page_title: The Pinkprint
section_title: Recording
hierarchical_section_title: The Pinkprint / Recording
caption_attribution_description: English: Jungle City Studios in New York, USA
context_page_description: The Pinkprint is the third studio album by Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on December 15, 2014 by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. Minaj co-executive-produced the album alongside Birdman, Lil Wayne and Ronald Williams, and the assistance of a variety of fellow producers. Looking to depart from the dance-pop elements of her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Minaj wanted to make a follow-up record influenced by her traditional hip hop beginnings.
  Upon its release, The Pinkprint received generally favorable reviews from music critics, with many of them applauding its production. 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. In the United Kingdom, The Pinkprint opened at number 22 on the UK Albums Chart. 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 by adding streaming and track sales equivalent. The Pinkprint was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016.
context_section_description: In 2013, Minaj stated that she would begin writing material for the project later that year, after production was completed for her first feature film The Other Woman (2014). Minaj noted that there were currently no featured artists on the record, and commented that she was "just enjoying [the] creative process". 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. 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. 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.
  During 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. 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. 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. Minaj said that she wrote her verse in New York and Beyoncé visited her in the studio and encouraged her. During the album's production, Minaj worked with a variety of people including Dr. Luke, Ester Dean, Boi-1da and Detail. Minaj also hoped to have guest features from Rihanna and Drake.
  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. 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 November 2014, Minaj revealed she had recorded 25 songs for the album, stating she would find a song that "sits" with her and then mold that track for a while until she was satisfied; she continued to say her biggest problem during the recording process was cutting songs from the final track listing as each track was "special" to her. In November 2014, Minaj described the record as "personal" and an "emotional rollercoaster" to MTV News.
caption: Parts of the album were recorded at Jungle City Studios (pictured).
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