Albums to watch

Queen

Nicki Minaj

Queen

Fourth album of rap and pop from the Trinidad-born MC from Queens, New York with guest appearances from Eminem, Future, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd.

ADM rating[?]

6.5

Label
Universal / Island
UK Release date
17/08/2018
US Release date
17/08/2018
  1. 8.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Queen is Nicki Minaj’s redemption. It’s whip-smart; laying all of her talents out for anyone who doubted her to see
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  2. 8.3 |   A.V. Club

    It’s a lot of fun, but not quite the instant classic for which Minaj seems to have been aiming
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  3. 8.0 |   The Independent

    Nicki Minaj finds herself at a career crossroads with her fourth studio album, Queen. With her soured public image, she might not be the queen of hearts... but does her latest album prove that she is still the queen of rap?
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  4. 7.6 |   Pitchfork

    On her most rap-oriented release yet, Nicki jettisons all the industry madness, drowns out the noise, and creates rap the way she believes it should sound
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  5. 7.5 |   Consequence Of Sound

    She’s like a Starbucks coffee, a consistent product with a reliable buzz. The next cup probably won’t change your life, but it might just get you through the day
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  6. 7.0 |   Sputnik Music (staff)

    Queen’s greatest asset is Nicki’s dual propensity for virtuosic verses and catchy pop elements. She skillfully blends them on the album’s best tracks
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  7. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Queen brings a new Nicki Minaj character: the regal, haughty monarch, a woman who insists on sword-sharpened rhymes as a prerogative for excellence
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  8. 7.0 |   Exclaim

    Whether Nicki Minaj is the rightful queen of rap is up for debate, but the album, despite having several songs that were more filler than functional ("Sir," "Majesty," "Chun Swae"), highlights her ability to adapt to an ever-changing sonic landscape
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  9. 6.0 |   NOW

    There are enough good songs to give Queen a pass, but if it’s going to be 19 tracks, it needs to be more consistently awesome. Quality over quantity, please – life is short!
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  10. 6.0 |   No Ripcord

    On Queen, Nicki spends a lot of time ordering beheadings—which are fun, but get old quick—rather than showing us why she is and should be queen
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  11. 6.0 |   The 405

    If you were expecting something on-par with her previous albums (i.e. a few standouts surrounded by filler), you won’t be disappointed. But this was her time to shine and the result is an unfocused album that gnaws when it needs to bite
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  12. 6.0 |   NME

    Has 2018's Queen of rap finally delivered her definitive album, a statement worthy of her still-stunning verse on 2010's 'Monster'? Not quite – but this remains a mighty regal affair
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  13. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    Not everything connects on the rapper’s regal fourth album, but when it does, she shows what a unique talent she is
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  14. 5.0 |   Slant Magazine

    Queen tries so hard to impress everyone that it risks failing to satisfy anyone
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  15. 5.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Queen does not have the tossed-off, recorded-as-fast-as-possible feel of many recent rap releases, but it’s hard not to think how strong this album would be if its 66 minutes were pared down to 40
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  16. 5.0 |   PopMatters

    What she needs is an album where she can rap (or sing!) free of the pressure to be the queen or to stay on top of the kids. Maybe once she's semi-retired and comfortable many years from now, she'll come out of seclusion with something great
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