2010–11: Pink Friday
editAfter a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released from a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights – including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing.[1] In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, Rihanna stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men" from her album Loud that the duo would be teaming up together for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday.[2] Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album.[3] On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel that the album's name would be Pink Friday, in reference to Black Friday.[4]
Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe versions.[5][6] A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April.[7] In August, Minaj released "Your Love" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List[citation needed] and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002.[8] In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously.[9] Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am titled, "Check It Out", which is Minaj's most successful single to date in Europe. "Right Thru Me" was released September 24, 2010; the music video was released in late October. "Moment 4 Life" was released as the fourth single. The track featured Canadian rapper Drake and was released on December 7, 2010, becoming a success on the Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs.[10]
The album gained Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.[11] On January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest, performing "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life". On February 9, 2011, it was announced that Pink Friday had reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its eleventh week on the chart.[12] It was hinted by Simon Cowell that Minaj would join the judging panel of the American version of the The X Factor. Minaj turned down the offer to become a judge on The X Factor, as rapped on her Roman Reloaded song, due to the salary for the gig.[13] In June 2011, Minaj supported her debut album Pink Friday by serving as an opening act along with Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nervo on Britney Spears' sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale.[14] She also was featured on the official remix of Spears' track "Till the World Ends" along with Spears and singer Kesha, which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011.[15]
"Super Bass" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011, the single charted within the top 10 in many countries including; United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada, and later was certified as quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[16] The song gained positive reviews from critics.[17][18] Minaj voiced a character in the 3D animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift, as Steffie, a woolly mammoth.[19][20] Minaj is also featured on French DJ David Guetta's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat on "Where Them Girls At" and "Turn Me On".
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (October 15, 2009). "Nicki Minaj Says Her Debut Single Will Drop Next Month". MTV. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ Rihanna launches 'Loud' in London. Capital FM. Retrieved on December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Looks to Kanye West, Swizz Beatz for Debut Album". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Announces Album Title". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Pink Friday" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (August 6, 2010). "Nicki Minaj Finishing Next Single, Says Young Money 'Keeps Me Grounded'". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
- ^ "New Music: Nicki Minaj f/ Sean Garrett – 'Massive Attack'". Rap-Up. March 29, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ "New Song: Nicki Minaj – 'Your Love' (2nd Single)". NW Mass Media. May 10, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
MTV News. MTV Networks
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (December 21, 2010). "Moment 4 Life – Nicki Minaj". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
RIAA Gold & Platinum
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Nicki Minaj Hits No. 1 in 11th Week on Billboard 200". Billboard. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ Dinh, James (March 25, 2011). "Simon Cowell Addresses Nicki Minaj 'X Factor' Judging Rumors". MTV. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (April 12, 2011). "Britney Spears To Tour With Nicki Minaj". MTV. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "New Britney Spears remix breaks into Billboard top ten | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online". Mb.com.ph. 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ "Chart Stats – Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass"". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- ^ Wesley Case (2011-05-06). "Nicki Minaj debuts new 'Super Bass' video". Baltimoresun. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ^ "Sneak Peek: Nicki Minaj – 'Super Bass'". Rap-Up.com. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Joins Cast of 'Ice Age 4′". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Says 'Ice Age' Role Was Written Just for Her". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 2012-02-02.