The Standard (Zimbabwe)

Cardi B swelling with ‘noisier numbers’

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BELCALIS Almanzar’s superbly tuned aptitude is not burning out in a vociferous world of manufactur­ed industrial berceuse oeuvres; coming hard and fast in the form of Rap, Pop, Afrobeats, Rock, Electronic Dance Music, Gospel, Jazz, House, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Country, Amapiano, Folk, Funk, Reggae as well as Latin music — among other heart stopping genres.

Hers is not just an off-the-wall larger-than-life epitome of a golden retriever — very much in the amiability factor and adrenaline rush. It is also a whacking incredible spin off the hamster wheel — in a heavy metalled New York City cauldron — that would perceive her step to the line; to deliver lyrics planted in the rich soil of her truth on-stage as Cardi B.

Having stretched out her supremacy on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, locking down the number 1 spot with her commercial debut single ‘Bodak Yellow’ (2017) and ‘Up’ a February 2021 release; her up-to-the-minute delivery — ‘Enough (Miami)’ — is a street monster opus in the making. A without a blip fizzing birdcall to kick off the spring break season!

Moving mountains, Cardi B is among the most standout melodic artists of all time; regardless of genre, gender, or generation. Even when pressure cracked up in an uncharted territory, on the neckline of a virgin career; the rapper songwriter, who hatched her first studio album known as ‘Invasion of Privacy’ in 2018, was equally intended to see tonal pattern for what it is. Hence, she took stunts to stand against shattering under the oppression of obnoxiousn­ess; punching above her weight, to go ahead of the pack, beyond anxious stumbles.

Potential blended perfectly with a non-negotiable appetite; Cardi has the highest chart-topping singles (5) on the Billboard Hot 100, and she is the first lead artist to top the Billboard Global 200 with a hell dust ballad craft that has sold 100 million certified units.

In any case thoroughgo­ing earning her stripes — with the most diamond-certified sonic blasts (3) by the Recording Industry Associatio­n of America (RIAA); on the Swedish audio streaming and media service provider — Spotify — the Grammy Award-winning anthem god head has the maximum number of canons with a billion streams, including the moststream­ed female rap album!

Be it in contempora­ry, traditiona­l or alternativ­e spaces, hardly two years after swaying two of the most strongarm forces in ultramoder­n Hip-Hop: Lil Durk and Ye (Kanye West) — on a ‘Hot Ish’ ride; Cardi B has utterly calibrated rap euphony for the whole demographi­c, regenerati­ng the sensory system of specialise­d pockets of audiences.

The swashbuckl­ing dewy behind the ears ditty ‘Enough (Miami)’ is accompanie­d by a high-octane companion graphic — directed by Patience Harding — that captures Cardi spitting pithy lines, while sporting a series of dainty looks. The work of chords thought provokingl­y comes on the heels of her earlier drop this month, titled ‘Like What (Freestyle)’.

By foaling a viral teaser that now has accumulate­d over 27.5 million views, 4.5 million likes, 44 000 comments, 231 500 favourites, and 9 000 creates — via video-focused social networking service TikTok; she destructiv­ely hit the canvas before officially birthing ‘Enough (Miami)’.

Both jams serve as the follow-up to last 12-month’s iconic collaborat­ion with Megan Thee Stallion — a rapper originally from Houston, Texas — on the lullaby called ‘Bongos’. Prior to the latter banger, the pair conceived the historic and viral sensation, ‘WAP’; which affirmed Cardi B — who remained abstemious­ly vigorous with her feature in a Beats by Dre ad last May — as one of Apple Music’s most popular artists of all time. Grossing the platform’s highest-ever debut by a female artist as well as the fastest record in Apple Music history by a female artist to peak at number 1.

The toothsome sound would go on to clinch the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Clasping special worth, by means of sitting cute on the summit of Rhythmic radio and placing position 2 on Urban radio. ‘WAP’ also received a gong for Favourite Song — Rap / Hip-Hop at the American Music Awards, and won an accolade for Best Collaborat­ion as well as Video of the Year at the BET Awards.

The latter cantabile gem was likewise nominated for Collaborat­ion of the Year at the American

Music Awards, designated for five categories at the MTV Video Music Awards, and selected for Best Music Video at the iHeart Music Awards. A commanding statement on cloud nine, the means of expressive kiss-and-tell through illustrati­on to ‘WAP’, has this day and age reached over 523 million views.

And as the lilt lollygags, the hulk audio is eye-popping in seventh heaven with over 3.2 billion streams! Boosting Cardi B’s influence to inspiratio­nal heights, on the far side of chanted compositio­n panoramas, into the picturesqu­e American culinary monarchy. A crave that scrumptiou­sly shook hands with the sassy and urge, filtered down in the system of the championsh­ip game of the National Football League — of the United States.

While a Quislingis­m with Whipshots yielded a new flavour premiere for the fall: Pumpkin Spice, an appearance with rapper Offset in McDonald’s 2023 Super Bowl commercial — made known the first-ever celebrity duo meal. Aloft in the right moments, being the second-largest event for American food consumptio­n — behind Thanksgivi­ng dinner — the Super Bowl has a weighty rate of commercial airtime during its broadcast.

So, viewership becomes an integral part of this stood to be cheered spectacle; ranked among the world’s most-watched sporting events. Second only to the UEFA Champions League final; the Super Bowl eon rules the roost in an era Cardi B’s emblematic élan seems to have played out!

Grant Moyo is a proli c writer, innovative media personalit­y, entreprene­ur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on

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Cardi B
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out & about with Grant Moyo

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