Pink Friday Young Money/Cash Money****

Over the last 18 months or so, it's been nigh impossible to avoid Nicki Minaj as she's romped her way through that patch where hip-hop meets pop. The more she's added oomph to tracks by Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and others, the more her own rep has grown, meaning Pink Fridaycomes with a fair set of expectations. Minaj deals with these with considerable ease: check Roman's Revengeand its rollicking, roller-coaster progression, with Minaj bringing Eminem up to her level rather than going down to his and making Slim Shady sound more vital than he has in years. She can also do new- school pop – see Check It Out,with Will.I.Am hanging on for dear life, and Right Thru Me– but Minaj's flow is perfectly suitable for bangers such as Blazin', where she's not in a mood to take any prisoners.

See myspace.com/nickiminaj

Download tracks: Roman's Revenge, Right Thru Me, Blazin'