Nicki Minaj, the reigning queen of rap and affectionately known as the Barbz leader, has sent shockwaves through her fanbase with a major announcement. Instead of releasing a deluxe version of her highly successful album Pink Friday 2, Minaj revealed plans for a completely new project: Pink Friday 3. This unexpected news has ignited immense excitement among fans eagerly awaiting new music from the iconic artist.
The initial plan was to drop PF2: Gag City Reloaded, a deluxe edition, but the anticipated release date passed without its arrival. Addressing the situation, Nicki Minaj took to social media to clarify her decision. In a series of tweets on Sunday, September 15th, she unveiled the exciting news of Pink Friday 3, promising fans that further details regarding the album’s launch would be revealed in the coming weeks.
Nicki Minaj & Megan Thee Stallion
Minaj explained her change of heart, stating, “Instead of doing a DELUXE to Pink Friday 2, I’ve decided to do a brand new album.” However, she reassured fans that some previously intended deluxe tracks, such as “Mamita” and another unnamed “anxiety” song, would still be incorporated into her ongoing tour. The core reason behind this shift is the exceptional quality of the new music she has been creating. According to Minaj, these tracks are “just too good to be thrown away on a deluxe album,” emphasizing that recent recordings were “way too iconic” to be simply added as bonus tracks.
The decision reflects Minaj’s deep respect for Pink Friday 2, her first album as “PapaBear mama.” She expressed that the album holds immense personal significance and was carefully curated with a specific track order. To maintain the “integrity” of Pink Friday 2 as a complete body of work, she opted against diluting it with additional songs. Minaj felt that adding “5-7 songs” for a deluxe version seemed “a little sloppy,” highlighting her commitment to intentionality and quality over quantity in this successful era of her career.
Dear Barbz,
IMPORTANT #GagCity ANNOUNCEMENT:
Instead of doing a DELUXE to Pink Friday 2, I’ve decided to do a brand new album. I’ll still incorporate new songs like #Mamita & [The “anxiety” song] for the remainder of the tour tho…and I’ll announce the new date within the next…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 16, 2024
Currently, Nicki Minaj is captivating audiences on the second leg of her North American Pink Friday 2 World Tour. As she continues to perform across major cities, the anticipation for Pink Friday 3 builds. Pink Friday 2, released on December 8, 2023, achieved significant success, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with 228,000 album-equivalent units. This marked the largest week for a rap album by a woman in the 2020s and the biggest for a female R&B/hip-hop album in 2023, further solidifying Minaj’s enduring impact and influence in the music industry. Fans worldwide are now eagerly awaiting further announcements about Pink Friday 3, ready to embrace this exciting new chapter in Nicki Minaj’s musical journey and clamoring for the release of her new song and album.
