After a monumental single, a boatload of features, 20 million Instagram followers, and dropping two mixtapes (what b*tch working as hard as her?), we finally have the long-awaited debut album of Bronx rapper Cardi B. Invasion of Privacy opens with an origin story, as our favorite stripper-turned-rapper boasts about her rags to riches beginning on “Get Up 10”. Cardi’s equally famous fiancé Offset and his group join her on “Drip”, a welcome follow-up to their collab on Culture II’s “Motorsport”.
Cardi B has her Lemonade moment on “Be Careful”, a surprisingly candid track from the usually conceited star, detailing infidelity in past relationships. Immediately, speculation touched on the song’s aim at said fiancé, who’s been under suspicion of cheating on Cardi in the past. However, she denied it in a recent interview.
Recently, Latino music has seen a sudden uprising thanks to hits like “Despacito” and “Mi Gente”, and “I Like It” continues the trend. J. Balvin joins the rapper to deliver perhaps the most danceable tune on the LP, helping bridge the gap between hip-hop and Latino music.
Other features include Chance the Rapper on “Best Life”, who’s upbeat, positive tone from Coloring Book translates well to compliment Cardi B’s “I made it” mentality. The album closes with a SZA guest bit where the two go back and forth about their dominant status, capping off a record full of flamboyance from start to finish.
After Invasion of Privacy, not even the biggest of haters will have grounds to call Belcalis Almanzar a one hit wonder anymore. The 13-track album is loaded with hits that build on the braggadocio nature that made “Bodak Yellow” so iconic. Along with the hard-hitting lyrics from last year’s megahit, the LP contains many more witty quips, most notably the hysterical “P*ssy so good/I say my own name during sex”.
Through its ostentatious lyricism and terrific trappy production, Invasion of Privacy serves as a memorable full-length debut from the rapper.
Our rating for Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy is 8.6/10 collaborations.
