Okay so I'm about to write an essay about how Nicki succeeded this era, bear with me:
So I know everyone talks about Nicki "selling out" and losing some of her urban fanbase, which may be true to a small extent. But the thing is, she has gained SO many more fans. I was at a party last weekend and when Starships came on, a bunch of drunk, incoherent people started jumping around screaming "WE'RE HIGHER THAN A MOTHAF****!" Preppy girls, straight guys, EVERYONE loves that song.
The general public doesn't give a **** about her mixtape days, the dislike bar on Youtube, whether her ass is fake, etc etc etc. All they care is that she makes catchy songs and has a cool personality.
Yes, it's true that the general public doesn't buy albums; but these pop/rap songs (Super Bass, Turn Me On, and Starships) are what increased her fanbase EXPONENTIALLY and ultimately got her deals with PEPSI, ADIDAS, and her fragrance. AND they got her known WORLDWIDE.
Last night, I hung out with a friend I hadn't seen in a few months and she said about Beez In The Trap: "Um... it's pretty good. BUT STARSHIPS IS AMAZING!" This is someone who I would NEVER expect to even listen to rap music. Nicki is getting pop fans to cross over to rap music! It's the same with my cousins (who hated Nicki during the PF era). Because of Whip It, Automatic, and Pound The Alarm, she ended up buying the album and says that she "likes the first half when she's in the right mood."
MEANWHILE, Nicki IS satisfying her rap fans. My brother for example, only listens to rap music and is notoriously picky. He loves Beez In The Trap, HOV Lane, and Roman Reloaded. Just last night I showed him Out Of My Mind and his response: "That's good. That's REALLY good."
Lots of the guys on my hockey team wouldn't be caught dead listening to songs like Automatic, but they're all loving Beez In The Trap, Champion, HOV Lane, and of course, Starships. I got a text this morning from one of them: "Dude, have you seen the Starships video? I'm not usually into black girls but Nicki is f*cking sexy!"
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that Nicki may not be winning over critics or ATRL, but in small town America (or in my case, Canada), the average teenager / young adult LOVES her. The haters can stay mad for all they want. Personally, I just can't wait for the tour.
... Well Gun Shot is boring :P 
