Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday 2.”

There was much secrecy surrounding the fifth album by hip-hop superstar Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2, a sequel to her beloved 2010 debut. She kept it completely under wraps, with nearly no advance singles, track list and few hints about what was in store. Even the release date was fluid, originally scheduled for October before being kicked to November and, finally, to Minaj’s Dec. 8 birthday.

Despite the wait, Minaj delivered the goods, putting out a weighty record with nearly two dozen tracks, about half of them big-time collaborations. The only glimpse fans got was an AI-generated world, Gag City, that helped set the scene.

Most impressive is that of the 22 tracks, there’s no filler to go around; it’s more than 70 minutes of material with little room to catch your breath.

Pink Friday 2’s most somber moment arrives with the introductory track, airy ballad “Are You Gone Already,” which hoists a slow jam rhythm and a calm, cool delivered flow. The table setter is not reflective of what’s to come but it places you into the record. Minaj goes at it alone for the first string of tracks, led by “Barbie Dangerous,” “FTCU” and “Beep Boop.” Each has building darkly melodic backbeats with Nicki Minaj delivering in her signature flow. “Fallin 4 U” offers a particularly strong fusion of hip-hop energy alongside strings and synths. Lyrically, she asserts her place as one of the top voices in the genre.

The first of many collaborations is “Let Me Calm Down,” a slow jam with J. Cole. The particularly dynamic track features Minaj both singing and rapping, along with a smooth verse by her collaborator. Lil Wayne and Tate Kobang join in on sensual anthem “RNB.” At least to start, the record is less about radio hits and more about well-constructed dark hip-hop. “Pink Birthday” shows off Minaj’s ability to adeptly jump between wordy verses and a melodic sung chorus.

Drake collab track “Needle” keeps up the momentum of minimalist R&B jams, both vocalists playing off of each other’s strengths. The slow churn becomes more pronounced on “Cowgirl,” with Lourdiz. Minaj spits with nuanced intonation, the instrumental leaving plenty of space for the vocals to shine through. The pace begins to turn on the jumpy “Everybody,” with Lil Uzi Vert, blending in horns, drums and some unusual sounds to create an expansive foundation.

Minaj leans into her hip-hop laurels on “Big Difference” and “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” While the collaboration tracks will likely get much of the attention, Minaj tends to feel most in her element on the songs that feature solely her.

The instrumentals get more experimental on “Forward From Trini,” with Skillibeng and Skeng, while Minaj saved the big bangers for later in the track list, with the lively “Pink Friday Girls,” “Super Freaky Girl” (which samples Rick James classic “Super Freak”) and Future collaboration “Nicki Hendrix.”

The three are a natural crescendoes, broken up only by mid-tempo jams of “Bahm Bahm” and “My Life.” Pink Friday 2 concludes on a somber note, with a trio of melodic slow jams in “Blessings,” “Last Time I Saw You” and “Just the Memories.”

More doesn’t necessarily always mean better, yet Nicki Minaj delivers the goods here on a record that continues to feel fresh all the way through and never weighs itself down. While fans likely hope they won’t have to wait this long for the next record, this one should offer more than enough material to tide them over.

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.