LOS ANGELES — Even in 2010 — when Nicki Minaj released her debut set, beneath the fluorescent wigs and zany accents, there resided a real-life grown-up. On some level, we surely understood that the now 32-year-old rapper had complex emotions and a past, and all the things that make stars more like regular people and less like characters. But not until now, with her third release, "The Pinkprint" — which includes production from Boi-1da, Zaytoven and Dr. Luke, among others — has Minaj conveyed that message so clearly. The set's first single "Pills N Potions" captures the heart and soul of the album, even with songs like the Drake and Lil Wayne-assisted "Only" and "Anaconda" (along with its bootylicious music video) drumming up considerable buzz. Throughout her latest set, Minaj oscillates between boss and broken. It seems as though the gap is closing between Minaj's on and offstage personas, and so far, that's a good thing. — AP
