This album starts off with “Ganja Burns”, and I’m actually super impressed with just how smooth this track starts off. There’s a very summery, sunny feel to this. But the sheer confidence of Nicki’s performance makes this one much more legit, and much easier to swallow. Lyrically, I feel like Nicki dances around a lot of the same topics she’s touched for years. But call me crazy, I can’t remember the last time I heard he sounding this down to earth and genuinely human. And trust me, that’s only made bigger by her singing here which has honestly never sounded so tuneful. This is a seriously classy intro. Some of her lines also are some of her most memorable in years, I really can’t say enough nice things about this one. Then we have “Majesty”, which on the other hand is much more straightforward as far as Nicki’s usual style does. This is just so much more grimy, and a seriously heavy track. And while I”m not exactly nuts about Labrinth’s sung hook. I do have to give Nicki for her continued themes of royalty and being the Queen. Nicki just sounds so aggressive and mean, and I honestly love that, even though this isn’t her at her most animated. Labrinth’s rap verse is ok, but I’m actually much more into Eminem’s verse which is surprisingly wild. This is a solid track once again. Then we have the track that everyone is talking about, “Barbie Dreams”, and for good reason. First Off, Nicki has never sounded this aggressive and vicious on a track. Like, she straight up bodies a whole lot of Rap’s finest here, and I swear to God I actually burst out laughing at her lines about Drake and DJ Khaled. But on top of that, there’s this sort of throwback 90’s Rap beat to it that Nicki does a fantastic job with. This track was a big gamble like this could have honestly been a disaster and incredibly sloppy. But it just sort of cements her seriously confident bars here. Not to mention it has this super simple yet infectious hook. I absolutely love “Barbie Dreams” overall. Now, in the second half, we get a beat switch up, which isn’t terrible, and turns this isn’t much more of a banger. And while this last minute isn’t as memorable, this is easily one of the best tunes here still. “Rich Sex” is up next, and it has been out for a while. And honestly, it’s pretty aggressive and grimy. Like, this is the polar opposite of what we’ve heard here so far. And honestly, it’s not my favorite track here. I do like the booming bass and the beat and all, but this sort of just sounds like a “Pinkprint” leftover. But honestly, I actually really love Lil Wayne’s verse here, which is someone I’m usually not crazy about. So yea, this isn’t the worst truck here, but of the teaser tracks, this is my least favorite. Now, honestly, as far as a much grimier and more Rap centered track goes, “Hard White” is miles more in the right direction. I love just how cold and unforgiving this track is, and Nicki sounds like an absolute superstar. I love the sung hook, which seems to be a theme of this album. And honestly, it’s something she’s gotten so much better with over the years. Hell, even the autotune doesn’t sound nearly as corny as it could have. Like, back in the day, I used to casually enjoy Nicki on her personality alone. But with tracks like this, she makes a fantastic argument on why you should tune in to her more Rap material. And yes, she’s royalty.
Now for a straight up Pop tune, because don’t get it twisted, that’s exactly what it is, “Bed” is actually not bad at all. There’s a lot of the same Sexy bars, but in this case, it’s so much steamier and easier to groove to. I love the very steamy vibe and the smooth vibes, and Ariana Grande on that hook sounds incredible. I mean, much more of Ariana sprinkled throughout may have been too much for me. But this is just a really tasteful Pop tune. Then we get “Thought I Knew You”, which is a much more nocturnal Club track. But right off the bat, let’s chat about Nicki’s vocals. She has never sounded this fantastic singing ever, to the point where QI honestly thought this was still Ariana Grande singing. And as far as a feature goes, she really couldn’t have nailed this one anymore by bringing in The Weeknd. It’s just so eerier and nocturnal, and once again, incredibly steamy. Not to mention, this one plays to both of their characters so well, between the very steamy Sex bars from Nicki and just how dangerous The Weeknd comes off. On the other hand, I have absolutely no clue what’s going on with “Run & Hide”. This one sounds way too much like a mid-2000’s R&B jam, in the worst way. It’s not even that good sounding, it's strange. Nicki’s usual personality isn’t anywhere in sight, and her vocals seem faceless. I just literally have nothing good or bad to say about this one, it’s that bland. And sadly, not even Metro Boomin can save “Chun Swae”. This track is easily the most obnoxious and most thrown together track here. The beat is fine. But Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd fame just sounds along for the ride, like he really didn’t need to be here at all. Nicki’s performance is laughably straightforward and just seems amateurish. Like, this sound to me sounds like mixtape era Nicki, which is fine. But I honestly thought we were beyond tracks like this. And let me tell you, the fact that this track is well over 6-minutes is a travesty. But for me, “Chun-Li” is the track of the album. Not only are we dealing with Nicki at her most animated and wild, this track all around is out of control. The beat is a fucking blast, and the production is great. And once again, for a genuinely wild and aggressive Rap track, Nicki is on top of her game. It’s a banger, but it’s just so fun at the same time. It’s a throwback, but it’s also very hip and current. And with all of these video game and “villain” references, Nicki just sounds better and better as this album rolls on.
On the other hand, “LLC” shows Nicki at her cockiest. And to be honest, it’s where I love hearing her. It’s this Nicki that’s usually the more animated and personable. However, this production is so flimsy and iffy. And the best is just so average, and it’s a shame because I really do love Nicki’s verses here and just how over-the-top they are. But the beat and the production here is just so painfully awkward and average. This album is easily the best thing Nicki has put out, but she still has a slight issue with quantity over quality. Then we have “Good Form” which takes things back in a classier direction, with a very elegant beat. And when Nicki starts rolling, she continues to sound more and more technically sound by the minute. I’m not even kidding, there was a time where Nicki was more of an animated and wild youngster than a technical wizard. But here, she just sounds charismatic as hell, and once again she just sounds like absolute Rap royalty. Then we have “Nip Tuck” which almost has a futuristic Pop feel to it, and I honestly love it. Once again, Nicki on this one cools her jets for a few and does go for a more Pop track, or at least a Pop Rap tune. But between that and the references to Nip/Tuck, this actually works really fantastic for Nicki. I love the stellar production here and just how spacious this one is. You have to give Nicki credit, this is her vision. This is what she’s been going for in album form for years, and it’s never sounded this glorious. But Man, Nicki was doing so well and so confident. But wait, what’s that? Oh no, it’s a below average interlude. “2 Lit 2 Late” is Nicki literally doing a cute Pop jingle practically, and it doesn’t mesh with anything. Nicki is just so close to making an awesome album. But with tracks like “Come See About Me”, I have to continue to question her a bit. This is a seriously heartfelt performance and one that shows off her vocal chops. But why the hell is this track so cheesy, especially following all of these tracks fueled by Oral Sex. It’s just so weird to hear this track plopped in the middle of this album. But like I said, this is undeniably heartfelt and emotional, and I have to give Nicki some credit for that.
On the other hand, “Sir” is the sort of banger that I really needed to hear right now. Contrary to what you may think, I don’t necessarily hate Future. I just like to hear him as a hype man more than anything. But man, this track with Zaytoven and Metro Boomin on production comes up with a seriously grimy, sweaty club track for the ages. Nicki here just sounds so dangerous, and some of her Pop culture references are some of the best here. And honestly, this is one of the most coherent and totally enjoyable verses I’ve heard from Future in fucking years. “Miami” on the other hand goes for a much dreamier and dreary tone. Nicki here gets back to her more confident side. And honestly, it’s not a bad track at all, I really love hearing her this aggressive. And seriously, what’s going on with all of these Video Game references? I do love that though. Now, I do sort of wish this track had a catchier hook, and maybe a little heavier of a beat. But outside of that, this track is solid. But “Coco Chanel” is the absolutely ridiculous all out banger that I didn’t know I needed as one last hoorah. Nicki here is absolutely wild and completely animated. She’s dishing it all out for one last aggressive performance, one last blast of sexuality, and it’s actually really brilliant. Not to mention, it’s surprisingly heavy for Nicki. Even Foxy Brown sounds seriously hungry and wild in her verse here. This one is all gravy man. Then we get one last finale, the “Inspirations” outro. It just sort of washes in from the last track, keeping the same beat and all. And honestly, it’s sort of underwhelming. The beat is still fresh and all, and Nicki’s monologue is fine. But if we’re calling this an ending with some serious finality to it, this isn’t it.
Rating: 8.0/10
Give A Listen To: “Ganja Burns”, “Barbie Dreams”, “Hard White”, “Chun Li”
Least Favorite Track: “Chun Swae”
Genre: Hip-Hop / Pop Rap / Pop
Overall Thoughts: For years Nicki Minaj has presented herself to be, and believed herself to be Rap royalty. On “Queen”, Nicki proves it. Between throwback beats, better singing, and a series of her most confident bars yet. There are some really surprisingly solid features from the likes of Foxy Brown, Future, and Lil Wayne, as well as The Weeknd and Eminem who you sort of figured, would fit nicely here. This isn’t a perfect album, hell this isn’t even the best Rap album you’re going to hear this month. But to say that this is anything less than Nicki’s most triumphant and most solid project to date would be a lie.
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