Nicki Minaj’s “Pills N Potions”: Listen

Carl Williott | May 21, 2014 5:41 am

Welp, Nicki Minaj promised her new album The Pink Print wouldn’t have a “Starships” on it, and lead single “Pills N Potions” certainly isn’t that. But it turns out she was sort of misleading us about this all being a return to her “real” hip-hop roots. “Pills N Potions,” out today (May 21), isn’t a blast of sugary dance-pop, but the Dr. Luke-produced jam is completely 100% pop — it just happens to be a ballad.

“Pills” is a lovely, understated song, with Nicki projecting a vulnerability that’s been missing from her material, meaning it’s the exact opposite of the firebreathing raps she’s teased with this year. While she turns out two quick verses about coming to grips with naysayers, her singing voice does the legwork with the refrain “Pills and potions / We’re overdosing / I’m angry but I still love you.”

“Pills N Potions” doesn’t showcase a brilliant hook or jaw-dropping rhymes, but it does show Nicki can’t be pigeonholed, and at this point, that’s her greatest asset. Does she have another chart smash on her hands? Hear it below to find out.

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