Nicki Minaj: ‘Pink Friday’ — 3.5 out of 5 stars

Posted to Arts & Entertainment by Jimmy Hibsch at 7:27 p.m., Nov. 30, 2010

Unarguably this year’s track whore, Nicki Minaj spent the better part of 2010 song-hopping and show-stealing on tracks like Ludacris’ “My Chick Bad” and Kanye West’s “Monster,” all the while gaining notoriety as rap’s newest and baddest starlet.

Consequently, expectations were high for the release of her first solo album, Pink Friday.

She didn’t disappoint.

Joined by her self-proclaimed alter ego, the pitiless Roman Zolanski, Minaj devotes a good portion of the album to the divalicious rap lyrics that put her on the map. Minaj releases the tiger that is Zolanski on the fierce “Roman’s Revenge,” a collaboration with Eminem. On “I’m the Best,” Minaj ascertains that she is, in fact, the best.

Perhaps, however, Minaj’s most impressive points are when she drops the squeaky and shiny Barbie-esque exterior on “Save Me” and “Moment 4 Life.” In these two tracks, Minaj relies on her vocals to carry the song -— not an alter ego or a flamboyant wig.

Let’s hope that Minaj’s longevity as an artist is comparable to that of the doll she claims to embody.