It's no big secret that I like Nicki Minaj (DAT ASS haha). But there was a time (before Pink Friday) when I couldn't stand or get into her or any Young Money artists at all (including Drizzy Dripping Damp Drake). She can sing, for the most part her beats are good, and when she so chooses her flow becomes ridiculously erratic (in a good way). I feel like I'm using too many parentheses in this already. Pink Friday may be one of the best pop-rap albums in recent memory. Alongside Kanye West's Graduation the more recent release of Eminem's Relapse. But this is about part deux so to speak. Roman Reloaded, I was expecting at least, to be a remix-mixtape at best, not her actual second full fledged album.
Starts out fine with me, with the title track she "premiered" in that bizarre performance at The Grammy's. I have no idea why, but "Roman's Revenge" is so strange and out there it somehow clicks with me. I guess in a theatrical sort-of way. Now mind you, I'm not going to go into diatribes about every track. Cause quite frankly I only liked a handful of songs off of this album. Moving along in this first part of the album which keeps some semblance of pop-rap, we hit "I Am Your Leader." Nicki is solid, not a huge fan of Cam'ron though (never have been), but Rick Ross has a nice little guest verse on here that had me nodding my head. To be frank, "Beez in the Trap" isn't the greatest of Nicki verses (she just sounded more lazy than the desired seductive), at least to me. But this kid, 2 Chainz, has a good verse and I swear to God, I love the beat to this song. Like I said you can have the best beat in the world, but if I don't like the verses then then song will tank. That didn't happen with this song. "Champion" is the best rap/hip-hop song on this album. All the verses (by Nicki, Drake, Jeezy and Nas) are on point lyrically and with their flow. The beat is also very nice and Nas delivers the best verse on this whole album (in my opinion).
This is where the album takes a rocky turn and goes to the all pop, all club, no hip-hop/rap venue until the last track that seemed tacked on in "Stupid Hoe." More on that later. BUT this is where Nicki starts to show off her voice more. And that another reason why I like her. Sure she has the crazy flow, but she can belt out a verse as good as anyone. Luckily for you readers this part of the album soured me. So there won't be too much of my horribad writing here. Three songs did stand out to me though, starting with the second single off of the album, "Starships." Like I Twatted out as I was listening to this album for the first time, this song is complete pop. It's got the club banger, Top 40 pop station, feel good summer sound that I ate up hook line and sinker. The beat is great, the chorus is catchy and the lyrics are fun. Nothing more you could want in a pop song. BUT THEN as soon as it ended "Pound the Alarm" comes on and seemingly continues the song. Same popness, all the same enjoyment out of me.
I was digging the album, when a huge slump of degrading pop/club songs hit me like a wave hitting a little fat kid on the beach and I got sad. Among all the bad though, there was one song that stood out to me, "Marilyn Monroe." The ballad song of this "all over the place musical stylings" of an album. Nothing spectacular about the verses or chorus themselves, but Nicki delvers a great singing performance. She shows that she's not that one trick rapping pony, that she can sing pretty damn good. To round out this album though, "Stupid Hoe" comes on. Yes. At least at the end of this a song from what brought her to the game. The chorus and beat quite frankly...suck. But Nicki's rapping in this is to me, a Goddamn hot mess of awesome. On the flip side of what I mentioned earlier. I can forgive a bad beat and chorus when there's flow like hers. #EndofTheAlbum
To sum up though I'll say this. First part of the album, hip-hop/rap. Second part of the album, pop/club. Nicki Minaj has styles for everyone in this. Slow beats, fast beats, synthesizers, rap songs, club songs, pop songs, ballads, etc. But I think that ideal in wanting to please everyone hurts more than it helps. When she focuses on rap then good songs like "Champion" happen. When she focuses of pop then good songs like "Starships" happen. When she focuses on singing then good songs like "Marilyn Monroe" happen. BUT she needs to stick with what got her here and got me listening to her. Rap and hip-hop. Sure incorporate other styles into it, but keep true to your roots. Release EPs or mixtapes if you want to experiment, don't make me buy your album then hate the majority of it cause it's not your style (or a style I wanna hear you do). Good effort overall, some solid songs came out of this, but for me a disappointing follow up to Pink Friday.
Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: 5/10 or 2.5/5 Stars
Best Songs
"Roman Holiday"
"I Am Your Leader"
"Beez in the Trap"
"Champion"
"Starships"
"Pound the Alarm"
"Marilyn Monroe"
"Stupid Hoe"
Best Verse
"I saw my first two million dollars, I was 23
I'm barely a man, yet, I had some killers under me
This ain't rated PG, this rated PJ
Cause that's where a nigga from murder on replay
My 24th b-day, I'm sailing to Bermuda, you can see me on a yacht
Blasting Pac, little not, I ain't greedy
I'm back to thugging, bitches
Back to making them kiss other bitches
My man sister like me, I don't fuck my brother sister
I just aspire and desire to be different
My ten year old plan is just one year to finish
My list looks like this, first thing that you'll discover
The difference in pussy, white, Black, Latin and other
Here's a man who clearly isn't basic
Loud laughter, while writing my next chapter: Fast Cash Life
Happily ever after
Champions"
~Nas, from "Champion"~
"Beez in the Trap" featuring 2 Chainz
"Champion" featuring Drake, Young Jeezy and Nas
"Starships"
"Marilyn Monroe"
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