Similar to all other artists, Nicki Minaj is eager to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. The rapper shared her ambitions during her visit to Power 105.1′s ‘DJ Clue Show’ yesterday and boldly claimed that her ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ album will vastly outsell its predecessor, ‘Pink Friday’.
Released in 2010, ‘Pink Friday’ has sold over 1.8 million copies in the US. The record yielded several top 40 hit singles on the Billboard 200, including the record-breaking ‘Super Bass’, which peaked at #3 on the lineup and sold over 4 million downloads – the highest digital seller by a female rapper.
Read what Minaj had to say about ‘Roman Reloaded’ on the ‘DJ Clue Show’ below:
On whether she believes in the sophomore jinx: “Hell no! This album is gonna sell so much more than Pink Friday. Ask me this question two years from today, Clue. With me, I’m never about first week and all that. I like to look at it for the long haul. I’ma travel, I’ma meet my beautiful babies, my Barbz everywhere, and this is my first time I’m gonna get to do a world tour, so thealbum is gonna do its thang.”
On mixing pop, R&B, and hip-hop on Roman Reloaded: “When I first got in the studio, it was just gonna be all rap, that’s why I named it Roman Reloaded. Things just don’t keep my attention long enough to only do one thing. By the time the album was done, it was just a versatile album. But I have to say, I feel like people love saying the pop word first. The album is more hip-hop than pop.”
On working with Nas on “Champion”: “I didn’t think I could get Nas, just to be honest. He’s always been so exclusive. He doesn’t work with everybody and I respect people that are like that. They take pride in their craft.”
On her Pepsi deal: “I can’t comment on any Pepsi-related stuff. I do have a new relationship with Pepsi and they will tell everyone more at the right time.”
On her upcoming collaborations: “I may have a little something something coming out with [Cam'ron]. I may have a little something something coming with Waka Flocka, my little brother. I do have a few more verses to hand in and then we got to hit the world a couple times.”
On her favorite songs to record: “I had a blast recording a lot of my dance songs, ‘Pound the Alarm’ and ‘Starships.’ Those were a lot of fun. I had fun recording ‘Come on a Cone.’ I was busting out laughing in the booth. When I said, ‘Dick in your face,’ that was in one take. And I also had fun doing ‘Beez in the Trap’ ’cause I made that hook up trying to be funny.”
Whether ‘Roman Reloaded’ will outsell ‘Pink Friday’ is a feat that remains to be seen but Minaj forgot to consider the fact that the Pop-oriented singles released to support the record have thus far targeted primarily young consumers. Those persons rarely buy full albums and artists who favour them – Ke$ha, Lady Gaga and present day Britney Spears – are often lucky to go platinum.
Additionally, Minaj has generally alienated the Hip-Hop audience by refusing to put forward any singles that would attract them to ‘Roman Reloaded’. In fact, despite the fact that the album does indeed include a few Rap songs, many people will never know because nothing has been done to showcase that material in the media.
Think about it: ‘Pink Friday’ was a mainstream record but Minaj balanced her promotion with both Hip-Hop singles – ‘Moment 4 Life (Ft. Drake)’ – as well as more Pop-oriented songs, such as ’Check it Out (with will.i.am)’. What has she done to promote ‘Roman Reloaded’?
So, if ‘Roman Reloaded’ matches Minaj’s goals it woud be very shocking impressive. In the meantime, she should consider calling that priest who accompanied her to 2012 Grammy Awards and ask him to say a prayer.
Info via Rap-Up!
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