It’s crazy to think that Nicki Minaj has seemingly graduated to an elder stateswoman of rap. It’s been only a little more than a decade since her breakthrough album, Pink Friday, made her the hot new thing.
Her success and unique style influenced a whole generation of young women, artists who names now populate the charts and soundtrack our social media: Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Coi Leray, Saweetie, and Ice Spice, to name just a few.
But at 40 years old, Minaj is not ready to be known primarily as a trailblazer. She’s not done innovating yet.
Minaj’s fifth studio album, pointedly titled Pink Friday 2, is due out next month. Bawdy first single ‘Super Freaky Girl‘ rode a Rick James sample to a #1 debut, the first for a solo female rapper since Lauryn Hill’s ‘(Doo Wop) That Thing’ in 1998.
The album’s second single takes things in an entirely different direction. ‘Last Time I Saw You’ is an ode to Minaj’s father, who was killed in a hit and run accident in 2021. This is a mournful and elegant ballad that showcases Minaj’s vocals as well as her rapping.
I really love the sound of this song. It has me excited to hear the rest of Pink Friday 2, and to check out the rest of Minaj’s discography while I’m at it. She’s an important and inventive artist but I’m only passingly familiar with her work. Perhaps a one-week deep dive is in order.
Beggin’ me to stay, and then you walk away
There’s something that you wanted to say
I was in a rush, but you said you were crushed
And I said, “I’d be back, it’s okay”
[Chorus]
I wish I’da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you
I wish l didn’t waste precious time the night when I called you
I wish I remembered to say I’d do anything for you
Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I’d bore you
[Verse 2]
Listen
So close, but we were so distant
Wish I’da known in that instant
Ignored the hints or I missed it
I killed it
You’d always be in attendance
No flights, but always attеndant
Handwritten letter, you pеnned it
Them nights we wish never ended
Those rules that we wish we bended
Heartbreak that we never mended
Those messages we unsended
Best friends we somehow unfriended
Ain’t care ’bout who we offended
Parties they wish we attended
Got drunk and laughed, it was splendid
[Chorus]
I wish I’da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you
I wish l didn’t waste precious time the night when I called you (Ooh)
I wish I remembered to say I’d do anything for you
Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I’d bore you
[Post-Chorus]
Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight
Wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight
Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight
Wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight
[Bridge]
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Yeah, yeah (Dream about you)
Yeah, yeah (Dream about you)
Yeah, yeah (Dream about you)
I still dream about you
[Chorus]
I wish I’da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you
I wish l didn’t waste precious time the night when I called you
I knew the moment I met you that I’d always adore you
Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I’d
Meet Me In Montauk 
That’s so sad about her father! Lovely tribute to him.