Description

The Pinkprint has traces of the candy-colored hooks and wicked-fast lyricism that make Nicki Minaj one of the most versatile superstars in the game, but there’s little of the dance-pop dazzle that propelled her earlier crossover hits like “Super Bass” and “Starships.” Instead, Minaj’s third album is filled with slinking tempos and heavy-hitting collaborations—Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown turn up before the halfway point. Simmering downtempo tunes like “Only,” “Get on Your Knees,” and “Pills N Potions” can come across as confessional or coy, but Minaj’s whiplash-inducing verses on the Sir Mix-a-Lot–sampling “Anaconda” and the punchline-packed “I’m Feeling Myself” leave us in awe of her commanding presence.