Album Review: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Nicki is dropping her follow up to her successful first album, "Pink Friday" with an album with an original title, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" I think the title is kind of dumb, but whatever. Nicki has said she is pretty much at the point where she is able to do whatever she wants and people will eat it up. This is good, as it allows her to experiment and try things without feeling the need to please people. This album shows some growth, but it also shows her dabbling in a bit of everything and effectively seems like it's meant to please everyone. There is pop, R&B, and oh yeah, she raps too.

Roman Holiday: I didn't get or even like this song when she premiered it on the Grammy's. I think the performance was just too fucked up for me to focus. Now that I've listened to it, I get it. It's a great way to start out a CD, as has a frenzied pace and has a message of "Ok, I'm back to talk some SERIOUS shit"

Hood Shit:
Come on a Cone: This song has a hot beat. Nicki is talking some serious shit on this. She has a serious ODB vibe that people have come to want. I think the highlight of the song is her singing "Dick on your face" Like who says that?

I Am Your Leader: She pairs up with Cam'ron and Rick Ross. I didn't even know Cam was still putting out music, so I was shocked as hell. I actually like his verse a lot.

Beez in the Trap: this is for strippers and lovers of ratchet ass things.

Hov Lane: The beat reminds me of a throwback Lil Wayne/Hot Boys beat.

Roman Reloaded: "More knots than Eric from Basketball Wives" hahaha She is popping off on Rap Bitches. Again. *yawn* Little Wayne jumps on for some credibility.

Champion: How she got Nas to collaborate with her is beyond me. He is official and Nicki seems to realise this as this song is a bit more serious in the lyrical content. She sings the hook, probably to prepare us for things to come.

Right By My Side: She teams up with Chris Brown for an R&B joint. Told you she was prepping us for more singing... I like her verse at the end

Sex in the Lounge: nothing too notable about this song for me

Fist Pump Nation:
Starships: I really don't love this song. I feel like Miley Cyrus should have sung this. I am apparently in the minority, as this is one of her biggest songs. THis will be our first taste of Nicki's venture into fist pump nation.

Pound the Alarm: More club friendly music in the same vein ass Flo Rida.

Whip It: Nothing too special about it, but I like songs that have the sound of a whip in it. I'm a sucker for it, I guess.

Slow Jams:

Automatic: I feel like this could have been a Jennifer Lopez song to follow up "On the Floor"

Beautiful Sinner: Nicki singing over a club beat that builds up to a dramatic chorus.

Mariyln Monroe: I thought this was only a demo, but apparently it made the cut. This is us seeing Nicki being vulnerable.

Young Forever: The beat is cute, but the song is just ok to me.

Fire Burns: I think I would like this song more if Rihanna sang it.

Gun Shot: She teams up with Beenie man. I love when she busts out the island swagger. I really wish she would have went harder, but she is singing here. I would love to hear them trade verses, but I guess i'm asking too much.

Bonus Tracks:

Stupid Hoe: a ridiculous song that has Nicki *gasp* throwing jabs at a female MC *cough* Lil' Kim *cough*

Turn Me On: This was a huge song for Guetta and Nicki and I'm sure gave her the confidence to make a whole fist pump section to her album

Va Va Voom: Super Bass Part II. The same people that lost it over Super Bass will probably like this.




Overall I think this is a solid offering. There really is a lot of genre crossover going on throughout, which makes the album sound a bit schizo when you listen to it on shuffle. I think I need to come to terms with the fact that Nicki has been told she can sing and likes to sing a lot. I don't think it's horrible, but I really love it when she is rapping and dropping memorable verses. I was thinking that maybe she would shut people up who say that her most memorable verses are on other people's songs, but she really didn't do that here. Ahh well, still a solid album and I'm sure it'll be shoved down my throat for the next 2 years, so I had better get on board QUICK.

I'm not even going to talk about the album artwork...