Eight years and three albums in to her mainstream Rap career, we’ve learned about Nicki Minaj that there’s absolutely nothing as an artist that she can’t do. From rapping to singing to dancing to incorporating EDM to crossing over and being maybe the best branded artist of the current era, she’s arguably done it all. However, on 2014’s just-released The Pinkprint, she finally proves that she can do it all extremely well.
In 1988, Miami bass-rap duo L’Trimm had Top 40 success with “Cars That Go Boom,” a Pop-Rap ditty by two fashion-obsessed post-teens who loved boys who were as obsessed as they were about the “boom.” Fast forward 25 years and here’s Nicki Minaj exploding that then lightly-regarded style into a sound and concept uniquely able to both seize the global zeitgeist as feminism’s third wave takes over the globe, as well as be the cradle of what is likely to be mainstream culture’s most significant trend of 2015.
Next year’s “big pop moment” has already happened as the “Flawless” remix pair Minaj and Beyonce unite for “Feeling Myself,” a track featuring a unique bottom-end cadence that shows Hit-Boy hasn’t lost a step. Feeling “[herself]” enough to let us know that she switched flows four times on the same track, when pop culture queen ‘yonce knows that she needs to stand back and let Minaj take over three-quarters of the record for herself, that says it all.
Honesty is in vogue on this recording, too. If you haven’t paid attention to the media cycle prior to the album’s release, we learn the following about Nicki Minaj on The Pinkprint.
- Contrary to popular belief, she’s never had sex with Drake or Lil Wayne (“Only”)
- She’s currently very much in a relationship with… Meek Mill? (“Buy A Heart”)
- She aborted a pregnancy at the age of 15 (“All Things Go”)
The honesty bug bites every artist that contributes to the album, too. Arguably Pop’s top songwriter Ester Dean contributes to “All Things Go,” and there’s UK pop star Jessie Ware’s heartbroken stunner “The Crying Game” as well as Katy Perry back on her songwriting grind for the ode to passionfruit “Get On Your Knees.” Insofar as performers go, Drake confesses his love for “thick” women, and Meek Mill practically rips his heart out of his chest and shows it off to the world on “Buy A Heart.” The thing is, the wildly expansive Nicki Minaj has grown taut here, and careful. On The Pinkprint she weaves bars in with pop sensibilities fluttering around her. It creates a totality of sound that, frankly, was missing on her previous efforts. On the aforementioned “All Things Go,” she spits her real worries on wax, and it’s the kind of confessional we haven’t heard from her in a long while.
The production is, well, superlative, as Pinkprint is a moment for some of the music industry’s modern legends and up and comers. Boi-1da, Mike WILL Made It, Polow da Don, Zaytoven, Parker Ighile, Darhyl Camper, Jr. (note the slick, deft touch he applies to the Jeremih-featuring “Favorite,” giving it the feel of the “whistling nurse” theme from Kill Bill Vol. 1) are all here. Polow contributed Sir Mix-a-Lot “Baby Got Back” flip “Anaconda,” which, depending on the listen is either 2014’s most ear-worming or ire-inducing single. The flip is so well done and Nicki’s storytelling raps so reminiscent of the work on Lil Kim’s 2001 mainstream hit “How Many Licks” that you eventually have to acquiesce and just not care.
Pop production titan Dr. Luke handles the lion’s share of the work here with five tracks that showcase the nexus of EDM, Rap and Pop in mainstream sounds. Luke’s ersatz Pop grows tiresome at times. It just doesn’t feel as in touch with Minaj’s organically Hip Hop creativity that hugs the rest of the release.
YMCMB’s platinum-selling production icon Kane Beatz gets behind the boards for the album’s two most poignant moments. The Skylar Grey-assisted single “Bed of Lies,” a frank talking and lovelorn anthem, as well as Minaj’s return to (non-autotuned) vocals on he instantaneously jaw-dropping ballad “Grand Piano.” Being aided by the likes of Alex da Kid on the former and yes, will i.am on the latter shows that both Minaj and her team desired to execute not just songs but anthems that would re-define Minaj’s place as not just a great rapper, but a great artist overall.
Either Nicki Minaj succeeded at making an album that was for Hip Hop, her “Barbz,” Pop radio and the everyday mainstream fan or, maybe, in putting what “Nicki” had become on the back-burner and instead allowing “Onika” to access all her career had become, her style and essence permeated into all of these sounds, allowing for truly personal material to be created. The Pinkprint runs a middle path between pop over exertion and real lyricism, creating an everything for someone aesthetic that Nicki doesn’t allow to shift into wastefullness. As such, it is an ambitious undertaking Nicki has wrangled in highly entertaining fashion.
I haven’t listened to this album and must admit I probably won’t but based on the review it seems like Nikki has got more introspective with the topics and lyrics.
On the other-side of the coin, the production and sound is probably more pop than hip-hop. It’s the same thing with Eminem, who is an incredible lyricist/emcee but unfortunately his production value is soooo Pop/Watered down it’s disgusting.
This album is, by far, the best piece of work she’s ever done! The emotion, lyrics, and production are what make this album an A+
I was pleasantly surprised by Minaj’s ability to put together a cohesive record that told a love story, yet left some room for fun.
Fire!!!!!
Everything that has been Nicki Minaj from the beginning of her career to now is perfectly combined on this album. Great job!
Pleasantly surprised by this release, a record true to Nicki.
Marcus this review is really well written. let me found out you on Onika team! I’m actually interested in listening to this now. But yo…y’all hand out alot of 4’s around here. Y’all are saying J Cole, Prhyme, Azealia, Shady, Ab Soul, and Nicki albums are all one point shy of perfection? I happen to like all those albums but not on the same scale of “like”. Let me see what you gave the RTJ and Gibbs/Madlib. Hmmm. 4.5. KRIT and Logic too. See. That’s interesting. I’m not sure i can come up with a better grading scheme though. So fuck it.
your user-rated feature is on point. i was about to slip up and forget that i didn’t see Isiah Rashad, Pharoah, and CyHi up there on the 4.0 and above part of the editor’s list. It will be interesting next year if Tink, Dej Loaf, Detroit Che, Rhapsody, and Snow Tha Product all level up during the same year. If your 2015 Feminism 3.0 cultural wave prediction proves true. That will be a totally new moment for hiphop. A good one because all of them can out think most male rappers.
Best…..that’s it
casting this a 5 to piss off all the infuriatingly pretentious “real rap” fans who will surely complain
Record’s a boring, bipolar mess.
This album is really solid. Im proud of Nicki, cause i’ve seen her from her mixtape days to her 1st album to her 2nd album and to finally this one. You cant deny the fact that she does have potential, but she has barely started to show this on this album. I hated her last album, but this I can fuck with, im even thinking about getting a copy. If you havent heard this record you should check it out, its simply amazing
I loved it! Not much of the cheesy pop crap & that’s the Nicki I love and can relate to. Keep it up Onika!
So arguably the greatest group of all time (Wu Tang) gets a 3.5 and this corny ass bitch gets a 4???…
HHDX, you guys are doing your best to push away the real fans.
Wu Tang deserved less than that. I’m saying that as a lifelong Wu fan.
Nicki probably at least TRIED to put out a halfway decent album, Wu didn’t.
they base it of expectation, it’s kind of like being a 4.0 student and the kid with downs syndrome performs close to your score on an exam.
AVERAGE USER RATING:
4.50
A Better Tomorrow could’ve been pulled off….better. If The PinkPrint is a better album than ABT then that’s saying something
2
meh
2/5
I don’t see it, they call everything in between a 3 and a 4 these days
Amazing. Everything I wanted and MORE.
Can you say KING OF HIP-HIP
b
her best to date
Best Nicki album yet!!
Legit her best album so far.
Flows.
AMAZING
Nicki really came thru with this one, Jay Z should DEF be honored…I hear him all thru this album
I counted like 2 good tracks. Just another record nothing impressive.
Best album so far
Fuckin’ whore!!!!
Don’t hate on my opinion!!!!
hate on your sexism
AWWWWWMAZING!
Pinkprint > Pink Friday > Beam Me Up, Scotty > Roman Reloaded
Good album
I think this LP is amazing. Nicki on some next level shh. This album flows from track 1 to 16, you ain’t gotta even skip a track.
Whoa George, so you shook your ass to Anaconda then relaxed to Pills and Potions all within the same 10 minutes? That’s nice to know.
All her singles were ass (no pun intended). There is no way this album will be good and I won’t bother listening to it. Ill be busy spinning the new GFK, PRhyme and Cole.
Edit: HipHopDX, please stop blocking my comments/ratings.
Download link on dopehood
LMAO THIS SHIT SUCSK FUCK THAT 4 STARS NIGGA
THIS IS GARBAGE NIGGA. FUCK ALL YOU NIGGAS RATING THIS 4 STAR JUS CUZ SHE GOT FAT ASS. YALL JUST THIRSTY
fuckouttahere. this is trash. 1 star
Really DX? Really??? a 4/5? This is officially my last visit to this site. What a fucking joke
I love this album just like all the rest
F— this b—-
Boss Born Gangstaz up in this
They are paid all big acts get 4/5! Get your lips off they a$$ so these wack acts can take a seat!
she claims to be referencing Jay-Zs Blueprint album. A blueprint is defined as a technical diagram showing construction information for engineering an architectural project. But she’s too retarded and thinks “print” in “blueprint” relates to a fingerprint. She should have made the cover a cool looking pink blueprint of some sort. Not the pink doo doo stain.
This album is as boring as hell. No good song in it, sorry. If this is 4 stars to you, then I should stop reading reviews on this website… 🙁
Awful album, bad lyrics, too many pop tracks.
gretert
Based off the singles, I wouldn’t put my money in this album. I heard each mentioned song on Youtube and the sad thing is, it was a guy who wrote this review. You must be kissing Nicki’s ass for views but know that with bullshit reviews like this you loose credibility instead of gaining popularity. Dare to give your true thoughts and you will get true responses. This album is another YMCMB trash that will get play because of payola.
Macus Dowling, industry shill in residence. If not, good work on putting yourself out there to become one. Clearly a man destined for A&R work, or at least PR.
Good luck in your future career in the industry as anything but a journalist or critic.
gdb
Lead by her “Pills N Potions” flop single, Ms. Minaj had something to prove, but can she successfully compete with other big names in a 1st week sales matchup like 50 Cent & Kanye? After realizing that Taylor Swift was set to release around the same time, “The Pinkprint,” a supposedly counterfeit of Jay-Z’s sixth studio album, was pushed back. As she opens up with her “All Things Go” Ester Dean track, it was revealed that she lost her baby that would’ve been 16 years old. It’s evident that Cash Money Records made few mistakes with the single choices, even with her “Anaconda” momentum. “The Crying Game” and “Truffle Butter,” the Biker Shuffle dance soundalike anthem, over shines the entire album. Although her singing is very spoof-like, she still insist on singing on “I Lied,” “The Night Is Still Young,” “Buy A Heart” and “Pills N Potions” flop single. Her “Four Door Aventador” track is heavily influenced by the Queen B., Lil’ Kim. With a dozen of features from Beyonce, Ariana, Jessie Ware, Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, Meek Mill, Jeremih, Skylar Grey, and Lunchmoney Lewis, one would question her supposedly “Queen of Hip Hop/Rap” title. Can Nicki hold her own in this era like the greats that came before her?
-Sydney Taylor
you’re a bish boy.
Strangely written but it’s all true.
yeah yeah yeah “look at my ass, look at my tits, all these bitches is my sons.” same album, different year. no wonder YM goin bankrupt. this bitch is trash.
LOL. Word.
@Marcus Dowling @HipHopDX, This review seems to come from, idunno, out of nowhere. I gave this album 2 full listens through at it is a snoozefest. It is good to hear Nicki talk about real shit for 1 track, but the rest are her usual pop-rap bullshit. How many tracks can this chick make about getting pipe? It blows my mind you guys can give this the same rating as the J. Col album, which is seeming right now like modern classic.
Ah-mah-zing album from nicki. So versatile. Love
Pinkprint is Amazing! Great job Nicki
all you bitches seem very bitter , what female rap artist you know that has done what she has done … i’ll wait exactly so just give this bitch her damn dues & stfu !!!! thank you … Pinkprint on Itunes
this is why i go to Rap Reviews for my reviews they are more credible than hiphopdx they gave this trash 5.5 out of 10 and made me laugh saying did we dog her buns
Another garbage album by a mindless retarded rapper called Nicki Minaj
more garbage what more can you expect this kinda music is meant to sell to mindless people who doesnt know what real hiphop is
so this is better than Ghostface’s 36 Seasons???………..sumone throw this nigga off the top of the block
Agreed. There is no way this is better than Ghosts album.
Wu tang album of the year fuck all this shit rill hop hop
All of the comments that Nicki is “pop rubbish” are flat-out misogyny. Eminem has been popping on Dre and his beats since forever and nobody cares. That said, I’m a bit disappointed by this album. Nicki is a much better rapper than this album would have you believe.
Yassssss
Pink Print is ok with me. She has a lot of features but I don’t have a problem with that good music is all I care about. I’m not going to listen to every song. But she has a few songs I will listen to.
can’t beat queen b. kim was gangsta, fuck this bublegum barbie shit
how do you give anything by Minaj a 4/5. how much did her label pay you DX?
Ghostface can’t dream of touching Nicki’s lyricism right? Fuck off DX! You stay hatin on the Wu!
DX becoming a bubblegum pop site. rofl
this album isnt EVEN a 1/5. what happened to DX and hiphop?
worst album, worst “artist”.
silly reviewer, go and burn urself…
Best female performance of 2014…
its honestly not even that bad of listen, she does have bars with flow, lyrical skill, and surprisingly some meaningful content. this isnt the miseducation of lauryn hill or anything but you guys act as if shes chief keef. sometime you people either love something to death or hate with a pasion when in reality its somewhere in the middle
This album is a one of her best you can tell she put a lot of work into making this a well rounded album. She had great engineers for this album because the music and beats are what gives it its sound. Then with Nicki’s sound straight fire!!
This album gets 1 star , what straight man listens to this shit ? Only gay dudes or females listen to Nicki Minaj . Real talk . Terrible album . Stop the bullshit
Bigot.
Well I guess you’re gay!!! You gave it one star so you listened to it too. FAG!!!!!!!!
My favorite out of all her albums. She really took the time to work on it and stayed true to herself. She kept it 100 on this one. I loved it.
album no bueno,
dx is getting $$ for this rating
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD WHEN THIS ALBUM GETS 4 STARS WTF
ANACONDA = HAS TO BE THE WORST SONG EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF RAP AND HIP HOP . SHAKE MY DAMN HEAD . THIS SHIT IS TERRIBLE
Whoa, this site was actually relevant not so long ago. What the hell happened. I only use dx to check out new releases I might’ve missed, otherwise stear clear smh
I agree the album was very ambitious. I thought Nicki allowss her fans to get to know Onika. I though the album was woven perfectly and reflective of Hip Hop R&B and Pop. Just what I was looking for in a third album from her
your comments = moronic
I agree the album was very ambitious. I thought Nicki allowss her fans to get to know Onika. I though the album was woven perfectly and reflective of Hip Hop R&B and Pop. Just what I was looking for in a third album from her
Nicki Minaj loves ANAL SEX . HER BOOOTY HOLE IS HUGE .
Solid album.
Deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome this bullshit some day and listen to that new Ghostface instead.
How in the fuck can you call this hip hop, i bet absoloutly nobody here either the editor or comments have listened to this shit from start to beginning.
The state of hip hop is being shit on after being taken apart, this is a joke when you’re rating an album of this quality above a GhostFace or A.Villa album.
Take a look at yourselves.
No good, terrible songs.
Nicki Minaj’s gay album: 4/5 stars.
Ghostface Killah’s 36 Seasons: 3.5/5 stars.
The priority of this site is to pimp out the worthless agenda of record companies and not necessarily to provide a fair, or even legitimate review of anything.
Its very good and emotional. Its different and sounds great.
It’s a shame people won’t give this a chance. I was the same way actually but gave this a shot after a friend kept trying to put me on. Anaconda is easily the worst track but outside of that this is a good, make that VERY good album.
NOT.
straight…imo not a classic album yet, and oozing with corporate fingerprints but Nicki can, of course, bust a bar that will surprise you. Very solid production but…I don’t know..her “honesty” is featherweight. At this point I’d think she’d be more introspective and be bringing something really real and original. This album just seems like it’s really trying to cater to money. Not much real hip hop pumping in it’s veins. Solid but unspectacular effort. 2.3/5