Fame has been a whirlwind ride for Rapper Cardi B. The Bronx native has overcome all odds to rise above a life of abuse and poverty. Her rise has been meteoric over the past year, stemming from the record-breaking success of first Single Bodak Yellow, placing her in the company of Lauryn Hill in becoming only the second female Rapper ever to earn a #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 solo. She then set a record for longest run at #1 for an Artist in that category for three straight weeks with the Track.
The accolades never ceased in what many were quick to dismiss as a one-hit wonder. Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar, would see Grammy nominations and a Best New Artist win at the iHeart Radio Awards. She now is primed for another #1, this time on the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart with her debut Disc, Invasion of Privacy. The Disc already has been certified gold upon release, a first ever surprisingly, for a female Artist.
Invasion of Privacy is a star-studded affair. An A-List roster of talent make guest appearances including Migos, Chance the Rapper, Kehlani, SZA, 21 Savage, J Balvin, Bad Bunny and YG. The 13-track Collection is angry and unapologetic, but also triumphant and celebratory in the wisdom gained through hardship. Cardi B delivers her A-Game, spitting pure fire on the highly-coherent and digestible Disc which contains the sexual bravado of the likes of Khia and Cupcakke, but also has the commercial appeal of the likes of Nicki Minaj. Clocking-in at 48 minutes, each listening passes by rather quickly.
Cardi B has plenty to say and isn’t afraid of a little self-deprecation. Right off the bat on opening track Get Up 10, she reveals she’s a “Real b*tch, only thing fake is the boobs”. She also addresses the level of insecurity she felt reading people’s comments about her teeth. Thru Your Phone deals with some of the rage she feels towards a lover and his infidelity, including wanting to slip-in a teaspoon of bleach into his cereal. Things can’t possibly get more confessional than that.
Ever-timely is her sampling of Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill on Be Careful, one of the Disc’s most vulnerable moments. Drake also samples the same Track on his latest, Nice for What. Hypnotic are Migos collaboration Drip and She Bad ft. YG, the latter in which she confesses her admiration for Chrissy Teigen and her desire for a threesome with Rihanna.
You truly don’t have to be a Hip-Hop Connoisseur to appreciate the raw authenticity and polished production of Cardi B’s debut effort. She’s highly-fascinating and we want to know more. While she is front and center for much of the Disc – minus Pete Rodriguez-sampling I Like It which pays homage to her Latin roots and allowing Bad Bunny and J Balvin to shine – this definitely is an outstanding introduction.
Warner Music Canada release CARDI B’s INVASION OF PRIVACY, now in stores and on digital. Click here to buy it.
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