Pink Friday

Nicki Minaj’s guest verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” established her as a gargantuan MC, but her debut album solidified her star. She proves that iconic guest spot was no one-off by breathing white-hot fire on the equally aggressive “Roman’s Revenge” and “Did It On ‘Em,” but Minaj can do more than just go for the jugular: She shows off her singing chops on the more melodic pop of “Right Thru Me” and tunes her flow to hyperactive mode on club-ready banger “Super Bass.”