Maybe I ain't got it in me, maybe it's just time to end it. - 'Just the Memories'
I give Nicki credit for taking some risks here. Most songs sound different, but not enough works. After what I think had the highest number of tracks with replay value with her last effort 'Queen', there is almost nothing here I want to revisit. The songwriting is poor and it all needed some more time spent revising. I mean, it's been album after album about licking her pussy. She has pretty much nothing left to say of interest. One listen in, like I think many people give albums, I would've rated this lower, but it did grow on me after a few extra spins to not be the complete mess that it felt like after the initial play. I understand there is a trend at the moment of filling an album with 100 short songs, but if anyone doesn't need to do this to make a consistently enjoyable album, it's Nicki, who doesn't have much to say anymore to fill 10 songs, let alone 22 songs.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars/Vocals: ★★☆
Hooks: ★★★☆
Best Tracks: Beep Beep, Fallin 4 U, Let Me Calm Down, Blessings, Last Time I Saw You
1. Are You Gone Already
This tries to be emotional, sampling sample of Billie Eilish’s 'When the Party’s Over', but it doesn't work. The production doesn't do enough. It reminds me of Em's 'Walk on Water'
2. Barbie Dangerous
Nicki borrows from Big's 'Notorious Thugs'/'Spit Your Game'. While this is nothing amazing, it would've been a better way to kick the album off than the soft opener. "These rap bitches you like is my sons" - How many times can she rap this line...
3. FTCU
Samples Waka Flocka Flame’s ‘Fuck the Club Up’. Lyrically it's just more boring brag rap like the previous song that we've heard countless times now from Nicki.
4. Beep Beep
There are some more interesting punchlines here and the production bangs. The best from the first 4. It's still no 'Chun Li' and being only 90 seconds hurts it.
5. Fallin 4 U
A decent pop rap/R&B tune that gets better from the final verse when Nicki adds more energy. The line, "I'm number one, y'all go argue over top four", would've made more sense as, "I'm number one, y'all go argue over the next four".
6. Let Me Calm Down
Unsurprisingly, J. Cole gives us the best rap feature on the album. Likeable production, no weird samples, good spitting and a decent chorus makes this one of Pink Friday 2's better moments.
7. RNB (Real Nigga Bitch)
Can these autotune/artificial voiced rappers just F*** off already? And then there is Wayne...Jesus, Man! Open your mouth when you rap. The production is okay but Wayne and Tate ruin it ending the run of good songs.
8. Pink Birthday
I don't have much to say about this. It's just there.
9. Needle
I rarely like how Drake raps or tries to sing and this isn't one of those rare occasions. This would be decent with an artist I liked in his place.
10. Cowgirl
Sonically this all sounds okay. The vocals are fine and so is the instrumentation. How much you enjoy the content of riding like a cowboy will be the determining factor of how much you enjoy this.
11. Everybody
'Move Your Feet' by Junior Senior is pretty much the song. It's interesting on the first listen to hear how Nicki interlaces her lines with the "everybody" sample, but there's no replay value.
12. Big Difference
Boring and lyrically even more boring. You bitches ain't as good as me is the content. How many times can she put these bars on an album? It's such boring and repetitive brag rap.
13. Red Ruby Da Sleeze
The change up and variation between the chorus and verses works and is the only good thing.
14. Forward From Trini
The featured artists here just mumble too much and the production isn't good.
15. Pink Friday Girls
I've never liked Cyndi Lauper's voice and this heavily samples her famous 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun'.
16. Super Freaky Girl
One of the most likeable instrumentals but again the lyrics are boring. Perhaps this first single with the sample, (Rick James' 'Super Freak'), was the perfect forecast of things to come.
17. Bahm Bahm
This one is kind of bangin' but not enough.
18. My Life
Samples 'Heart of Glass' by Blondie for the chorus. It's alright.
19. Nicki Hendrix
This would be decent without Future's abhorrent vocals.
20. Blessings
This is the best song that begins a decent three song tail of songs that all have a similar sound. The featured singer is brilliant on 'Blessings', the drums thump, and the content isn't just about sex and how everyone is her sons as aren't the next two either with some introspection in the lyrics.
21. Last Time I Saw You
22. Just the Memories
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