It's like Nicki read my tweets and made this album to replace the mostly limp urban section of Roman Reloaded. Don't get me wrong! I could bop to a couple of the urban tracks on the album ("Beez In Da Trap" and "HOV Lane"). The rest of that side just seemed to rely on quirky corniness instead of the pungent tongue lashings we'd come to expect up until the release of the surprisingly pop "Starships." I'd almost prefer Nicki to have released an all pop album and focus on some of the Top 40 radio bangers like "Whip It" and "Va Va Voom" then come back with The Re-Up, adding "Beez..." and "HOV Lane."
Bad release strategies aside, The Re-Up is a roundhouse kick to rap critics. Minaj ditches all most pop element and revives her for mixtape-circuit self. "I Endorse These Strippers" and "I'm Legit" are the most obvious single choices and show off Minaj's ability to write stupefyingly catchy hooks. The latter of the two offers a chorus from "Goodies" singer Ciara, who only takes away from the song with her contrived "ghetto"-ness and auto-tune abuse. "...Strippers" picks up Tyga (and some other rapper tha even God is unfamiliar with) for a "Beez In Da Trap" style pussy-popping anthem.
The round-of-applause moment of the album still belongs to "Va Va Voom."
Even with weak promotion, the song has stood strong as a single on
radio and on iTunes. It has the potential to be Minaj's first #1 single,
but it looks like it has been neglected in an effort to push the more
hip-hop "Freedom."
The album is strong in the beginning, though. The second single from the EP, "Freedom," has the makings of a classically style rap song that I'd expect Jay-Z to pick up for another installment of his Blueprint series. "Hell Yeah" fits in with radio's recent obsession with living live like it's a party, and will probably end up with a video before this era is over with.
There's still something significant missing from Minaj's album releases. I'm still waiting on a track that truly changes the game for Minaj. She has yet to have an "Umbrella" or "Crazy In Love." I think she will one day, but until she does her fans will have to settle for albums that are a lot more exciting the first times you hear them and eventually get neglected and scratched up under the passenger's seat. Still, it's a solid piece of work, a step in the right direction for Minaj, and will probably last until the new Minaj release in 2013.
(7 out of 10)
uh... i'm pretty sure Super Bass was her "Umbrella", its the only reason why she started making pop music
ReplyDeleteIf you think Superbass was as big as Umbrella...
Deletei didn't say that?
Deleteit was obviously her major crossover single, which is what you were getting at.
Not necessarily. Umbrella technically isn't Rihanna's "biggest hit," but it's definitely her song with the most impact. Same for Beyoncé. "Crazy In Love" is just one of those songs that will be remembered forever. I don't think the same can be said for "Superbass."
Deleteno, i disagree.
Deletesuper bass is definitely her umbrella, crazy in love, etc
it was truly a crossover single, but still true to her rap side and pop enough for the white people lol
really, that song made her.
you'd be a fool to think otherwise
I think "Starships" will be remembered more than "SuperBass."
Deletealso...oh at you forgetting about High School, the best bop on the album
ReplyDeleteI believe you have over rated these "7" new songs, saying that they are "roundhouse kick to rap critics" yeah but she missed who ever she was kicking :P lol, Pink Friday (first one) was amazing and i own it and so was (romans revenge). This is not what people want. Even though she took time out from American Idol promo schedule to plug the disc, it shifted only 34,501 copies in its first week, resulting in a disastrous debut of No. 28 on the Billboard 200.
ReplyDeleteThe severe floppage of The Re-Up is just the latest in a string of flops for Minaj, whose album sales have been rapidly declining since her highly-successful debut, Pink Friday. On top of her recent singles, “The Boys” and “Freedom”, failing to chart, she’s also had to deal with mediocre ratings for her recent E! reality series, My Truth, which was out-rated by the network’s other programs like Keeping up with the Kardashians, Ice Loves Coco, Chelsea Lately, and even Married to Jonas.
Wow, you're pressed. Major retailers refused to pick up "The Re-Up" simply because history has shown that re-releases don't sell. With less options available, an artist won't sell that well.
Delete