Download of the Day 9/29: "Right Thru Me" by Nicki Minaj

Can you see "right through"
Nicki's new track?

With her hotly-anticipated debut less than two months away, Nicki Minaj is doing her best to build up the hype.

After the runaway success of "Your Love", the Queens-bred rapper is continuing her unique (okay, not really) blend of hip-hop and ballad with a brand new single, "Right Thru Me". Honestly, if she wasn't rapping in the verses, this easily could have been a dance-pop ballad for a mid-range diva (see Rihanna). There are synths, swishing and throbbing, coming from every direction, and the beat is simple, bur consistent and great. It makes for an awesome arrangement and overall production. Nicki, of course, holds the rest of the cards for this song's success, and she once again doesn't disappoint. The rapping is fluid and her verses thoughtful and clever. Her singing voice is also improving, meaning there is a lot less Auto-Tune in use. Her vocals (rapping and singing) carry a palpable amount of emotion, making a lot easier to connect and appreciate. While the chorus isn't as hook-rich as I would've expected for a Minaj track, there is definitely enough going on to consider this song a success.

Rating: 8/10