Cardi B is back in the new year and things are about to heat up! After her mega-hit collaboration “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion, this is the first single released since. Titled “Up,” the song attempts to assert her dominance in the rap and hip hop game.
“Up” is likely to be the first single off her second studio album, yet to be titled. Cardi B also released a music video along with the release of the single on February 5, 2021. And the music video is all kinds of wild!
Cardi B is no stranger to revealing clothes in her music videos that flaunt her mega curves. However, the “Up” music video takes ‘risque’ to a new level as we are blessed with some tongue-kisses between Cardi B and her supporting female dancers. So, it is safe to say that this music video is not safe for work (NSFW).
Watch “Up” Music Video by Cardi B
Download “Up” by Cardi B on Apple Music and Amazon
“Up” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
During the live premiere of the song and the video on YouTube, Cardi B spoke about the inspiration behind the song;
The biggest inspiration for this song. I wanted a more hood song. I feel like my last song was too sexy, Offset. I feel like this is more like of an Atlanta thing, I don’t know, a Georgia thing. He kept saying “up and stuck” and I’m like “oh sh*t, I keep saying up and a stuck out of nowhere because that’s something that I started saying this year.
Throughout the lyrics of “Up,” Cardi B sings about how she has come nothing to one of the biggest superstars in the world. She went from being an “ugly” girl to a millionaire within a matter of few years. Now, everybody loves her and aspires to be like her. This is when she racked up stacks of money rhetorically to the height of Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq), who is 7 feet 1 inch height! That’s a lot of money.
Cardi B’s 2018 debut studio album ‘Invasion of Privacy’ sold over 3 million copies just in the United States. So, she is not exaggerating about racking up money!
Before Cardi B’s breakout success in the music industry, she was a stripper. One could imagine that her life was far from perfect back then. But now that she is a global icon, everybody wants a piece of the pie. People who looked down on her before cannot even come close to her level now!
Cardi B also namedrops some luxury brands such as Bentley Bentayga motor vehicle and Balenciaga high-end fashion brand.
‘Running a train’ is a reference to group sex, which Cardi B seems to insinuate to enjoy with two twin brothers.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics and further meaning breakdown on Genius.