Queen leaves Nicki looking like a princess
Nicki Minaj’s latest album is full of over-produced bangers but not much else.
Since her last feature-length album in 2014, Nicki Minaj has well and truly let her crown slip to Cardi B whose debut album quickly went platinum and put her at the top of the Billboard chart for weeks. Aside from a few passable EPs and some impressive features, Nicki had a lot to make up for with her latest album, Queen.
Money, sex and fame.
Somewhat ironically titled, Queen, makes Nicki sound more like a princess. There are few profound moments on the album, and most of her bars focus on the variety of ways she enjoys sex and money. While I’m all for female rappers carrying themselves with the sexual bravado of their male counterparts, I’m not into either party focusing a project as long as this on such limited material. Much like Travis Scott’s Astroworld, Queen is plagued by raps trilogy of money, sex, fame. These three themes make albums expire very quickly. Nip Tuck is about the rawest Nicki gets on Queen, but even that track is focussed on a romantic relationship.
Insane Production
On the other hand, the album fucking slaps. Oh my, these have to be some of Nicki’s most well-formed tracks. Her sharp and witty bars dance on some fresh production from Boi-1da, Supa Dups, J. Reid and Mike Will Made It. Alongside her incredible trackwork, we’re treated to standout features from Eminem, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Future, and more. These contributions make the project less of a sandwich and more of a thick juicy hamburger. The meat patty of this burger comes early in the stack with tracks like Ganja Burns, Majesty and Barbie Dreams leaving the lasting impression.
Queen is worth more credit than I was initially willing to give it. Nicki is at the top of the rap game for a reason, she’s a lyricist at heart and knows how to bring together a fully realised project. Unfortunately, for me the album won’t make it any further than the obligatory bangerz playlist. It’s a lot of flashbang but little substance. Cardi keeps the crown this time.
