“Pink Friday 2,” Nicki Minaj’s fifth studio album, was released on December 8, 2023, marking her 41st birthday. The album, issued by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records, serves as a sequel to her debut album “Pink Friday” from 2010 and is her first studio release in five years, following “Queen” in 2018. The project blends hip-hop and pop-rap with influences from other genres, featuring collaborations with notable artists like J. Cole, Drake, Lil Wayne, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, 50 Cent, Monica, Keyshia Cole, and more.
Upon release, “Pink Friday 2” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making Minaj the first female rapper to have three number-one albums. It earned over 228,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, with 92,000 coming from pure album sales. Internationally, the album reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Critics generally praised the album for its consistency and innovation, though some criticized the use of samples. The album samples tracks from artists such as Billie Eilish, Cyndi Lauper, and Rick James.
The album’s release was supported by five singles: “Super Freaky Girl,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” “Last Time I Saw You,” “Everybody” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, and “FTCU.” “Super Freaky Girl,” certified double platinum, was Minaj’s first solo number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The other singles all peaked within the top 25. By March 2024, the album had been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Minaj is promoting the album through the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, which has become the highest-grossing concert tour by a female rapper in history.
The journey to “Pink Friday 2” began in June 2019, when Minaj mentioned on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” that she had started working on a new album. Despite a temporary announcement of her retirement from hip-hop in September 2019, Minaj continued to develop the project. She described the album as “fierce, fun, and unapologetic,” expressing her excitement about its release.
In June 2020, Minaj hinted at the album with tweets referencing “PF2” and “MEMORIES.” She later teased the album as the best of 2023 and hinted at a groundbreaking accompanying tour. In July 2022, Minaj previewed “Super Freaky Girl,” which quickly went viral. The single, released in August 2022, debuted atop the Hot 100 and spent 11 weeks in the top 10. Subsequent singles “Red Ruby da Sleeze” and “Last Time I Saw You” followed, with the latter debuted at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
Initially scheduled for October 2023, the album’s release date was pushed to November and eventually to Minaj’s birthday in December. Leading up to the release, Minaj engaged her fans with teasers and surprises, including a Vogue cover feature. “Pink Friday 2” was released as a 22-track digital album, with physical versions containing fewer tracks due to production timelines. Deluxe editions, including the “Gag City Deluxe” and “Gag City Pluto Edition,” were released subsequently.
The album features a diverse range of songs, from the introspective “Are You Gone Already,” which samples Billie Eilish, to collaborations like “Let Me Calm Down” with J. Cole and “Needle” with Drake. “Super Freaky Girl” and “Red Ruby da Sleeze” highlight Minaj’s confidence and legacy, while tracks like “Blessings” featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard reflect her spirituality. “Pink Friday 2” showcases Minaj’s versatility and solidifies her status as a dominant force in hip-hop and pop music.