Nicki Minaj , hate her or love her, but you have an opinion on her, good or bad and very seldom indifferent. After a breakout and explosive debut to stardom, a number of criticism, and a few beefs, she has definitely stayed in the headlines becoming a household name, and definitely lives up to the as long as people are talking about you mantra.
Enter the second album, usually the album that defines which road your career is headed down, usually comes at a time when all eyes are on you for either having major success as is the case or for not quite living up to the hype the first time out. Either way people want to see can you do it again, can you intrigue us into sticking with you for the long haul or build on what initially made fans. With words like sellout, pop star( used as a diss and a compliment, depending on perspective), and biter, or as the new generations calls them swagger jackers, words that in Hip-hop can be death sentences, all eyes are definitely on Nicki and her sophomore album Roman Reloaded.
A lot of hope and trust has been placed in Nicki Minaj as a representative of female Mc’s everywhere, because for years there has been no recognizable face really holding it down for the ladies, proving that they can no only sell, but exhibit skills also. Nicki once showed promise and skill as a lyricist , but as of late has taken a very pop music route, and not hip-hop’s version of pop. POP music’s version of pop. The first controversial single “Stupid Hoe” gave many a peak into what to expect, but you could never be sure and could still hope. For those hoping to hear the hip hop lyricist many fell in love with, after the first two songs on the album “Roman Holiday“ a bonafide pop song, and “Come on a Cone” my only thoughts WTF, its clear that the pop version of Nicki is going to be around a lot longer than some may want.
The best track on the album is “I am Your Leader” ft/ Rick Ross and Camron, who not only save the song but also really make it. Another notable track is “Champion” ft/ Drake, Young Jeezy and Nas. Drake delivers a petty good verse, and decent verses from Nas and Jeezy help make the song listenable. But, other than those two the album is pretty much a pop and dance music album, not party, but dance as in that techno house music vibe that’s taking everyone is playing with these days. If that’s what you’re into check “Starship” and “Pound the Alarm”
Lyrically , its very simple, watered down, bubble gum. A track like “Beez in the Trap” couldn’t even be saved by 2 Chainz. Most of the lyrics require no intricacy at all, it’s dumb down and borderline stupid, for people who don’t take music serious, don’t really know about music or hip-hop. Purely dumb down and watered down for any and everybody to understand, it aint for music purist or people with advanced taste or older people. If you’re in the club bouncing around and not listening to lyrics its perfect.
Sonically it’s a pop dance music album, the production is tailored to that sound. Song making wise its very catchy, radio friendly, stuff you’ll hear in certain types of clubs and some fashion shows etc. Entertainment wise, its not something that most will listen to religiously, its not something your going to keep getting something new from every time you listen to it, its not timeless. Most people wont be riding around with it on repeat in their car, but you’ll hear it because in the state of radio today , you can expect to not be able to avoid hearing this album against your will. Originality, I don’t think any new ground is being broken hip-hop wise, but considering I’m not an expert in pop, house or dance, I’m unsure if it’s groundbreaking in those areas. From a versatility stand point, its that because it shows she can make music in various genres, she covers all her bases, pop, dance, house, the sing songy R&B hybrid joint, check “Right by my Side” and even island flavor with “Gun Shot” ft/ Beenie Man. Even a seasonal track, a song like Starships a dance track, made for the house crowd, it’ll be played on pop radio especially around spring break and summer time for years to come.
Most of the subject range is very light hearted stuff, if there is depth on the album most will miss it because the song structure and production doesn’t allow you to focus in on what’s being said, the beats and hooks are what’s being sold here If all you care about is money and sales, then cool. But creativity and artistry, soulful, inspiring and credibility none. I expect the album to play large with the pop audience and at the Kids Choice awards, but with adults, it depends on what they’re buying into these days.
For the most part Roman Reloaded is not a hip-hop album, a pop for sure. Just because you use hip hop slang, inspired by hip hop and call yourself an MC don’t make you one. We currently need the female MCS to step up because Nicki is not holding it down for them, at all. This album proves nothing. A very hard to listen to and take serious album, waste of cd's and studio time in my opinion, I wouldn’t buy it.
I don’t want to see her on any list for MCing, unless people like Madonna, J-Lo, Jordan sparks, Chris brown, etc. are gone be on the list also, because they rap just as much and sometimes better than Nicki.
Make money however you want, just don’t false advertise to the people and undercut the culture.
I give the album as a hip hop album 1 and half stars out of 6 or if you want 6 stars out of 6, a classic rating, but not classically good, classically bad as an example of what not to do and label it hip hop. Nicki fans, worshiper and fanatics will disagree and they are entitled to. I know hip-hop has evolved and can’t be put in a box, but you know it when you hear it and you know what it isn’t, and this isn’t. I still expect phenomenal album sales and it to rack up at award shows and set records, but in the state of the music business today, how many of those actually have much credibility anyway.
slin_k
@slin_k_polymath
slin_k
@slin_k_polymath
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