3: You’re dead wrong.
Va Va Voom: So much potential. The kitchen scene was the best one and should have been the standard for this video. Nicki was right to can this before Starships. The 3-D printer unicorn mess of an outfit she donned for this video was just embarrassing. This amazing song deserved so much more than a used magazine spread for inspiration.
Pills N Potions: Try-hard mess. The effects, the bunnies, and the product placement made this single even more of an iconic TrollNika moment. Not only did she follow up the likes of Boss Ass Bitch, Looking Ass, and Chi-raq with this, but she then proceeded to release a visual only suitable for Miley Cyrus and her Dead Brain. The ponytail and outfits were beautiful though. But Nicki always looks cute…more is needed.
4: I wanna know why you waste your time?
Up In Flames: Cute video with some interesting imagery. However, the iPhone 4 camera quality has got to go. A lack of direction hurts this rating but seeing as how it’s just an extended vlog for the fans (or at least it seems that way), I won’t do too much on it. The color scheme was nice though.
5: Like an injured Chris Paul, you ain’t got no point!
Check It Out, Come on a Cone, Bang Bang, The Night Is Still Young
Nothing to see here. Right along. This way --->
6: I could have given everything…
Did It On’em: Interesting, entertaining, and watchable. Though it’s just tour footage which reduces it to vlog status. It’s the best vlog/music video she’s done though. The photoshoot inclusions brought this rating up along with her genuine enjoyment. Lacks replay value.
Starships: Good concept and dope looks. But each part had mess after mess after mess. She looked like she had a ton of fun and it matched the carefree sound and message of the song. Her outfits were beyond amazing. The green wig was not. Neither was the particular way her backside looked in this video but that’s another story.
The Boys: Dope looks. No purpose. So many pointless scenes. Her wigs were A1 though
The Crying Game: Could have been more dramatic. Willy did his thing like always. I wanted a skit or something. I also felt that the driving scenes should have been detached from the 4th wall when she wasn’t rapping. The artistic direction was to die for though.
7: You got me wanting more and m-m-more.
Right Thru Me: The acting in this video though!!!
So sublime. It’s what brought this up to a 7. But her lipping scenes were kind of sloppy and she seemed to just be getting into the groove of shooting a mainstream video. The awkward promotion of her butt was also very cringe worthy. Showering with clothes on was also…
Moment 4 Life: Skit was amazing. Outfits were AMAZING!
Drake/Nicki chemistry was cute. The edits were just a bit sloppy and the plot and imagery weren’t enough to excuse them.
Right By My Side: Nas was an amazing addition. Chris was not. The kiss was magical. The outfits were dope. Just left me asking “Is that it?”
Pound The Alarm: Fun, energetic, beautiful. Left something to be desired, though.
I Lied: So artistic. The acting was beautiful. Just failed to go that extra mile and take it all the way. Stunning either way.
8: Hell yeah!
Fly: The cinematography in this video is amazing. She had some tragic looks but equally as beautiful ones as well. Rihanna added but didn’t detract from the video and its main star. The crashed plane scene with the pink wig portrayed the tender sentimentality of the song while the pink dress with the black wig seemed to parallel the frayed, disjointed environment she found herself in. Then, the fight scene represented the message of the song and added a feature film-like quality to the video. This captivating attention to detail and cinematography is what made this an eight. The only scene that seemed to be for show was the leopard wig scene. That coupled with a lurking sense of clutter in the video are the only flaws.
Stupid Hoe: How dare people slander this video the way they do! This visual was DOPE DOPE DOPE! Just a little messy with the Barbie doll edit, the chalky make-up, and some other effects.
I Am Your Leader: So dope that the only flaw is the performance from her collaborators. Had they been excluded this could have gone to the finish line. Every scene was set up for greatness but only Nicki delivered. I guess that’s only becoming of an icon anyway. Poor others.
Freedom: Absolutely stunning visual. The outdoor scenes were incredible and the gradual chromatic transition was equally as artistic. The eagle, the hail, the Ark, the stairs, the scenery…all so captivating. However, the scenes that were shot in her hotel failed so miserably to match the beauty of that aesthetic that the video went from a 9.5 to an 8.5. Then the horrendous dress she paired with the crown took it down the extra .5 points.
Only: Could be a ten but it feels like a non-event. Beautiful visual with not quite enough hold on the viewer’s attention. Maybe a skit would have helped this one.
9: I think you’re quite fantastic.
Your Love: The Chinese art direction was genius in this. So demure and potent. She definitely went the less is more route and it turned out beautifully. The fabric used for trees, blood, water, and setting was so creative and superb. Just a magnificent visual all around.
Beez In The Trap: My bitch is too raw! She was so hood in this! She oozed swag and power while looking gorgeous!
High School: Onika was a strikingly dazzling beauty in this video. The plot, the shots
, and the chemistry were very entertaining. She hit all the marks. Just keep the intimate Wayne scenes where you found them.
10: It’s so amazing…
Massive Attack: The Kelly to Anaconda’s Beyonce. The Ben Franklin to her George Washington. The Lil Kim to her Purge Mask. And seeing as how Anaconda is a divine gift from God, being second place to it isn’t a bad thing at all.
Grand Piano: S T U N N I N G ! Purely ASTONISHING. The emotion. The looks. The cinematography. The movement. The part that really got this for me is when Nicki is watching Willy play the piano while crying and then she falls into him just as the song hits its most dramatic part. Her running in the field is also moving. Just an awe-inspiring treatment.
Feeling Myself: Does this even need to be explained? 10s across the board (except for that crowd scene during the “World stop!” bit. I don’t need red-backed skaters mucking up the purity in BeyNika’s visual reign)
11: Just killed another career…it’s a mild day
Super Bass:
Perfect. Not a mark missed. Superb and bewitching, the Super Bass video defines what it takes to be a ***flawless music video: hypnotizing imagery, coherent direction, individualized personality, replay value, and creativity. These are the videos that are remembered decades later. The type that only legends create. And to top it off, the Queen of Hip-Hop achieved one with a
pop video. Who else but Nicki Minaj. As Nicki crafts her world filled with pink pools with dream-like habitats. And it works. This video is Cloud 9 and Nicki is the magic carpet ready to take you to it. As pink wigs, ice sculptures, and cute dance moves encompass the video, bliss and euphoria entrap the viewer. And it makes sense to do so. The songs message of a carefree, pure love is carried over into its equally as buoyant video. All the while, Nicki maintains her unique brand of zany personality, helping to grab the viewers attention again and again and again and again...even after the 4th watch.
Lookin’ Ass:
Transcendent. Don’t **** with Minaj. The black and white is spectacular here. Nicki comes out guns blazing in this riveting visual. Minimalistic and fiercely powerful, this video takes femme fatale to a whole other level. Minaj is an immaculate street -goddess draped in gold and lace with just the right amount of tease to keep you on the edge of your seat. Wielding only herself and a chair, Nicki manages to enchant the viewer so much so that you begin to become just what the title suggests. Some of the most brilliant and visionary scenes include shots of a sensational Minaj reflected in an unknown male gazer's eyes. Her surroundings are just as exquisite as Nicki herself. The barren, yet compelling land and sky help to confirm a motto that seems to be the video's greatest strength: simplicity is key. As the video begins to play like a fiery promotion for a video game heroine (or villainess), Nicki transforms into Nikkita Roman, a badass bitch with more balls than the boys...and bigger guns too. Minaj finishes the video with an explosive masterpiece shot. Literally. As bullets fly from enormous battle guns, the dainty Nicki Minaj stands firm, sure, and unbothered. Obliterating competitors and onlookers is as easy as eating toast on a Sunday morning for her. You don't want to mess with her.
Anaconda:
Iconic. Who could do it better? Anaconda is a video that impacts culture in just about every scene. There isn't much to say about this one because it's a well-known fact: this video slays.
Just the ratings
3: Va Va Voom, Pills N Potions
4: Up In Flames
5: Check It Out, Come On A Cone, Bang Bang, The Night Is Still Young
6: Did It On’em, Starships, The Boys, The Crying Game
7: Right Thru Me, Moment 4 Life, Right By My Side, Pound the Alarm, I Lied
8: Fly, Stupid Hoe, I Am Your Leader, Freedom, Only
9: Your Love, Beez In The Trap, High School
10: Massive Attack, Grand Piano, Feeling Myself
11: Super Bass, Lookin’ Ass, Anaconda
Massive Attack - 10
Your Love - 9
Check It Out - 5
Right Thru Me - 7
Moment 4 Life - 7
Super Bass - 11
Did It On Em - 6
Fly - 8
Stupid Hoe - 8
Beez In The Trap - 9
Starships - 6
Right By My Side - 7
Pound The Alarm - 7
I Am Your Leader - 8
The Boys - 6
Come On A Cone - 5
Va Va Voom - 3
Freedom - 8
High School - 9
Up In Flames - 4
Lookin Ass - 11
Pills N Potions - 3
Anaconda - 11
Bang Bang - 5
Only - 8
The Crying Game - 6
I Lied - 7
Grand Piano - 10
Feeling Myself - 10
The Night Is Still Young - 5