Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna - Fly

Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday was one of my favourite albums of late 2010. I’d find myself drawn back to it again and again by Nicki’s genius lyrics and the cracking production values on the songs. Every song just drew you in, each listen rewarding you with new bits you never picked up on before. It’s one of those albums through which you really get a sense of ‘knowing’ the artist. All the persona’s Nicki contructs, the voices she affects, the attitudes she puts forward. One moment spitting out the words with anger, the next moment delivering gentle, beautiful lines.

And right from the start, Fly was the one track that really stood out for me. A product of JR. Rotem (and coming with that by now oh-so familiar rave-horn intro) those heavenly Owl City-esque synths are perfection. And My God, that chorus is just immense. So uplifting, so epic. Of all the collaborations on Nicki’s album, it is Rihanna who compliments her best; their voices go together so well – two young girls living the dream. It is a song of pure emotion, of over-coming all that stands in your way, standing proud and victorious at the end. Fly is the anthem that stands as an affirmation to all that and more.