One of the many wonderful things about the divine Nicki Minaj is her versatility as an artist. It is this versatility that takes the main stage on her debut album, Pink Friday. Nicki’s appearances on every hot hip hop and R&B artist’s singles every month this and last year were all warm ups for this smash of an album. Even if you were visually impaired, you could see through the fabulous wigs and hear how absolutely fantastic Nicki Minaj is as an MC. My review comes in two parts due to the massive 19 whole (no intros/interludes/outros) tracks that were released, 13 on the regular version, 3 more on the Deluxe Edition, 2 exclusives on the Best Buy version, and 1 exclusive on the iTunes.

Pink Friday opens with “I’m the Best,” and it’s probably not a coincidence that it’s one of the best tracks on the album. Nicki could have opened with any of the other tracks, but on this song she flows about her talent, stature, and even some personal matters like her upbringing and feminism. The track is produced by rising star Kane Beatz who notably produced the Young Money collabo “BedRock” and Trey Songz’ “Bottoms Up.”

Nicki’s alter ego Roman Zolanski rears her ultra-fierce head with the monster track and Eminem collabo “Roman’s Revenge.” I can’t get enough of the rhymes on this one. Nicki revealed in some recent interviews that this track is in fact about Lil Kim after all of Kim’s many taunts. Everyone gets a taste of all of Nicki’s various personas, but it is this one in particular that gives out that sick freestyle vibe, yet with verses that must require a good amount of time to compose. I respected Nicki for not even bothering to comment on Kim prior to “Roman’s Revenge,” but it is honestly a super hot diss track. Everywhere on the web is citing the lyric as “You li’l brag-a-lot,” but I’m quite sure the line is “You little Fraggle Rock, beat you with a pad-a-lock.” Diss tracks usually don’t come out so great (50 Cent), but Roman means business in this one.

You’ve heard Bangladesh’s tracks before on Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy,” Beyonce’s “Diva,” (one of my favorites), and Ke$ha’s “Sleazy,” and his beat is infectious on “Did It On‘em.” A very dirty track, it has by far one of the funniest rap lines I’ve ever heard: “Trust me I keep a couple hundred in the duff’ b, Couple wet wipes case a bum try to touch me… ew.” It’s Nicki’s inflections and this unique form of honesty that only she can provide that makes me absolutely adore her. We’re all well aware of what rap is stereotypically supposed to sound like, but she takes it to this raw, untouched yet theatrical level.

We got a taste of Nicki’s desire and ability to sing with “I Love You,” but it’s highlighted once again in second single “Right Thru Me.”

I really like that these emotional tracks on the album show Nicki’s more vulnerable side despite her being a “F*cking savage,” and continuing with the ballad sound is “Save Me,” which is completely sung.

Nicki’s got the help of some very talented and famous friends besides just Eminem on Pink Friday. Rihanna returns the favor for Nicki’s appearance on the sick as hell track “Raining Men” from Loud by singing an inspirational chorus on “Fly” while Nicki raps about empowerment. Nicki’s verse on “Up All Night” (one of my favorite tracks on Drake’s Thank Me Later) is amazing, and her verses on “Moment 4 Life” have this raw but sick sound with a freestyle vibe that is echoed on the beginning of Drake’s contribution to the track. Kanye returns the favor for Nicki’s hot as FIRE verse on “Monster” off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with a sick verse of his own on “Blazin’.” Nicki’s flows on this track are soooo fast! Can you hear the “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” sample?

All right, so far, we’ve got sick rap tracks, amazing duets, ballads devoid of any rap, and some inspirational tracks. What’s left? An amazing pop track with lyrics that are both super confident and fun — and this is just Part 1 of my review, mind you. “Check It Out” is such a wondrously fun track, produced by will.i.am. The “Video Killed the Radio Star” hook could easily spell cheese, but instead it provides this charming pop sound that I was not at all expecting to find on a rap album. A complaint could ensue if “Check It Out” didn’t sound so flippin’ awesome. The video, shot in LA and directed by Rich Lee (The Black Eyed Peas, Jesse McCartney, Eminem), is a blend of Asian influences which Nicki is no stranger to.

UK peeps were treated to an additional mix of this song featuring Cheryl Cole, but with or without Cheryl, the track is one of the best on the album. Either version, but especially Cheryl’s, really makes me want to dance.

Nicki honestly could have released a completely successful album with just these 9 tracks but I’ll be covering the remaining 10 in Part 2. This half really has something for everyone with appearanes from will.i.am, Cheryl Cole, Eminem, Rihanna, and Drake as well as completely solo tracks that are sung or rapped. Nicki’s talent is not only undeniable but so much fun to listen to, especially if you’re interested in different genres of music like I am. The ballads may not be the ones that those looking for only a rap album are interested in, but I gave them a shot and am really happy with them and the rest of the rest of the first 9 tracks on Pink Friday.

For more on Nicki Minaj:

http://nicki-minaj.org/