Nicki Minaj fails to aurally satisfy

Leandro Fefer, Entertainment - By Leandro Fefer on Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 02:27

First off, I started listening to this album with an open mind. Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing redeeming about it. Nicki Minaj has stooped to a new low with this album.

When she first appeared on the rap scene, Minaj stood out for her raw and flamboyant style. She schizophrenically embodied a womanizer, thug, madwoman and diva. Now she has forsaken her variety and uniqueness for a mash -up of Katy Perry amd Ke$ha who raps.

The new album, released April 3, did not feature the hard-hitting production of Minaj’s debut album. Instead of Kane Beatz, Bangladesh and Swizz Beatz who created contemporary hip-hop beats the producers for Roman Reloaded, including Hit-Boy and RedOne, made dub-step and electronic beats for the new album. Furthermore, Minaj ditched her street savvy and thuggish rhymes for party pop.

In Minaj’s first musical appearances she was witty and weird. She manipulated gender roles, experimented with fashion and was cutting edge with her voice. Her voice had a raw presence that she accompanied with clever changes in her intonation. Unfortunately her voice has gone from an expressive medium to a gimmick. Her new album uses her various voice inflections as more of a selling point than an artistic expression.

At the end of the album she claims to be the female Lil’ Wayne, and it becomes clear that her attempts of weirdness on the new album are meant to imitate her mentor and not to express herself.

Minaj is not a female Lil’ Wayne. Wayne has consistently remained true to his street origins while taking forays into rock and club pop.

Minaj on the other hand seems to have lost herself. There is only one song on the album that is listenable. In “Champion,” track seven, Minaj goes back to her more raspy voice talks about her life before rap and declares that the song is for the hood, the kids and n*****s doing bids. This verse leaves the listener wondering to whom the rest of the songs on the albums are for.

The rest of her album lacks any content, and will probably be enjoyed only by people whose lives lack any content.