"Pink Friday" is the debut studio album by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj, released on November 22, 2010, by Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records, and Young Money Entertainment. Minaj began working on the album after signing with Young Money Entertainment in 2009. Musically, Pink Friday blends elements of hip hop, R&B, and pop, with influences of electronic music. The album features guest appearances from artists like Eminem, Rihanna, Drake, will.i.am, Kanye West, and Natasha Bedingfield.
To promote the album, Minaj released three singles before its official release: "Your Love," "Check It Out," and "Right Thru Me." Later singles, including "Moment 4 Life," "Did It On 'Em," and "Fly," followed. The deluxe edition's track "Super Bass" became one of the album's biggest hits, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. Pink Friday debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 375,000 copies in its first week, marking the second-highest sales debut for a female rapper, after Lauryn Hill. The album later peaked at number one, becoming Minaj's first chart-topping album. It also charted within the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and the UK. By 2016, the album was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Pink Friday was met with generally positive reviews, although some critics were ambivalent about Minaj’s foray into R&B and pop. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012, with Minaj also receiving nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance for the single "Moment 4 Life." Over time, the album has gained recognition and developed a cult following. In 2022, Pink Friday was included in Rolling Stone's list of "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time" at number 31. The publication noted that the album demonstrated that artists could dominate the charts while staying true to their unique, individual style, setting the stage for a new generation of hip-hop artists. In 2023, Minaj released a sequel, Pink Friday 2.
