Later that month, Minaj characterized the album as consisting of "raw talent, emotion, hard spitting and everything that people have come to love about Nicki Minaj". In September, Minaj stated that "it was her best album to date" saying she had grown as a writer and was able to speak about topics that she had felt uncomfortable sharing two years ago. While Rihanna did not appear on the album, Drake was featured on two songs from the album, along with fellow Young Money labelmate Lil Wayne, on Only and Truffle Butter (only on the deluxe edition). Minaj also hoped to have guest features from Rihanna and Drake. During the album's production, Minaj worked with a variety of people including Dr. Minaj said that she wrote her verse in New York and Beyoncé visited her in the studio and encouraged her. In August 2014, Minaj's manager informed her that Beyoncé wanted to make a remix of " Flawless" with her and in return she would feature on The Pinkprint.
![grand piano top view grand piano top view](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/99/f6/5f/99f65f8a5787c4b8cd3bfd60ef806415.jpg)
In 2014, singer-songwriter Skylar Grey wrote and recorded a demo version of a song entitled "Bed of Lies" and the song was later sent to Minaj who wrote and recorded verses of her own to the song. ĭuring the recording process Minaj recorded two songs that were inspired by Irish Celtic singer-songwriter Enya Minaj stated that the songs contain "airiness and the whimsicalness" that reminded her of Enya.
![grand piano top view grand piano top view](https://cdn5.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/37/64/simple-grand-piano-top-view-graphic-vector-19573764.jpg)
She also stated that she is still "hungry" and just because she's had a successful career that wouldn't stop her from giving the fans what they wanted. In November 2013, Minaj described the project as "next level", "very different from anything I've done", and made clear that she just experimented with pop music but never had the intention to continue with the genre. Recording sessions for the album took place at Jungle City Studios New York, NY Evdon Studios, Toronto, Canada Glenwood Recording Studios, Burbank, CA Luke's In The Boo, Malibu, CA Record Plant, Hollywood, CA, Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Eightysevenfourteen Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Minaj noted that there were currently no featured artists on the record, and commented that she was "just enjoying creative process". In 2013, Minaj stated that she would begin writing material for the project later that year, after production was completed for her supporting role in her first feature film The Other Woman (2014). Parts of the album were recorded at Jungle City Studios (pictured). To further promote the album, Minaj embarked on her third concert tour, titled The Pinkprint Tour, which commenced in March 2015 and ended in August 2015, doing fifty shows over the span of five months. The second single, Anaconda, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Minaj's highest charting single at the time, while four other singles peaked within the top 40 of the Hot 100. The Pinkprint was promoted with seven singles: " Pills n Potions", " Anaconda", " Only", " Bed of Lies", " Truffle Butter", " The Night Is Still Young" and "Trini Dem Girls". Among best of the decade lists, it landed 166 on Pitchfork and 60 on Rolling Stone. The Pinkprint was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016. As of December 2015, the record has sold 682,000 pure copies in the United States, and has since been certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by adding streaming and track sales equivalent.
![grand piano top view grand piano top view](https://www.designerpiano.com/images/customOrders/IMG_09_1.jpg)
In the United Kingdom, The Pinkprint opened at number 22 on the UK Albums Chart. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 244,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, of which 198,000 were pure sales.
![grand piano top view grand piano top view](https://www.worldpianonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Kawai-Crystal-Grand-composite.jpg)
Upon its release, The Pinkprint received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many of them applauding its production. Looking to depart from the dance-pop elements of her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), The Pinkprint is a follow-up record influenced by her traditional hip hop beginnings. Minaj co-executive-produced the album alongside Birdman, Lil Wayne and Ronald Williams, and the assistance of a variety of fellow producers. It was released on Decemby Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The Pinkprint is the third studio album by Trinidadian-born rapper Nicki Minaj.