Nicki Minaj - Your Love

The UK's introduction to one of the brightest hip hop stars of the year...




McLovin:

If you think she seems familiar, then you may recognise Nicki from Young Money’s top ten hit Bed Rock earlier in the year. Although it has been possible to buy her more aggressive song Massive Attack for the past few months, this is being presented as her major UK debut.

Sampling Annie Lennox’s No More I Love’s You, this mellow, soulful RnB track is incredibly hooky. Whether it’s the sample, the chorus or Nicki’s memorable flow, be warned! – this song can wrap itself inside your head and refuse to budge. Although there is some slight autotune used, an important development in hip hop’s relation to singing is developing this year, pioneered by Nicki and Drake. These two can actually sing as well as rap. Suddenly rappers who rely solely on autotune to sing are starting to sound, frankly, a bit ridiculous. A UK comparison could be made with Plan B, with his ability to sing sweetly before spitting out a hard rapping verse. But if this leads you to think that Nicki is really masquerading as rapper, check out her appearance on the Drake track Up All Up, one of the toughest sounding tracks on his debut due in no small part to Nicki’s presence.

I have high hopes of this making the top ten. Although she is not yet a household name, the colourful martial arts video, referencing the film Hero, should help her out on the music channels.

Chart Predictions:

McLovin 8

Spyke 41

Actual 71