Hey there, Barbz! There's been enough time since the release of Pink Friday 2 that we feel confident finally doing a definitive ranking of Nicki Minaj's albums. What separates Nicki from the pack of talented female rappers these days is her variety in sound, character, and wordplay. Sure: Minaj has some of the best singles out there. But it's the flow of her albums where she really goes deep and tells compelling, dynamic stories.
Just to clarify: we'll only be taking a look at Nicki's LPs and not her mixtapes. (Apologies to anyone who loves Beam Me Up Scotty.) You'll find the records below in order from our least favorite to the best projects we believe Minaj has ever put out.
For all the Romans, Chun Li's, and everyone inbetween; here's our countdown of Nicki Minaj's albums.
5. Pink Friday 2 (2023)
We know: we're not happy about this, either. We're not saying Nicki's most recent project is bad by any means. We're just saying that for an album the Barbz had been anticipating for five years, Pink Friday 2 fell a little flat. It probably didn't help some of the singles on it, like "Super Freaky Girl" and "Red Ruby Da Sleaze," had already been out for months prior to the record's release.
But hey, for a comeback record? It's a solid effort. As per usual, Nicki jumps from persona to persona and genre to genre across 22 tracks. She puts her signature cadences on drill, pop, dancehall, afrobeats, R&B, Jersey club, and trap. There's also songs that show off her emotional strength, Trini and Caribbean pride, and intimate reflections. But if Pink Friday 2 had been more cohesive, it would be higher on our list. We don't think Nicki's best days are behind her: we just think she needs to appeal less to the TikTok crowd and just do her own damn thing!
4. Pink Friday (2010)
Next up is the original Pink Friday. Sound-wise, yes, this thing is still stuck in the early 2010s. But Pink Friday was incredibly groundbreaking when it was first released. Not only did it show off Nicki's character, wordplay, and singing talent, but it shattered the male-rapper stronghold on the mainstream in a way that hadn’t been done since the heyday of Lil Kim and Foxy Brown. It showed that female rappers didn't have to compromise on their femininity in order to dominate the industry.
As for singles, you'll remember Pink Friday for "Super Bass," "Moment 4 Life" with Drake, the Rihanna collab "Fly," and the spectacular "Roman's Revenge" alongside Eminem ("Rah, rah, like a dungeon dragon!"). Pink Friday perfectly showed the potential Nicki held after a string of notable mixtapes. This was the world's first introduction to Minaj. And she gave that introduction perfectly on "Super Bass": "I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up!"
3. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
In the middle of the list, we've got the last of the albums bearing the Pink Friday title. This is where Nicki really started to experiment with her work. This record isn't 100% perfect, but many of the risks Nicki took with this project paid off. We're talking about the dark, alien rave sound of "Starships," the pure sass on "Beez in the Trap," and the poetic craziness that is "Roman Holiday." God, do we love "Roman Holiday." The whole thing is such a theatrical experience.
Besides those singles, other notable tracks on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded include the upbeat party hit "Pound the Alarm," the hilarious "Stupid Hoe," and the braggadocious "I Am Your Leader." Those seeking the bubblegum comfort of Pink Friday found that Nicki's sequel was anything but safe. It's delightfully off-kilter, and it's the Nicki Minaj we know and love.
2. Queen (2018)
Nicki pours so much confidence into Queen, you'll soak some of it in when listening to this LP. This record is full of maturity and no-nonsense bars. Nicki snarls at the absurdity of the male-dominated rap scene on "Barbie Dreams" (while also paying homage to the Notorious B.I.G.), delivers some goddess-like vocals on the mystical "Ganja Burn," and completely steps into her power on the shady "Chun-Li." There are truly no skips on Queen.
This album is also one of Nicki's most rap-focused, with over 77% of the album’s lyrical content consisting of pure rap. We can't get over how clean and glossy every song sounds. Even far away from her typical cotton candy pink aesthetic, she shines. Queen proves that when it comes to modern female rappers, Nicki Minaj reigns on top.
1. The Pinkprint (2014)
This gave us classics like "Anaconda," "Feeling Myself" (with the one and only Beyoncé), and "Pills N Potions." To be honest, The Pinkprint isn't so much an album with standout singles than it is a well-structured collection of vulnerable tracks. We get to learn all about Nicki Lewinsky, Roman Zolanski, the Female Weezy, and the Harajuku Barbie on her other projects. But this is an album where we learn about the real Onika Maraj and how emotionally exhausted she is.
In terms of critical reception, The Pinkprint has consistently scored high with media outlets and fans alike. Minaj recently shared a social media post with her own ranking of her 5 albums, and right behind first choice Pink Friday 2 was The Pinkprint. Just like an actual fingerprint, The Pinkprint is unique and personal. On the intro "All Things Go," Nicki's delivery is remarkably plain as she reflects on her cousin Nicholas Telemaque’s 2011 murder, for which she blames herself. Then on "Want Some More," she admits to some pill-popping.
There are also some themes on there about being taken seriously as a female rapper. There's lots of sweet, femininity sprinkled on Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. It's a lot of spectacle. But The Pinkprint begs the question: can being a hardworking bad b---h with the constant pressure of smashing through the glass ceilings of hip-hop also be a performance? We learn something new and interesting about Nicki with every track on this record. And after years of playing various characters, Minaj steps into her most dazzling role on The Pinkprint: herself.
READ NEXT: Top 10 Nicki Minaj Music Videos, Top 10 Nicki Minaj Songs
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Article Image: Nicki Minaj performs in front of an NYC crowd during a 'Today Show' performance on August 14, 2012. (Debby Wong via Shutterstock.)
