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The wait for Nicki Minaj's much-anticipated sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, is over, but critics are divided over whether it's a worthy successor to the diva's platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated debut.
To be clear, nary a critic is questioning Minaj's talent. Indeed, many of the negative notices lament Minaj's decision to focus less on her gifts as a rapper — which are evidenced on some of the album's early tracks — in favor of creating generic dance songs designed to appeal to mainstream radio.
In an at times scathing one-and-a-half-star review, Slant praises Reloaded's opening tracks as "hard, confrontational rap songs" that are "brilliant." However, and it's a big however, "The remaining 53 minutes of Roman Reloaded are a disaster, so much so that I could fill the rest of this review with a non-exhaustive list of the most embarrassing missteps." Ouch.
The album is divided "almost exactly between a rap half and a pop half," and if the rap half — particularly the tracks "Beez in the Trap" and "Come on a Cone" — is being praised, the pop half is being trashed harder than just about any pop album in recent memory.
"At her best, Nicki Minaj is, line for line, one of the wittiest, most creative rappers working today, either male or female. Her many personas and voices fly through her songs with joyful abandon, and she seems to be having so much fun astonishing us," the LA Times writes. "On the first half of her second album, Pink Friday ... Roman Reloaded, the Trinidadian American rapper from New York City offers repeated evidence of her talents, and she delivers funny, biting, bawdy lines and rhyming couplets with apparent glee. ... But then, after the ridiculousness that is 'Sex in the Lounge' (which sounds like a Lonely Island parody of an R. Kelly song, and, [unsurprisingly], features Lil Wayne), the album drives off a cliff."
Among the complaints: » The club bangers that compose the album's second half are "of the blandest and most cookie-cutter variety. The music behind 'Automatic' could be mistaken for a 15-year-old's first stab at making a dance track on Ableton software, a cynically simple run with clumsy synth chord progressions that were already tired when invented at cheesy 1998 raves." — LA Times
» "The five RedOne-helmed tracks in a row feel as distinct and independent as the opening six did, but big synths and dramatic drops are the stars of these songs, with Minaj herself reduced to supporting player." » "There are way too many anonymous dance numbers like 'Automatic' and 'Fire Burns' that could have come from a dozen singers." —
The consensus seems to be that Nicki is at her best when she's spitting lines as Roman rather than pursuing the beat-driven bubblegum that, ironically, has provided her with some of her biggest Billboard chart hits, including the RedOne-produced Reloaded single "Starships," which currently sits at #5 on the Hot 100, and her collaboration with David Guetta, "Turn Me On" (#10 this week after peaking at #4 earlier this year).
There are some overall positive notices out there. In a near rave, Global Grind calls Reloaded "a rollercoaster ride of musical insanity, mesmerizing rap bars [and] catchy pop tracks that you may not want to like, but end up singing anyway." Popdust awarded the set a three-and-a-half (out of four) star review, commenting that its "monstrous beats and [Nicki's] convincing delivery leave little room for rebuttal."
Giving it a B+, Newsday says, "The first half of Roman Reloaded is the Nicki we've come to love. The pride of Jamaica, Queens, is brash and in your face, messing with gender roles and delivering all sorts of zingers. In first-rate hip-hop like 'I Am Your Leader,' where she holds her own with Rick Ross and Cam'ron, and 'Champion,' where she takes on Nas and Young Jeezy, Minaj cements her rep as hip-hop's brightest new star." The news mag even goes so far as to say that Minaj "has her moments" on the pop side. That's just about the biggest compliment we would find regarding Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded's controversial second half.
Have you listened to Nicki's latest release? If so, rate the album in our poll and let us know your opinions in the comments below.
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Soulja Boy is back with the video for "NuReligion."
Directed by Grizz Lee
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Snoop Dogg aka Nemo Hoes is back with a new episode of GGN News. He welcomes actor/director Mario Van Peebles and actor/comedian Faizon Love to the show this week to talk about the Trayvon Martin case and Mario's new movie "We The Party."
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New music from Kelly Rowland featuring Future and Bei Major off of the upcoming Think Like A Man soundtrack.
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Kendrick Lamar released his long awaited duo with Dr. Dre on Monday [April 2]. "The Recipe" has been very well received by fans. Kendrick visited Big Boy's Neighborhood with Dre on the phone and the two talked about the record and it's producer Scoop DeVille.
Big Boy also recalled having a "fan moment" during a visit to Dre's studio.
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Juicy J of the Taylor Gang shows no sign of slowing down as he drops another videa. This one if for "You Want Deez Rackz" off of his Blue Dream & Lean' mixtape,
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Obie Trice is officially back with a new cd entitled Bottoms Up, which hit store shelves today. Obie kicks the promo of the project into high gear with the release of visuals for "Spend the Day" featuring Drey Skonie.
Directed By John Colombo
Check out the cover art for Snoop Dogg's upcoming Stoners EP. The project will be released on National Weed Day, April 20th.
Spotted at HHNM
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Scott Storch is dealing with a new lawsuit this morning.
The super producer is being sued for $100,000 by singer Treena Ruberg. Ruberg claims she agreed to pay Storch $45,000 for six songs in October 2011. $30,000 of that fee was reportedly paid up front. Storch admitted up he had a drug problem in the past, but was clean and sober. However, according to the lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Storch lied and "continued to have a drug addiction and other personal problems which rendered him incapable of producing any recordings."
Ruberg is suing for her original $30,000 payment, plus an additional $70,000 for other out of pocket expenses. Ruberg says she booked studio time, plane flights and had to eventually hire another producer.
Storch has produced records for 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Mystikal, Christina Aguilera and many more.
Eventually his hard living lifestyle caught up to him though. He blew $30 million in less than six months several years ago. His downfall was attributed to his cocaine habit.
He was reportedly getting help, but was busted for cocaine possession in Las Vegas on February, 4 2012.
Check out some footage of Treena Ruberg below.
Treena Ruberg (Album Cover Photo Shoot)
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50 Cent made an appearance on the Rachael Ray daytime show Monday [April 2]. The two chopped it up about the July 2nd release date for 50's new album, the current G-Unit roster, and why the G-Unit boss still uses a Walkman to listen to beats.
In part two of the interview Rachael and Fif play a game of 50/50 (truth or dare). Fif recalls his most embarrassing on stage moment and more.
Interview pt. 1 of 2
Interview Pt. 2 of 2
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Tip gears up for the release of his next album "Trouble Man" by releasing the 1500 or Nothin' produced "Love This Life."
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Diggy Simmons shook up the hip hop world when a diss track aimed at J. Cole hit the internet over the weekend. Radio station KGGI 99.1 FM caught up with Diggy to find out the motivation behind the diss.
"It was really that my sister [Vanessa] like over a year ago told me he was saying he did this, that and the third with her because they went to the same college. But they didn't even know each other like that, so it wasn't like that," Diggy said. "She also told me that he subliminally also talked about her in a song called 'Purple Rain,' which is also false. So it was just me sticking up for my family."
Diggy goes on to say that he didn't leak the track, but both he and his dad, Rev. Run agreed that it's family over everything. He also added that he's not worried about Cole firing shots back at him.
Diggy responds to his J. Cole Diss
Diggy "What You Say To Me" (J. Cole Diss)
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This is the first single off Kid Ink's debut album "Up & Away."
Directed by Alex Nazari
Produced by Ned Cameron
DMX's seventh studio album, Undisputed is getting pushed back once again to June 26th. But this time will be the last time that happens according to X's manager Jason Fowler.
DMX New album will be out June 26th 2012 — his new single is out now — “I Don’t Dance” feat Machine Gun Kelly — call your radio stations and request it, Let’s go!. There will be no more DMX album push backs … it could possibly move up but no more push backs.
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2012 XXL Freshman Don Trip releases new visuals for "Like Me." The track is featured on Don's mixtape, Guerilla.
Produced by Drumma Boy
Directed by Joe Yung Spike
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The folks over at Funny Or Die linked up with Nick Cannon, Busta Rhymes, E-40 and JB Smoove for a muppet version of "B*tches."
It's hard to be mad at a video full of bikini clad women.
Spotted At 2DBZ
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Jim Jones has moved into the world of urban apparel with his new Vampire Life clothing line. Peep the latest commercial from Capo promoting the brand.
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New music from Childish Gambino
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