCs, ready to take over the 2010s. The legendary rapper often clashes with the best the genre has to offer when it’s album time, and Minaj isn’t afraid to push her pen against any rhymer. This time around, she invites Young Money brethren Drake and Lil Wayne to make appearances, as well as frequent collaborators Lil Uzi Vert and Future and a first official team-up with J. Cole. For her fifth studio album, Nicki made sure to reconnect with her roots. “When I look back at a lot of my music, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, where was the me in it?’” she told last month. “So for this album, I went back to the old game plan … The idea that saying something like that could give hope to people — that optimistic outlook is something I think I got away from.” Find all 22 songs from Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 ranked below. “Bahm Bahm” Minaj reportedly previewed “Bahm Bahm” on Instagram Live and relayed it wasn’t a fit for her album — and she probably should’ve kept to that thinking. The track just wasn’t very additive to the LP overall, which is already stuffed with 22 songs. — M.S. “Forward From Trini” (feat. Skillibeng & Skeng) Minaj showcases Carribbean pride while connecting to her Trinidadian roots. She heads to Jamaica to work with a pair of dancehall standouts in Skillibeng and Skeng. “Forward From Trini” could easily provide the soundtrack to Onika’s next trip to Trinidad for Carnival 2024. — M.S. “FTCU” ATL Jacob builds the “FTCU” beat around Waka Flocka Flame’s Flockaveli standout but the lazy attempt doesn’t connect with Nicki’s bars funneling into a monotonous hole. The track is overshadowed by an eye-grabbing Tory Lanez-Iggy Azalea name-drop, and it isn’t clear who she’s shading here. — M.S. “Fallin 4 U” Powered by a catchy chorus with Nicki leaning into her swooning vocals over violin strings, Minaj jumps from falling for a certain individual to laying her chips on the table to declare herself the greatest to do it. “I’m No. 1, y’all go argue over top four,” she raps. “Fallin 4 U” lands as a middling tune for PF2. — M.S. “Beep Beep” With Murda (Beatz) on the beat and murder on her mind, Minaj burns through the 1:36 of “Beep Beep” with a single verse and bridge, clocking her haters with a valid question: “If I don’t know you exist, is that beef?” While the length is appropriate for a transitional track, it leaves more to be desired— fortunately, those looking for more aggressive Minaj can find it elsewhere on the album. — M.M. “RNB” (feat. Lil Wayne & Tate Kobang) Lil Wayne reuniting with his Young Money mentee is always a welcomed sight for fans who were raised on YM and have seen this fruitful journey blossom over the course of the last 15 years. The jingly production reps for R&B as Minaj gives the genre acronym a new meaning, a “real n—a b–ch.” Wayne is another rapper of the year candidate, as he’s delivered endless quality guest verses, and adds to his tally here like it’s still ’07. — M.S. “Pink Birthday” Every Sagittarius and Barb has their new birthday anthem thanks to a splash of fuschia and the uplifting “Pink Birthday.” “It’s your birthday, you could do what you want to,” Minaj testifies. The track arrives amid a stellar run for Pink Friday 2 and manages to stand tall while sandwiched between Lil Wayne and Drake features. Travis Scott even earned a co-writing credit on here too. — M.S. “Big Difference” Minaj is like a quarterback fully in control of the game at the mid-point of PF2. The Queens native slows the pace down to address those beneath her with another earworm of a chorus. Nicki salutes her husband’s street cred and lets her haters know she’s got shooters on deck when needed. A deep cut that could rise to a fan-favorite as time goes on. — M.S. “My Life” A reflective Nicki Minaj is a lethal Nicki Minaj when it comes to her songwriting and lyricism. “My Life” finds the Queen brushing off the drama in her life and since people are going to judge her either way, she’s gonna do what she wants regardless and the Barbz are going to be there cheering her on. — M.S. “Blessings” (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard) A palette cleanser from the dessert section of Pink Friday 2. Minaj gives her take on a gospel track with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and she’s never shy about giving up the glory to God. It does feel a bit contradictory to have Jesus-praising bars over a BNYX beat — but that’s range. — M.S. “Barbie Dangerous” This isn’t the first time Minaj has lifted from The Notorious B.I.G. in her career, as she interpolates bars from Biggie’s classic “Notorious Thugs” while flexing her ability and belittling the competition. “Barbie Dangerous” feels like a lyrical exercise for the rap legend as she breezes through the Hollywood Cole production which will land in the middle of the pack for Pink Friday 2. — M.S. “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” served as the introduction of another braggadocios alter-ego for Minaj in March as the song reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. A worthy single setting the tone for the album and Republic Records opened up the vault for yet another catchy sample that found NM utilizing Lumidee’s 2003 hit “Never Leave You.” — M.S. “Super Freaky Girl” When this song dropped as a single, fans were equally delighted as they were surprised by the playful release sampling Rick James’ funky, Grammy-nominated hit “Super Freak.” The viral movement, propelled by TikTok dances and a remix featuring Minaj’s alter ego Roman Zolanski, gave Minaj her first unaccompanied solo Hot 100 No. 1 and third overall. Thanks to previous tracks like “RNB” and “Cowgirl,” we are well aware at this point that Minaj is a “Super Freaky Girl,” but it’s a welcome addition to a handful of tracks that reassert Nicki as a pop superstar. — M.M. “Cowgirl” (feat. Lourdiz) Pop Nicki fans, rise up: your new anthem is here. The empowered feminine ethos of the Pink Friday era is reimagined on this dreamy bop with the help of songwriter and emerging artist Lourdiz. Lourdiz’s fragile falsetto paints the act of riding “Cowgirl” as an uncharacteristically elegant act, but give space for Nicki to flesh out verses that range from soft, Harajuku Barbie-esque delivery to edgier points that give a taste of fan-favorite alter ego Roman Zolanski. — M.M. “Just the Memories” An ethereal album closer, Minaj glides over the clouds and to the finish line while reminiscing on the dark hurdles of her childhood. Whether that was her fifth-grade crush being killed or getting arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, she persevered to accomplish her goals. Minaj sets the record straight declaring that she’s the greatest female rapper to ever pick up a pen and a lie detector test determined that to be the truth. “Greatest female rapper to ever live, and that’s on my kid,” the Queen raps. “If they ask about me, tell ’em I was one-of-one.” — M.S. “Pink Friday Girls” Another anthem that was built around a renowned sample, the latest recipient being Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” banger.

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