Samples on Nicki Minaj‘s ‘Pink Friday 2,’ has been a hot topic online since it was released on her birthday, December 8, 2023.
Interpolating a musical work, though occasionally mistaken for sampling a sound recording, is much different.
Sampling is using the actual audio sounds from an existing recording while interpolation entails the creation of new audio without incorporating any elements from the original recording.
All 22 tracks from the Trinidadian born artist’s ‘Pink Friday 2’ are charting in the top 25 on US iTunes.
With ‘Needle’ featuring Drake at No. 1, it extends Minaj’s lead as the rapper with the most No. 1 songs in US iTunes history to 41. “Are You Gone Already” has also reached #1 on US Apple Music.
Nicki draws from pop, rap, dancehall, and even gospel influences to create a rounded project reflective of the global star that she is. Other than the notable features, she draws inspiration from tracks of the past from various genres.
Sebastian “basbeats” Loers, the producer of track 14 ‘Forward From Trini’ featuring Skillibeng and Skeng, told WMV that contrary to media reports, the song does not sample any track, although 90s dancehall producer Dave Kelly is given writer’s credit. The German producer says he does not know who the legendary Dave Kelly is but assures that there is no sample on that song.
The kaleidoscope of samples and interpolation speaks to Nicki’s diverse taste in music so lets deep dive into each track that has a sample or interpolation.
Track 1- Are You Gone Already produced by FINNEAS samples Billie Eilish’s ‘When The Party Is Over’ from the debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” The song hit home personal for Minaj who lost her father Robert Maraj , a financial executive and part-time gospel singer who died in an accident in Mineola, N.Y., on Long Island in 2021.
The Barbie Queen tweeted on Friday evening saying, “He called me & said he would come to help us with the baby on Monday. It was a Friday. I was rocking papa in his room in his rocking chair. Hours later I got the call about the accident. I just knew he’d pull through. But the next call that followed, changed my world forever. He never got to meet papa.”
Track 2- Barbie Dangerous produced by Hollywood Cole, YG! Beats and Tate Kobang, the song samples The Notorious B.I.G. – Notorious Thugs featuring Bone Things N Harmony. (1997).
Track 3- FTCU produced by ATL Jacop samples Nicki’s former label mate and ATL rapper Waka Flocka Flame’s ‘Fuck the Club’ (2010)
Track 6- Let Me Calm Down (featuring J. Cole) is produced by ATL Jacop, Hendrix Smoke and Kuji. The song samples K-Pop by Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd.
Track 8- Pink Birthday produced by Boi-1da, Feirce, 116, Apollo Parker and the song samples the interlude from Travis Scott’s 2015 song ‘Pornography.’ Nicki commented on twitter about this sample saying, “Fun fact about #PinkBirthday Travis Scott cleared his vocals for it. That’s his voice on it. It sounds kinda like an instrument. I didn’t know until I had alrdy recorded & fell in love with it tho. I was like he not gon clear it.”
Track 11- Everybody featuring Lil Uzi Vert samples ‘Move Your Feet’ by Junior Senior from the debut album D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat.(2003) The song is produced by DJ Smallz 732 and Tate Koobang.
Nicki said she wrote this song in 5 minutes. “This is mad funny b/c that was the song I wrote in 5 mins one day for “Call Of Duty” . Once I kept it for my album, I still didn’t even rlly know if it made sense on PF2. I didn’t wanna send it to Uzi b/c I thought he’d be over it. Instead he was like this hard af! Uzicito”
Track 13- Red Ruby Da Sleeze produced by Go Grizzly and Cheeze Beatz samples Lumidee’s “Never Leave You (Uh ooh, Uh Oooh)” and the Diwali riddim sample matching with Minaj’s cut throat Chun Li lyrics.
Track 15- Pink Friday Girls produced by J Reid samples Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ (1983). Minaj expressed gratitude for this sample on twitter saying “I’m told she’s never cleared a master recording. I am so grateful. I’ve always loved her as you guys know.”
Track 16- Super Freaky Girl samples Rick James Super Freak and is produced by Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, Vaughn Oliver and Malibu Baby. Nicki also uses a line from her song Freaks by French Montana and that song which samples the Bam Bam Riddim by produced by Sly and Robbie.
Track 18- My Life produced by Don Cannon and Sean Momberger samples ‘Heart Of Glass’ by Blondie (1978).
Track 22- Memories – Interpolates Beenie Man’s Memories (1997). It is produced by Bone Collector and Habib Defoundoux.
