It’s hard to follow-up a pivotal pop culture moment like “WAP”, but Cardi B is certainly out here trying. The New York rapper has released a new single today called “Up”, along with a music video.
“LETS GOOOOOO!” an excited Cardi wrote earlier this week in a tweet announcing the track. The 28-year-old also shared two different artworks for “Up”; both feature her wearing very tiny sparkly outfits while suspended high in the sky. (Coincidentally, just yesterday Cardi twirled high up on her in-home stripper pole as part of TikTok’s #SilhouetteChallenge.)
“Up” doesn’t feature any macaroni in a pot, but it does have a ton of Cardi-branded confidence cookin’: “I could make the party hot/ I could make ya body rock/ Bitches say they fuckin’ with me/ Chances are they probably not.” The accompanying Tani Muino-directed clip also makes it clear that she’s strutting into 2021 with her head held high. At one point, Cardi, in flashy heels, is standing on top of a grave whose headstone reads “RIP 2020”. Watch it down below.
“Up” probably won’t result in a total Tucker Carlson meltdown, or renewed debates about rap’s double standard when it comes to who is allowed to talk dirty, but at least we know we’re that much closer to one day receiving the long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. In an Apple Music interview, Cardi talked about how she already has 50 new songs recorded and hopes to release a new album sometime in 2021 — that is, if the pandemic doesn’t derail her plans again:
“I really wanted to put out an album last year, but it was like, ‘I feel like I don’t have the right songs.’ I have recorded so many songs. I think I’ve got like 50 songs recorded, and I’m just still not satisfied. If I’m not satisfied, I’m just not satisfied, but I really want to put out an album this year. I feel like I have no choice now. Now, I feel like I exceeded my limit of holding. I just need to stop with the fear. I don’t know. I’m just… My fear.
Like, music is in a different stage right now. Because I don’t even be knowing what should be like the base of my album sometimes. Should most of my songs be freaky songs? Most of my songs should be about tricking? I’ve got my sensitive songs and stuff, and it’s just like, ‘Are they enough? Are they explaining my feelings enough?’
I just feel like I’m just not satisfied anymore, because it’s like the expectations be so high. Not only that, but it’s just tricky, you know? It’s like you want go on tour after you drop your album and everything, and then it’s like that’s another thing. You’re hearing different types of dates. ‘Oh, 2021 might be open. Touring might be open at the end of 2021. No, it’s going to be open in 2022.’ When it is open in 2022, everybody’s going to want to tour, so you’ve got to wait for your slot.”
In recent news, Cardi joined the set of Wayne’s World as part of a new Uber Eats Super Bowl commercial. The Grammy-winner was also cast to star in a new comedy named Assisted Living.
My new single “UP” drops this Friday! LETS GOOOOOO! #Up pic.twitter.com/LJRwzvW8Mv
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) February 2, 2021