Cardi B Hints at Sophomore Album’s Release While Celebrating 6th Anniversary of “Invasion of Privacy”

Cardi B is promising her new album this year…

While celebrating the sixth anniversary of her Grammy-winning debut album, Invasion of Privacy, the 31-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar teased the release of her sophomore effort before year’s end.

Cardi BInvasion of Privacy was released in 2018, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and earning a Grammy win for best rap album at the 2019 Grammy Awards. The set’s tracklist includes Hot 100 No. 1 singles “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.”

Cardi B looked back at the success of her studio debut in a post on X on Saturday (April 6).

In her message, she hinted at what fans can expect from her long-awaited second album.

“6 years ago I released my first album and it broke so many records GAH LEE!!” she wrote. “6 years later I’m preparing to drop the next one this year.. it’s so different from what everyone is expecting and I’m sooo excited.”

“Love you guys and thank you for the support! I’ll talk to ya soon I been so busy these last few days,” added Cardi.

Cardi most recently unveiled the single “Enough (Miami)” on March 15 along with a Patience Harding-directed music video for the track. “Enough” arrived two weeks after she dropped “Like What (Freestyle).”

She’s also featured on “Puntería,” the opening track from Shakira’Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran album that was just released on March 22.

The follow-up LP to Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy has yet to get an official release date.

Cardi B Takes to Social Media to Tease New Music Release

Cardi B’s highly anticipated sophomore album may be closer to release…

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning superstar has taken to her Instagram Stories to re-share a fan’s post, in which a snippet of an upcoming song is teased.

Cardi B

“I ain’t even got dressed / Any L that I took come after YS / Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man,” she declares on the track. Check out the Instagram Story before it disappears here.

The teasers come just a week after Cardi B’s estranged husband Offset took to his own Stories to encourage the “Bodak Yellow” rapper to release her new music.

In the video, the Migos star is seen bobbing his head and loving the music with a satisfied stank face on, and since the video had no audio, viewers were left to their imagination in interpreting the caption.

Stop being scary and drop the albumit read, along with “s–t goes crazy [fire emoji],” he wrote.

A new Cardi B album would mark her first since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. The album spawned two No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, the diamond-certified “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.” She also won the Grammy for best rap album for Invasion of Privacy, topping Pusha T, Mac Miller, Travis Scott and Nipsey Hussle.

Back in August, Cardi B promised that she was not going to release any more collaborations until she dropped her next solo single. Of course, her hit collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos,” dropped a month later, but Cardi B insisted that she’s focused on her sophomore project.

“I’m going to put out my next solo single. Right now, I’m working on the cover art and ideas for the next record because it’s definitely coming up,” she said at the time. “Everyone always tells me I should put the record out now. They did when I released ‘WAP’ [with Megan Thee Stallion] and when I released ‘Up,’ but I always let them know I’m not going to wait long after all these singles. So stay tuned because it’s coming out very soon.”

Cardi B Releases Limited Edition Strawberry Whipshots Flavor in Time for Valentine’s Day

Cardi B is whipping up a special Valentine’s Day treat…

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar and Starco Brands have released the limited edition Strawberry favor of the “I Like It” singer’s Whipshots to spice up the romantic holiday.

Cardi BAfter a tidal wave of requests from the Bardi Gang, Cardi B made the Strawberry Whipshots available for purchase online with a retail price tag of $14.99 along with select retail carriers across the country.

To celebrate the launch of the latest flavor, Whipshots has partnered with the Museum of Ice Cream to create a pair of exclusive dessert cocktails.

“We are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance visitors’ experience at Museum of Ice Cream and create unforgettable moments for them.” relayed Erin Levzow, Museum of Ice Cream’s CMO.

“This collaboration promises to infuse our locations with a burst of creativity, allowing guests to immerse themselves in exclusive, tasty drinks co-crafted with Whipshots and Cardi B, ensuring a truly enjoyable and unique experience for everyone who walks through our doors.”

The WhipShake Milkshake and The Diamond are both now available at the New York City, Chicago, and Austin store locations. Fans over 21 can have their sweet treats topped off with an extra shot of the boozy delicacy.

“Our fans have been begging us to drop Strawberry Whipshots since day one, and we’re going big with the launch of our most requested flavor,” Starco Brands CMO said in a statement. “From brand new flavors to nationwide partnerships, Whipshots is giving consumers a whole lot to love this Valentine’s Day.”

Strawberry serves as the fourth limited-edition launch from Whipshots following in the footsteps of Lime, Peppermint and Pumpkin Spice.

Whipshots recently crossed the four million can sales mark and the vodka-infused whipped cream is now available in 39 states nationwide.

Enrique Iglesias & Influence Media Partners Agree to Major Partnership Deal

Enrique Iglesias has a new influence

The 48-year-Spanish superstar and Influence Media Partners have agreed to a major partnership deal.

Enrique IglesiasInfluence and Iglesias have partnered on the rights management of his pre-2021 recorded music rights, according to a press release, including his independent masters and his Universal recorded music royalties, along with name, image and likeness (NIL) rights to expand future licensing opportunities for the singer.

This marks the first NIL deal for Influence Media, which last year partnered with Black Rock and Warner Music Group for funding and infrastructure.

“My songs hold immense significance for both my fans and me,” Iglesias said in a statement. “I’m excited to be working with the Influence Media team. I feel confident we will build an enduring partnership for my music and future projects.”

“Enrique is a global icon and having him as a part of our Influence Media family is a game-changing moment for us,” added Lylette Pizarro, Influence Media founder/co-managing partner. “For a quarter of a century, he has captivated fans globally with chart-topping and record-breaking hits. From ‘Experiencia Religiosa’ to ‘Hero’ and ‘Bailando’ to ‘I Like It’ and  ‘Be With You,’ there are few artists who come close to accomplishing what Enrique has achieved commercially. He has played a pivotal role in introducing bilingual music to the masses. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with one of the most recognizable figures in modern music.”

“It has been an honor to be part of Enrique’s team for more than two decades,” said John Branca, partner/head of music at Ziffren Brittenham, who represented Iglesias in the deal. “As the most successful Latin artist of all time he is also one of the most accomplished and beloved artists of his generation. Enrique was highly selective in choosing a partner with whom he will enhance his already monumental legacy.”

With a career that spans over three decades, Iglesias is one of the first Spanish-language acts to successfully cross over into the English-language market. He has placed five top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “I Like It,” “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” and “Hero.” He’s also placed three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 (EscapeEuphoria and Sex And Love) and 27 No. 1 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Currently on the U.S. Trilogy Tour with Pitbull and Ricky Martin, Iglesias most recently scored his eighth No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart with his bachata collab “Así Es La Vida” with Maria Becerra. He is set to drop his new album, Final Vol. 2, next year.

Influence Media previously acquired the commercially-released master recording catalog of Blake Shelton for his 2001-2019 output, Future’s song publishing catalog and Puerto Rican songwriter-producer Tainy’s song publishing catalog from 2005-2021, among other investments.

Bad Bunny Celebrates History-Making 1 Billion Spotify Streams for “Tití Me Preguntó”

Bad Bunny is celebrating his the latest streaming hit…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar recently visited Spotify’s newly launched Billions Club series.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny stopped by the series to enjoy a “Billions Brunch” with some of his closest friends and collaborators.

“The feeling of having 1 billion streams for this song right now is the same emotion I felt when I got 5,000 plays for the first time,” Bad Bunny said. “For me, it’s just as big knowing that there are people who want to listen and want to enjoy what you make.” 

The song in question is “Tití Me Preguntó,” a track from his historic Un Verano Sin Ti album that officially reached 1 billion Spotify streams on January 23.

According to Spotify, Bad Bunny has 12 songs with more than 1 billion streams each on the platform — more than any other artist in Spotify history. He has accumulated 58 billion streams on the service, reigning as Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the year for the past three years.

In the video, Bad Bunny feasted on a lavish meal set on several plaques that commemorated his other songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams, including “Yonaguni,” “Dákiti” (with Jhayco) and “MIA” (with Drake).

In addition to basking in his record-breaking streaming success, the “Después de la Playa” singer also recounted the story behind the creation of “Tití Me Preguntó.” When tasked with telling the story of the song in 10 seconds, he replied, “That’s impossible. That’s a lifetime of love and romance.”

“It’s a song that was born very spontaneously,” he added. “All of the people mentioned in the song exist in real life. Nothing I say in that song is a lie, including the part where I say I want to fall in love, but I can’t.”

Nonetheless, Bad Bunny declined to specify which aunt he was singing about, because “they’ll get jealous and create a mess.”

Toward the end of his Billions Club episode, Bad Bunny made sure to thank his fans for their continued support, as well as his mother and father for believing in him “not just in music, but with every decision [he’s] made” in his life.

Bad Bunny has earned 11 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including his sole No. 1 single “I Like It” (with Cardi B & J Balvin). On the Billboard 200, he has notched five top 10 projects, two of which have reached the ranking’s summit: El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo (one week) and Un Verano Sin Ti (13 weeks).

Bad Bunny Earns Eighth Billion Views Club Entry on YouTube with “AMORFODA” Music Video

It’s a great eight for Bad Bunny

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is officially an eight-time member of YouTube’s Billion Views Club as his 2018 music video for “AMORFODA” has surpassed one billion views on the online video sharing and social media platform.

Bad BunnyIt’s the Latin music super star’s eighth total project to reach the milestone, according to YouTube. 

The achievement comes a few months after his “Dákiti” music video with Jhay Cortez crossed into billions territory in January.

Before that, he’d earned billion-views status for his “Te Bote Remix,” “Mayores,” “No Me Conoce,” “I Like It,” “Mia” and “Tu No Vive Asi” music videos.

Released one day after Valentine’s Day in February of 2018, “AMORFODA” (which loosely translates to “a f— love”) marked a significant departure from Bad Bunny’s usual trap-infused musical style, with the two-time Grammy winner opting instead for minimalistic piano.

The “AMORFODA” music video matches the song’s simplicity, and follows the musician with one continuous shot as he leaves his pleading ex-girlfriend behind on a sunset-lit beach.

“Everyone has been in love, at some point or another,” he told Billboard of the song, which peaked at No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, a few days after its release. “It’s honestly a song I’ve had written for quite some time now. In fact, it’s a song I had written way before the fame and success.”

“I’ve always loved this song because I wrote it with a lot of sentiment behind it,” he continued. “It’s the kind of record that reminds me of the longevity of really good songs. A good song never gets old. It was just a matter of time, and it was time to come out with something different.”

J Balvin Becomes First Latino Artist to Headline NFL Kickoff Concert

J Balvin has earned a place in NFL history…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer performed at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, September 8 as part of the NFL Kickoff Experience to celebrate the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, becoming the first Latino artist to headline an NFL kickoff concert.

J BalvinJ Balvin performed ahead of the first game of the year, which saw the Buffalo Bills battle with reigning Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams.

Attendees defied the L.A. heat wave and made their way to the beach for a free day event that featured all sorts of activities and activations, including a beach football field.

Before Balvin took the stage, a local mariachi band serenaded the sweaty crowd before the Alabama State Marching Hornets took over for a riveting number.

Opening for Balvin was West Coast-based DJ and producer Tokimonsta, who was able to get the concertgoers out of the shade and closer to the main stage where they danced to her eclectic set.

Then, an inflatable giant hand appeared onstage holding up an equally large smiling face balloon — Balvin’s signature smiley face— which could only mean that the chart-topping artist was ready to take make his grand entrance. While his set was scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm, Balvin took the stage 10 minutes earlier to perform a nearly one-hour show.

He appeared in a two-piece, army-like outfit styled with a matching balaclava that only exposed his eyes.

“Cómo está la vibra esta tarde, how’s the vibe today?” he asked the crowd.

Balvin kicked off with the fan-favorite “Mi Gente” and went on to perform back-to-back hits like “Reggaeton,” “Nivel de Perreo,” “Con Altura,” “Loco Contigo,” “Blanco,” “Ritmo,” “Amarillo,” “Ginza,” “I Like It” and “In Da Getto.” He also brought out a special guest, Trueno, an emerging rapper from Argentina, to perform their collaboration “Un Paso.”

“My name is Jose but they call me J Balvin,” he added. “Where are all the warriors that fight for their dreams? I see my Latino gang representing here.”

Throughout the years, artists like Shawn MendesMeek MillMeghan Trainor and Ed Sheeran have performed at the NFL Kickoff Concert.

J Balvin Reclaims Crown as Artist with Most Videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club

J Balvin is YouTube’s ’s Billion baller…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer’s “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” music video in collaboration with Black Eyed Peas has surpassed 1 billion views, officially making him the artist with the most videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club once again, according to the video platform.

J Balvin“Ritmo,” which was released on October 11, 2019, on YouTube, marks Balvin’s 12th entry as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. Prior to reclaiming the crown this week, Balvin was tied with Justin Bieber with 11 music videos each with a billion views.

In 2016, he became the first Latin urban artist to reach 10 digits with a video on the platform with “Ay Vamos.” He was only the third Latin artist to reach a billion views, following Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando,” featuring Gente de Zona and Descemer Bueno, and Romeo Santos’ “Propuesta Indecente,” both in 2014.

Balvin also has one of the top five fastest videos to reach the billion-view mark with “Mi Gente,” surpassing the number in 103 days.

“Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” samples Corona’s ’90s hit “Rhythm of the Night,” fusing hip-hop and pop with Balvin’s incendiary and infectious take on reggaeton.

The track topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and Hot Latin Songs

charts in 2020, becoming the Peas’ first leader on each ranking and Balvin’s first on the dance chart.

The video, which shows scenes from the Bad Boys for Life movie, now joins the Willy William-assisted “Mi Gente”; “X (Equis)” with Nicky Jam; “Con Altura” with Rosalia; “China” alongside Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, and Ozuna; “No Me Conoce (Remix)” with Jhayco and Bad Bunny; “Ay Vamos”; “I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny; “Ahora Dice” with Chris Jedi, Ozuna, and Arcangel; the Farruko-assisted “6AM”; and “Safari” featuring Pharrell Williams, BIA, and Sky in the billion-views club.

Cardi B Announces “Hot Shit” Collaborators: Kanye West & Lil Durk

Cardi B’s next track is heating up…

The 29-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has revealed that her upcoming single “Hot Shit” will feature Kanye West and Lil Durk.

Cardi BCardi B revealed the exciting news via the new single’s steamy cover art, which features the “I Like It” singer in the back of a luxurious car, wearing a metallic bikini with matching sunglasses and heels.

All three artists’ names are listed at the bottom of the photo.

https://twitter.com/iamcardib/status/1541572302030180354

Cardi B Releases Two-Minute ‘Greatest Hits’ Compilation Video

Cardi B is waxin’ nostalgic…

The 29-year-old Dominican American Grammy-winning rapper and songwriter released a 2-minute video highlighting some of her greatest hits to date, along with a not-so-subtle reminder that even though she was looking back, she’s got her mind firmly set on the future.

Cardi B“Just a little reminder feeling like 2020 when I had to come out and STEP to remind them …..P.S-IM GONNA STOMP THIS TIME AROUND,” she wrote, seemingly referring to the long-awaited follow-up to her smash 2018 full-length debut album, Invasion of Privacy.

The accompanying video blasts out of the gate with the Invasion of Privacy track “Get Up 10” before dipping into  “Drip” featuring Migos, “Money Bag,” her breakthrough hit “Bodak Yellow,” “Bickenhead,” the Latin-hop smash “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin, “Bartier Cardi,” “Be Careful,” her ballad “Ring,” featuring Kehlani, and then wrapping up with “Thru Your Phone.”

The clip also features bits from the videos for those songs, with Cardi slipping in and out of a series of increasingly elaborate, outrageous outfits during a period when she blew up into one of the biggest hip-hop stars on the planet.

So, what about that new music she’s gonna “stomp?” In May Cardi B jumped on Twitter to address her fans’ complaints that the new music is not coming fast enough.

“I seen a lot of y’all talking sh– like, ‘Oh she doesn’t feed us…,’” she said in a voice note recorded for the Bardi Gang. “So when I put what I’mma put out, I’mma talk more about it because clearly I can’t talk about it now. But I really had technical difficulties with my latest project. I had not one, not two, but like three technical difficulties on the music that I’ve been working on that … had to be done and taken care of before I put it out.”

She did promise that when there is news, her fans will know.

“When things come out, that’s when I’mma talk about it,” she explained. “It’s nothing, like, major or crazy. Yeah, we’ll figure it out ’cause I know, I know, I know, I know you guys want that and I’m gonna give it to ya, OK? OK.”

It’s been more than 4 years since Cardi Vreleased Invasion of Privacy, which went on to become the first female rap album to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards since 2003 and won the trophy for best rap album.

Meanwhile, her last one-off single was “Up,” which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its February 2021 release.

https://twitter.com/iamcardib/status/1539345824072736772