With 2010’s Pink Friday, Nicki Minaj didn’t adapt to the industry, but rather she forced it to adapt to her. A mix of femininity and bravado, the rapper’s first studio album quite literally remade mainstream hip-hop in her image. Thirteen years later, the album’s sequel, Pink Friday 2, feels like the product of an identity crisis.
Throughout the album, which clocks in at one hour and 10 minutes, Minaj lets herself be overshadowed by the sounds and styles of her featured guests. “Let Me Calm Down,” featuring J. Cole, feels completely derivative of the North Carolina rapper’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive, while Drake gets more airtime on “Needle” than Minaj herself. Even when Pink Friday 2 homes in on some catchy or indelible moments, like on the solo “Fallin 4 U,” things tend to slip into a sugary pop-R&B groove reminiscent of newer artists like Doja Cat and SZA.
Which is to say that Pink Friday 2 doesn’t lack identity so much as it struggles to settle on one. It feels more like a compilation or mixtape than a Nicki Minaj album. The singular personality that shined through on past efforts like 2014’s The Pinkprint pop up only in fits and starts here, and while Minaj’s rhymes are as sharp as they’ve ever been—“Beep, beep beep, is that bleep?/Is that you talkin’ to me? It’s that deep?” she raps on “Beep Beep”—they’re too often submerged in a sea of over-production and cheesy sonic embellishments.
This is most evident in Pink Friday 2’s choice of samples. On opener “Are You Gone Already,” Minaj raps over a sped-up snippet of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over,” a song that delivers a poignant sentiment about the death of the singer’s father. That emotional impact is overshadowed here by the track’s lazy, TikTok-inspired production. Elsewhere, Minaj raps seamlessly over a sample of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” but a similar strategy on the skeletal “My Life,” which uses a high-pitched snippet of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” adds little to the track and leaves it sounding muddy and unfinished.
Despite some catchy moments, there’s almost nothing about Pink Friday 2 that makes it stand out from the current slate of pop and rap music. Unlike its predecessor, the album doesn’t leave much of an impression, and certainly won’t reshape the hip-hop landscape.
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Good Job Dana. Very well written and nothing but the truth. PF2 is a dissatisfying project. As a “Barb” I end that this week. Nicki Minaj no longer appeals to the masses. She should reconsider some decisions and make a smart move.
you clearly should’nt be talking lol probably a friend trying to cheer up her bestie for a dumb article.. dana poland listens to adele for sure..
Nice article, too short though
How would you know anything about this Hip-Hop community to even sit here and critique this album stating that it doesn’t changed the landscape of hip-hop? Who are you but an outsider looking in. Did you even listen to her mixtapes and albums to make a full assessment? I’m flabbergasted by this lack luster review. You can’t truley speak to the culture when you haven’t truly been in the foundation of it. When you a “punk”and “indie” connoisseur. So you can leave your unseasoned review like a person who gets up from the table, after their food has been overcooked, it’s overdone saturated and doesn’t not need to be partaken in.
The girls that get it get it, and clearly YOU DON’T.
she’s an idiot lmfao. listens to indie n punk talkin ab hip hop 😂
I absolutely adored the new sound. Minaj’s ability to adapt, transcend, and eat up the rap genre is what makes her unique and versatile.
I love the whole album it’s fresh and it’s true to her creativity.
That been said your article sucks ass🤡
Imagine calling someone who is overall versatile as someone going through an “identity crisis” this whole article is a joke 🤣 then saying her pop song sounds like sza or Doja when Nicki has been doing pop songs since her old hit “Super bass” please do your homework!
An identity crisis? You can’t be serious. lol You anxiously don’t know what a well rounded musical project sounds like. that’s sad!
Because what was that, who is paying you for this review? That album is AMAZING. It’s beautifully crafted. I love it. As my friend said, the girls that get it, get it!
Lies, the score is a 4.8 on Amazon. You always hated Nicki. The Barbz and hip-Hop heads love the album.
PF2 IS FOR THE BARBZ CLEARLY YOU’RE NOT 1 CARRY ON. SWISH SWISH BISH!
identity crisis? why is the expectation for the artist to restrict to one genre? You said yourself Pink Friday changed the landscape when it debuted. We are now living in a post-PF world and PF 2 is a sequel with sonically similar characteristics. One could argue you are having an identity crisis as a “music writer with a love for anything indie and punk” commenting on PF2.
Oh Dana Poland… never review a rap album again
Album is good. I think at this point people just say anything because it’s the normal thing to do when it comes to Nicki Minaj especially if you’re a fan of Cardi or other rivals of Nicki Minaj.
Huh? Is this for real? Did we listen to the same album? Baffled by this review
I don’t get your concerns. This album was fire from top to bottom. Instead of comparing her work to other artists. Look at the progression of it. Not every time are you going to get what you want. Let’s respect the fact that she is undefeated as a female rap artist. Everyone gets overwhelmed in life at some point. It’s evident in her work. I loved that it was messy and imperfect. It showed her wounds and bared her flaws. To me this album is still better than 90% of the nonsense I hear out there currently. Her features celebrate her. She has nothing to prove by trying to stand out from them. So eventually, I don’t agree with your write up. Obviously it’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it.
Who wrote this?? Yeah this album definitely wasn’t for you.. Chile’🙄 We get it, love it. Her album will have you entire house picking their favorites. Mines is Blessing. My Husband like Beep Beep my sons like everything… So now we all streaming. 😂You can’t stop a Queen from queening with this terrible review but Thanks for listening 💞
The nerve of you trying to tell Nicki how her album should sound! you a whole hater!
This must be a white person who wrote this because you clearly didn’t listen to half of the album…. Delete this while you still can.
“ Less a Sequel Than an Identity Crisis“ ARE YOU DUMB ? Or is you just stupid? Dana please go have several seats and take this weak butt review somewhere else. Talking about some” a music writer with a love for anything indie and punk.” LMAOOOOOOO yeah okay .
This album is spectacular. I wonder who’s Payroll you’re really on with that review! 🤔
Sounds like a lot of hate being shared in this article. This was an album where many people can come and find something that resonates with them. It’s beautiful and shows versatility. Why should a bite album sound the same?
Dana… stick to Indie and Punk because you clearly don’t know Hop Hop/Rap and I will not take the time to teach it to you. If your publication ask you(or anyone with your sunny disposition)to judge anything that foreign to yourselves, please turn it down and suggest they employ someone who grew up with or it comes natural to..okay. Maybe ask to write about Jack Harlow or Dave. I’m sure you’ll find them to be “rad”. Thank you.🙏🏾
Maybe you’re not the best person to comment on Rap Music . Try Rick or country . 🤔
This article is contradictive, if you’re comparing it to her first album. It’s the same. Literally a change from rap, r&b, to pop. Really all of her albums change up. Her mixtapes were the only songs that were mostly if not all rap. So she basically stayed in her lane. Can’t bring up Doja Cat because she is influenced by Nicki Minaj.. so if anything Doja Cats songs sounds like Nicki. Tik tok coming out made too much space for everyone to make any song “a tik tok song”. Just because you can dance to it or it’s catchy, doesn’t make it a tik tok song. People were dancing before tik tok. Is it her best album? No. Does she rap to much about being top like we don’t already know that? Yes. But your points made no sense and she definitely has a good amount of songs to choose from. Her art still shines and I even loved that she threw a gospel song on there. I’m not a Barb by any means because I do not follow fanbases but this article just screamed “debate me”.
This review is pure bullshit. Pink Friday 2 is one of her best albums guess when people like you love that lackluster female rap music wouldn’t appreciate a good album. Please stream and buy Pink Friday 2 if you enjoy good music.
Yes the album seems like her previous work wasn’t impressed
your review is disgusting and tasteless who paid you payola lmao go sit all the way down. Nicki is steadily shining and will continue to do so no matter how much you hate on her. your magazine definitely just loss all my support!!
This sounds paid for or just from a real un happy sad person, good thing record sales tour tickets all streaming platforms and all major media outlets have given positive reviews with authentic receipts Its so nice to see here Rain Supreme 14 yrs into her career🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️♐️
This article is rubbish. Absurd to true fans and it shows that you clearly haven’t done your research or listened to her music. PF2 is in no comparison to a mixtape, you do realize PF had pop songs blended with rap. You’re style and manner of this article is truly a biased and irrelevant review. #Bigdifference💕
The lack of knowledge you have on hip-hop is downright pitiful. To say an identity crisis over an album that is breaking records as we speak just shows how little you know about hip-hop. You have no credibility or evidence to back up these claims because the album is charting and outselling Sza & Doja. Before speaking on hip-hop you should actually be a fan of it.
The absolute disgusting and juvenile monkey-see-monkey-do pack behavior of these “barbs” is 100% ridiculous. Not everyone has to like the album. By all means, you unintelligent sensory types can continue worshipping your pro-child offender female rapper lol. seek help!
Terrible article sounds paid by people who do not like her and want to paint her in a negative light. Why do I never seen negative articles about other female rappers and only nicki ? This album is just like the Pink Friday. I hope she continues to thrive in a world full of discouragement and hate.
One of the best albums I’ve heard in a while!!!
I can’t agree more & have listened to Nicki since 07/08. Those who are saying that she’s versatile & that this album is great are in denial about their fave. I grew up a Barb. Know every song and every lyric & this album was literally thrown together with recycled music.
This review is completely absurd.
This article is completely trash !!!!!!
Pink Friday 2 by The Nicki Minaj is amazing, legendary, and perfect. Nicki Minaj made her on lane in the music industry and continues to prove herself by making songs not only for her fans but Everybody! Blessings to the Icon Nicki Minaj! Stream Pink Friday 2!!!
Lie again. You clearly know nothing about hip hop to be speaking on it. This album was truly a masterpiece. There is literally something for everyone on this album. Do better next time
I respect your opinion but I think love how versatile this album is. There were alot of surprises and unique sounds. I think she did a great job of expressing the in-depth levels of herself.
why hate it’s clear you don’t know what the hell your talking about smh don’t ever disrespect the Queen of hip hop Nicki Minaj #Barbz
exactly 💯
sound like a hater to me.. && like Nicki said if u know I know and obviously u don’t…😂
likeeeeeee😂
This is gross and most disgusting attack on a phenomenal female artist that I’ve read in my life. Is this satire?Are you being held for ransom in an empty basement? Because there’s no way that you believe any of what you wrote hahaha, Nicki is 15 years in the game and still breaking records. I hate to break it to you hater but this is undeniably one of her best albums. May your attempt to break this outstanding mother and wife be your karma😘
As someone who has listened to all of Nicki Minaj’s projects, there is no “identity crisis” happening with this album. Nicki Minaj has established herself as a versatile artist that doesn’t limit herself to one sound or genre. I think a lot of the people who complain about the sound of current hip-hop are the same people who complain when it deviates from the mainstream formula. In a few years, the people critiquing this body of work will come to praise it. That seems to happen with a lot of her work. Anyway, I am thoroughly enjoying the new music and will be supporting even more in the face of people trying to discredit her
Identity crisis?? Are you serious?? This woman knows who she is and guess what despite the reviews y’all make of her we the real fans uplift her nothing in this passage was uplifting you’re critiquing someone who just seems to not lose her gift and how dare you compare Thee Nicki Minaj to Doja Cat?? Get it correct she laid it down for them to be compared to her don’t ever disrespect her like that! This album was a mixture of things we’ve been waiting on from Nicki Minaj she gave it! And will continue to give it like it’s suppose to be gave. 1 love F**K HATE!!
Dear Dana,
She ain’t a NICKI fan then she’s DEF DUMB.. Dana hang it tf up and speak on something you know. ARE YOU SLOW? Identity crisis? She already told you she’s the QUEEN! What else do you want from her?!!! What exactly did you wanna hear??? Go stream PF2 again dud. WELCOME TO GAG CITY 🎀
Let me just say ….. sometimes is not necessarily to be a writer on different articles … you could just sell biscuits and it’s fine , because this is the trashiest review of the Album I’ve never seen
Obviously this is what happens when NON SEASONED SEEKERS 🫵🏽INVITE THEMSELVES TO A SEASONED COOKERS HOME 🏡 UNINVITED & THEN CRITIQUE THEIR SOULFOOD…WHEN THEY KNOW NOTHING OF IT💅🏾NOW PUT SEASONED ONES IN THT HOME AND THEY ALL CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE NICKI AINT NUN LIKE WHO WHO & YOU! SAVE THE HATE BX ITS LOCKS 🔐 HO U A CHOPPED HO😂DEF AINT HEARD THE ALBUM JUST WAS THIRTY FOR ATTENTION 💋
We don’t care about what your talking about… clearly your a hater this album is a story that you have no idea about so please for the sake of the Barbs carry on Chile and plz stop addressing things you lack understanding about… so is that why your magazine is called slant cause it ain’t straight? Don’t speak on a true artist because clearly you don’t understand the Art of Music…Your a Opp just like the rest of them… now sit yo dumb a$$ down you gotta F on your Test
At this point this article had a hidden agenda or message … we sit and judge things we know nothing about and allow a culture outside of hip hop to judge something they clearly have no idea what hip hop is .The hip hop culture loves it and crazy those are the people who count cause they give her the hardest criticism. This article was not necessary
Whoever wrote, this is a hater and lied through the whole review because this album is awesome. It’s this song for every mood y’all always trying to hate on our black queens… Nicki Did a wonderful job with this album
This is blasphemy !!!!
ofc you’d white
girl stick to indie songs and leave rap for those that get it
it’s versatility, you ain’t a Barb so the album wasn’t made for you.
you wouldn’t get it girl.
you’re weird