I was pretty much destined to have a complicated relationship with Nicki Minaj. On the one hand I just want her to succeed; one, because she is trying to revive the sadly lapsed tradition of fierce female rappers, and two — my more visceral reason — because she, like me, is a woman of Caribbean descent trying to do big things. On the other hand I’ve felt skeptical every time I remembered her association with Young Money (and her bright pink wig). But after experiencing two moments of revelation on her insidiously likable debut album, Pink Friday, I am willing to call myself a Nicki supporter.
Those two moments are “Roman’s Revenge,” an amped–up here’s–to–the–haters manifesto featuring Eminem, and the very different “Fly,” a slower, reflective effort featuring Rihanna. Aside from showing that Minaj actually has range, both songs capture her potential as a mature MC and prove she should be taken seriously. She certainly isn’t fully–formed; if she’s going to become the reigning queen of women rappers, she’ll have to put more substance behind the flash and use her rhymes to prod at something beyond her own career. But that’s a point she makes herself — she’s still just figuring out her place, as she articulates on “Fly”: “Cause I am not a word, I am not a line, I am not a girl that can ever be defined.” When she raps that line, it’s clear how much she means it. And as Minaj explores what it means to “define” herself, I’m convinced it’ll be worth it to keep listening.
Nicky Minaj Pink Friday Sounds Like: A woman not to be trifled with 99-Cent Download: “Roman’s Revenge” (ft. Eminem) Good For: Shielding yourself from haters 3/5 Stars
