Nicki Minaj Praying for Purpose Amid Negative Album Reviews
Nicki Minaj, 29-year-old award winning rapper turned pop singer, spoke about praying for her purpose on her recently released sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Still, critics are not happy with the rapper's latest effort which has been receiving a plethora of bad reviews.
In a segment on her album titled "Press Conference" Minaj spoke to an interview about her bigger purpose in life.
"I have to pray on that. I think that my purpose will eventually be related to some sort of movement for my younger fans really," she said. "I really am interested in learning how to build the education system to a point where we have more of a success rate in terms of black children that go from high school to college. I feel like college was not something that was engraved in my brain."
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In the Press Conference, Minaj also spoke about the pressure of the music industry.
"It's very hard, mentally, this (expletive) is draining. For you to be able to get up there and do music that people love, and do interviews with a smile on your face and act like this (expletive) ain't getting to you, it's draining," Minaj said. "It's crazy. That's why so many artists go on drugs or become alcoholics."
Minaj described the spiritual battle that takes place when chasing fame.
"..You get here and you are like, 'Lord is this the price I have to pay if I really want this,'" she questioned. "He's like, 'yup, now let's see who really want it.'"
Despite Minaj's ability to unveil her deepest thoughts to fans on the record, many criticized the rapper's latest effort. While Minaj opens her album with songs for her hip-hop audience, she switches pace 25 minutes into the record by singing over dance records for mainstream audiences.
However, many critics seemed unhappy with her attempts to crossover to the mainstream.
"Indeed, the first half of Roman Reloaded is the sound of Minaj doing a victory lap - already established enough in hip-hop to compete with her male counterparts, she leaves plenty of room for guests like Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Drake, and Chris Brown to take the mic," Billboard wrote in a review before bashing the second half of the album. "If you thought her David Guetta single 'Turn Me On' was a major departure last summer, get ready for five more songs that sound pretty much exactly like that. In short, Minaj spends more time exploring her musical identity on Roman Reloaded than she does perfecting one, which makes the album sound bloated and rushed."
Chris Willman at TheWrap.com called Minaj a "sellout," labeling the album a "hot-pink mess."
Slant magazine had a similar review saying, "The album is partitioned almost exactly between a rap half and a pop half; the former is unquestionably stronger, but after 'Beez in the Trap,' it limps off to its own disheartening conclusion."
Still, in a recent interview with Hip Hop station Power 105.1, Minaj said she was proud of her latest album.
"I am proud of myself. I am proud of this album," Minaj said. "I will never let anyone scare me out of my true potential."
