Written by PresidentELLA
Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar, has solidified the summer 2018 sound. The Bronx native’s first studio album was worth all her work and worth the wait. Her personal and network growth are evident on this project as she stepped up to bat with eat beat and knocked it out the park. I can’t say I was in love with anything on her previous mixtapes (or Love & Hip Hop), but can acknowledge how far she has come.
A quick read of the writer credits on Cardi’s album will show you were she pulled a lot of magic from. She is an incredible performer as she’s not afraid of the stage or attention. Additionally, she has the drive and determination to execute what she puts her mind to.
Here are my thoughts on the tracks:
Get Up 10 – This was a great introduction to the project. The autobiographical verses introduce the public to Cardi in a very transparent, vulnerable yet withstanding persona. This is feeling that helps carry on through the rest of the album as we balance sophistoratchet. “Look myself in the mirror, I said, ‘We gone win’. Knock me down 9 tyimes but I get up 10, bitch.”
Drip (Ft. Migos) – I fucks with the Migos and Cardi does literally lol. It’s only right she have her man and his team on the project to give us a wavy party track.
Bickenhead – Nothing is more ratchet than the term “chickenhead”. I think thats why this song is for the “nasty hoes” and she’s just telling everyone to get their money up. Cardi revived this classic jam and gave the ladies something to sing to on a track that used to be used to diss us. Go head, Cardi.
Bodak Yellow – The first joint we heard off this project still goes hard… but we were giving bars on this just to prove that Cardi could keep up. The song fits will into the scheme of the rst of the album and shows her versatility.
Be Careful – For the ladies, this track expresses a bunch of feelings we previously didn’t have words for. In this song, Cardi presents herself as that strong woman who loves hard but it’s afraid to look out for herself. This isn’t the typically broken hearted girl; this heart can break no more.
Best Life (Ft. Chance the Rapper) – Cardi called on Chance for the most inspirational song on the album. It’s easy to feel both of their glee and pride as Cardi expresses, “You gotta bear with me, I been through some things.”
I Like it by Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – This song is my favorite to dance to. Also pulling from old track, this light hearted track let’s Cardi flex the way a rapper should.
Ring ft Kehlani – On an emotional side, Kehlani joins to talk about a guy. Chick track for the lady not to be played with cuz “you don’t want this gun smoke”
Money Bag – Flexing again, Cardi jumps on this club track to alk about her money and cars. You need a few of these on an album. This track has every chick calling herself an “entree” right now; I warn any DJ playing this when I’m out with my homegirls cuz “my bitches with me pretty too, the look like bridesmaids. And they all bloody gang so don’t be talking sideways.”
Bartier Cardi (ft 21 Savage) – Similar to Bodak Yellow is this another track where Cardi shows us her versatility of flow. This is all rhyming… nothing deep or moving, but great flow.
She Bad by Cardi & YG – This is my least favorite song on the album but it still bangs. Really because it’s a strip club track and perfect for twerking as YG repeats “that ass, that ass.”. Since it’s at the end of the project, I listen to it, but not by choice.
Thru Your Phone – This might be the realest song on the album. After going through her man’s phone, Cardi expresses exactly what we all feel. But… I don’t know if that’s her singing on the track. It’s fire either way.
I Do (ft SZA) – This track is swag heavy. SZA has been writing for Rhianna and Beyonce for a while so that beat and vibe on this track are unlike anything else on the album. Also another favorite of mine because the entire song is about doing what you wanna do.
[Verse 2: Cardi B]
Look, broke hoes do what they can (can)
Good girls do what they told (told)
Bad bitches do what they want (they want)
That’s why a bitch is so cold
I’m a gangsta in a dress, I’m a bully in the bed
Only time that I’m a lady’s when I lay these hoes to rest
The coupe is roofless, but I get top in it
I’m provocative, it’s my prerogative
80K just to know what time is it
Cardi rockin’ it, go buy stock in it
Spent what I want, ain’t no limit
I say what I want, I ain’t never been timid
Only real shit comes out my mouth and only real niggas go in it
Leave his texts on read, leave his balls on blue
Put it on airplane mode so none of those calls come through
Here’s a word to my ladies, don’t you give these niggas none (give ’em none)
If they can make you richer, they can make you cum
[Chorus: SZA]
I left a nigga on read ’cause I felt like it
Dress me down in that Raf, Saint Laurent jacket
Dapper, dapper, I look fine, and my checks divine
No wonder wonder why I do whatever I like
I do what I like, I do, I do
I do what I like, I do, I do
I do what I like, I do, I do
I do what I like, I do, I do
EllaThought 