Rapper Nicki Minaj has hit new milestones with her latest album, Pink Friday 2.
Minaj has broken records and made waves in the music scene with album released on December 8, 2023, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Record.
Hits Daily Double had projected first-week sales between 170,000 and 190,000 album-equivalent units, but the reality exceeded expectations. Pink Friday 2 pulled in an impressive 228,000 album-equivalent units in the first week, with 92,000 from pure album sales. Additionally, the album saw a staggering 169.87 million streams in its debut week, establishing the largest streaming week for Minaj in the female rap and R&B/hip-hop categories for 2023.
Securing the top spot on the US Billboard 200, Pink Friday 2 has made history for Minaj, making her the first female rapper with three number-one albums in the country. She got her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with her second project Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded during the the week of April 21, 2012. That LP moved 253,000 copies in its first week of release. The project was the follow-up to her 2010 debut effort, Pink Friday, which also hit No. 1 in 2011.
Also, vinyl sales also soared, reaching 25,000 copies, setting a new record for the largest vinyl sales week for a female rap album.
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Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 features A-list stars
Her fifth studio album and another follow-up to her debut, Pink Friday, released in 2010, she collaborated with J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Tate Kobang, Drake, Lourdiz, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Skillibeng, Skeng, Future, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, 50 Cent, Monica, and Keyshia Cole, are also on the album.
Critics have lauded the album for its artistic growth, although some felt it fell short of the iconic Pink Friday. Major themes woven into the album include Trini and Caribbean pride, reflections on Minaj’s life, and her undeniable dominance in the rap industry. The album’s eclectic mix of hip-hop, pop, and rap further showcases Minaj’s versatility.
The lead single, “Super Freaky Girl,” has also marked a significant achievement for Minaj, claiming her first solo number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in Australia and New Zealand. Following up on this success, the second single, “Last Time I Saw You,” dropped on September 1, 2023.
Nicki opens up about breast reduction surgery
Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj recently opened up on her surgery to reduce the size of her breasts.
According to the rapper, it was a behind-the-scenes moment from the 2022 Met Gala that convinced her undergo breast reduction surgery.
In an appearance on Vogue’s Life In Looks, Minaj recalled worrying that her custom bustier would lead to a wardrobe malfunction on the A-list red carpet.