The Coalescence of Cardi B and the #MeToo Movement

Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, was released on April 6th, 2018 and is already dominating the charts. It features her familiar Grammy nominated single. “Bodak Yellow,” which became a number one hit and turned the reality star into an undeniable pop star. This song in particular seems to play into one of the central tenants of Cardi B’s essence, which is the fact that she can hold her own in a male-dominated industry known as the rap game (“Bodak Yellow” is famously influenced by Kodak Black’s “No Flockin”). The track, with its intense beat and spitfire lyrics from Cardi, has become a kind of girl power anthem as the Love and Hip Hop: New York star raps about protecting herself both financially and emotionally. The popularity of this track in particular coincided with the rise of the #MeToo Movement. While women in Hollywood stepped forward to share their stories about the abuses and injustices they faced at the hands of powerful men, and the silence of years and years of repression was broken, Cardi B emerged. At a time when women are looking for empowerment, Cardi B is a bold, unapologetically accessible figure who is not afraid to share her life. Her Instagram account has 22.6 million followers and she posts frequently, often videos of herself addressing her followers and making light of her own image. Cardi has been candid both online and through her music. Prior to officially announcing her pregnancy, a fan speculated and Cardi replied via Instagram “no bitch, I’m just getting fat. Let me fat [sic] in peace.”

Invasion of Privacy opens with the track “Get Up 10” which is perceptibly different from the tracks that follow that are more so driven by catchy choruses. “Get Up 10” sets the tone for not only the album, but Cardi’s image. She begins her debut album with a clarification for all her haters: “Look, they gave a bitch two options: strippin' or lose / Used to dance in a club right across from my school / I said "dance" not "fuck," don't get it confused / Had to set the record straight 'cause bitches love to assume.” After addressing those who would rather see her as a stripper than a talented performer, she goes on to outline her will to succeed and even calls attention to her breasts, which she has previously stated were augmented to improve her career as a stripper. Plastic surgery is often a subject that celebrities choose to brush under the rug or evade questions about, yet Cardi is not shy about discussing the decisions she has made regarding her body.

While Invasion of Privacy is filled with bangers like her single “Bartier Cardi” featuring 21 Savage, “I Like It,” and “Drip,” which boasts a heavy Migos feature, Cardi isn’t afraid to be vulnerable and open up about infidelity. The internet is abuzz with rumors about Offset cheating on his pregnant fiance, and several women have even publicly posted text conversations. “Thru Your Phone” and “Be Careful” are deeply personal and heartfelt while maintaining Cardi’s tough, resilient attitude. Despite the fact that male rappers often celebrate their oversexed lifestyles and the “fuck bitches get money” mantra, Cardi presents the opposite side and offers the female perspective. On “Be Careful,” she suggests her man should “Teach me to be like you so I can not give a fuck.” She somberly expresses the betrayal of finding out about the other women, and attacks the character of the man who has taken advantage of her. “Thru Your Phone” expresses the trust issues that crop up because of the almost double life one is able to lead with a cell phone. She references her album title as a means of justifying going through her partner’s phone and finding naked pictures of other women. She states that is not an isolated problem, actually it is a commonality among the boyfriend’s friends: “fuck your little fake ass friend / Come around actin’ like they my bros / I seen y’all little group texts / Where you all like to brag about your hoes.” Cardi is quick to mention, however, that she is more than willing to fight back, for example, “I’ma make you a cereal with a teaspoon of bleach.” Despite this violent imagery, the chorus serves as a reminder that no amount of retaliation can truly make up for the breakage of trust.

Cardi shows the difficulty of staying with a man despite the turbulence of the relationship. This sentiment is particularly relevant in light of the abuses faced by women coming forth as a result of the #MeToo Movement. So many victims chose to stay silent for years rather than take a stand against their abusers, fearing that sharing their stories was a risk not worth taking. As women break their silences, on Invasion of Privacy Cardi B reiterates what “Bodak Yellow” taught us, that she is an empowered, self-reliant woman who has gone from rags to riches (“Binderella shit,” as she calls it), and become one of the most dominant forces in the rap game.