Cardi B Releases New Single “Like What (Freestyle)”

Cardi B is freestylin’…

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has officially released her new single “Like What (Freestyle).

Cardi BCardi B teased the new track via her Instagram Story earlier this week.

“I ain’t even got dressed / Any L that I took come after YS / Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man,” she rapped in the snippet.

The teaser arrived one week after her estranged husband Offset took to his own IG Stories account to encourage the “WAP” rapper to drop her new music.

In the video, the Migos star was bobbing his head with a satisfied stank face, writing, “Stop being scary and drop the album sh– goes crazy” with a line of fire emojis.

“Like What (Freestyle)” marks Cardi B’s first solo record since 2021’s “Up,” which earned the MC her fifth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. “Up” also earned a 2022 Grammy nomination for best rap performance.

The anticipation for her sophomore album has increased over the years since she dropped her critically acclaimed debut album Invasion of Privacy in 2018. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced two Hot 100 No. 1, diamond-certified singles: “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It,” featuring J Balvin and Bad BunnyInvasion of Privacy also won best rap album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Last August, following her features on Offset’s “Jealousy” and “Freaky,” GloRilla‘s “Tomorrow 2,” Latto‘s “Put It On Da Floor Again” and FendiDa Rappa‘s “Point Me 2,” Cardi B promised in her Vogue México y Latinoamérica cover story that she wasn’t going to release any more collaborations until she dropped her next solo single. But “Bongos” with Megan Thee Stallion dropped a month later, a sequel to their 2020 Hot 100 smash “WAP.”

“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 told the publication at the time. “Everyone always tells me I should put the record out now. They did when I released ‘WAP’ 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 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 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

Anuel AA to Compete in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Anuel AA is ready to play ball…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican rapper/singer will compete in next week’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Anuel AA

Anuel AA, who is a sponsor of Women’s National Superior Basketball League in Puerto Rico, will join Machine Gun Kelly, Jack Harlow and Quavo to showcase their ball skills.

Others set to compete include Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen, Tiffany Haddish, Ranveer Singh, Nyjah Huston, and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.

Quavo, a founding member of rap trio Migos, is a veteran of the run-and-gun “Celebrity” game, with four previous appearances under his belt.

The two teams will line up next Friday (Feb. 18) at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, and are respectively coached by retired NBA superstars Dominique Wilkins and Bill Walton.

The all-celebrity exhibition game has been regular fixture in the annual NBA All-Star Weekend since 2003, and will be televised and streamed by ESPN from 7 p.m. ET.

DJ Khaled and friends will headline the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night performances, with his support crew to be unveiled in the days ahead.

The All-Star Celebrity Game lineups are below:

Team Walton
Jimmie Allen (singer, songwriter)
Noah Carlock (Fanatics All-In Challenge Winner)
Brittney Elena (host, actress, athlete and model)
Machine Gun Kelly (singer, songwriter)
Dearica Hamby (Las Vegas Aces forward)
Nyjah Huston (Olympian, professional skateboarder)
Matt James (ABC’s The Bachelor)
Quavo (rapper, recording artist)
Ranveer Singh (actor)
Alex Toussaint (Peloton instructor)

Team Nique
Anuel AA (rapper)
Mayor Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland)
Kane Brown (singer, songwriter)
Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns defensive end)
Booby Gibson (Cleveland Cavaliers legend)
Tiffany Haddish (comedian, actress and author)
Jack Harlow (rapper, recording artist)
Crissa Jackson (Harlem Globetrotters player)
Anjali Ranadivé (singer, songwriter)
Gianmarco Tamberi (Olympic high jump champion)

Kid Cudi to Co-Headline This Year’s Governors Ball at New York’s Citi Field

Kid Cudi is the beau of the Ball

The 37-year-old half-Mexican American singer/rapper is set to co-headline the 2022 Governors Ball festival at Citi Field in Queens, New York.

Kid CudiKid Cudi will co-headline alongside J.Cole and Halsey at the festival, which will take place on June 10-12.

The event will also feature sets from Migos, Jack Harlow, Louis the Child, Black Pumas, Skepta, Beabadoobee, Flume, Roddy Ricch, YG, Tove Lo, Denzel Curry, Playboi Carti, Glass Animals, Kaytranada, Clairo, Becky G, Jazmine Sullivan, Japanese Breakfast, 100 Gecs and many more.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Thursday, January 27 at noon ET on the event’s website; a special presale for three-day and one-day passes and VIP tickets will open exclusively for Citi cardmembers from 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday (Jan. 25) through 11:59 a.m. ET on Thursday (Jan. 27).

In a release announcing this year’s event, promoters Founders Entertainment also said that they’ll be donating $25,000 to the New York City Mayor’s Fund for the victims of January’s devastating Bronx apartment building fire that killed 17 and injured dozens of others; attendees can also support the victims of the blaze by donation to the relief effort via The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

Other artists slated to perform at this year’s Governors Ball include JPEGMAFIA, Coi Leray, Channel Tres, Joji, Still Woozy, ASHNIKKO, Chelsea Cutler, Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Gus Dapperton, J.I.D, COIN, Soccer Mommy, Surf Curse, DUCKWRTH, Del Water Gap and more.

The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary in the fall with a show that featured headliners Post Malone, Billie Eilish and A$AP Rocky. As usual, the 2022 festival will feature a rich array of craft cocktails, beers, food, surprise pop-up performances and art installations.

Cardi B Earns Nine BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations

Cardi B is on Cloud Nine

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar leads the nominees for the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards, alongside Lil Durk, and Megan Thee Stallion, with nine nods each.

Cardi B

Cardi B is up for Hip Hop Artist of the Year, alongside Drake, J. Cole, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Tyler, the Creator.

Cardi B, nominated for Best Live Performer, Hustler of the Year and Beast Featured Verse for her appearance on Migos’ “Type Shit,” is also up for Best Collaboration, Song of the Year and Best Hip Hop Video for “WAP,” her chart-topping single with Megan Thee Stallion.

Meanwhile, her history-making chart-topping single “Up,” is nominated for Best Hip Hop Video and Song of the Year.

BIA, whose full name is Bianca Miquela Landrau, has earned two nominations this year.

The 30-year-old half-Afro Puerto Rican rapper/singer is up for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year alongside Nicki Minaj for “Whole Lotta Money (Remix).”

Xamã, the 31-year-old Brazilian musical artist who released the single “Câncer” with Luisa Sonza, is nominated for Best International Flow.

“Our 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards nominees span generations and are a representation of the talented individuals who elevate hip hop culture in creative and diverse ways,” said Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming & music strategy for BET, in a statement.

Nominees across 17 categories were selected by a voting body of music industry insiders.

The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards will be taped at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Friday, October 1 and will premiere on BET on Tuesday, October 5, at 9:00 pm ET/PT. The show will simulcast internationally on BET Africa on Wednesday, October 6 AT 3:00 am CAT.

Voting for DJ of the year and best hip hop platform is now open at VoteHipHopAwards.com.

Here’s the complete list of 2021 BET Hip Hop Award nominees:

Hip hop album of the year
A Gangsta’s Pain, Moneybagg Yo
Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator
Culture III, Migos
Good News, Megan Thee Stallion
Khaled Khaled, DJ Khaled
Savage Mode II, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
The Off-Season, J. Cole

Song of the year
“Back in Blood,” Produced by YC (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
“Late At Night,” Produced by Mustard (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Produced by G. Ry, Cardogotwings, Roget Chahayed & Yung Exclusive (Drake feat. Lil Durk)
“Up,” Produced by Yung DZA, Sean Island, DJ Swanqo (Cardi B)
“WAP,” Produced by Ayo & Keyz (Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
“Whole Lotta Money (Remix),” Produced By London Jae, Beatgodz, Tee Romano (Bia feat. Nicki Minaj)

Hip hop artist of the year
Cardi B
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Tyler, the Creator

Best hip hop video
Cardi B, “Up”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Saweetie feat. Doja Cat, “Best Friend”

Best new hip hop artist
Blxst
Coi Leray
Don Toliver
Morray
Pooh Shiesty
Yung Bleu

Best collaboration
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Feat. Drake, “Mr. Right Now”
Bia feat. Nicki Minaj, “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk, “Every Chance I Get”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk, “Back in Blood”

Best duo or group
21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Chris Brown & Young Thug
City Girls
Future & Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos

Best live performer
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
DaBaby
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion
Tyler, the Creator

Lyricist of the year
Benny the Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Nas

Best international flow
Ladipoe (Nigeria)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Xamã (Brazil)
Laylow (France)
Gazo (France)
Little Simz (UK)
Dave (UK)

Video director of the year
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott

DJ of the year
Chase B
D Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Scheme
Kaytranada

Producer of the year
DJ Khaled
Hit-Boy
Metro Boomin
Mustard
The Alchemist
Tyler, the Creator

Hustler of the year
Cardi B
Drake
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Yung Bleu

Best hip hop platform
Complex
Genius
Hip Hop DX
Hot New Hiphop
The Breakfast Club
The Shade Room
Worldstar Hiphop
XXL

Sweet 16: best featured verse
Cardi B, “Type Shit” (Migos feat. Cardi B)
Drake, “Havin’ Our Way” (Migos feat. Drake)
Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like” (Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z)
Lil Durk, “Back in Blood” (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
Megan The Stallion, “On Me (Remix)” (Lil Baby feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Roddy Ricch, “Lemonade (Remix)” (Internet Money feat. Don Toliver & Roddy Ricch)

Impact track
Black Thought , “Thought Vs Everybody”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Lil Baby & Kirk Franklin, “We Win”
Meek Mill Feat. Lil Durk, “Pain Away”
Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like”
Rapsody, “12 Problems”

Cardi B Reveals Pregnancy During BET Awards Performance

Cardi B is celebrating her latest pregnancy in the limelight…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar revealed her pregnancy at the 2021 BET Awards while performing with her husband Offset and Migos.

Cardi B

After the trio finished “Straightenin,” Cardi joined the group for “Type S—.” Appearing on stage in an embroidered Dolce & Gabbana bodysuit, a sheer panel in the abdomen exposed Cardi’s burgeoning belly. The ensemble included matching leggings and shoes.

https://twitter.com/BETAwards/status/1409307133938651140

Later, Cardi B shared two touching images of the couple as well as a mother-daughter moment between her and her nearly 3-year-old daughter Kulture.

“We listened to each other, communicated, prayed and then God blessed us and our family with another little blessing,” she wrote under a picture of Offset caressing her baby bump from behind in the couple shot. “Our home feels so blissful and very busy but we are ready and so happy!! Thank you soo much everyone for the congrats and well wishes.”

For her shoot with Kulture, Cardi pointed her fans to notice the Afro-Caribbean roots in their gowns and headdresses with gold jewelry, which also inspired her outfits in the music video for her 2018 banger “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin.

“I just know these two will love each other soo much and argue soo much since they’re 3 years apart…just like me and Henny,” she wrote under the photo of Kulture looking up at her mother while placing her tiny hand on Cardi’s bump. “But one thing for sure is they’ll have each other’s back like no one else ever will.”

And Cardi’s sister Hennessy Carolina, who’s three years younger than the Grammy-winning artist, can attest to that statement. “Being 3 years apart is the best! lol,” she commented on Instagram with a slew of heart eyes and heart emojis.

https://twitter.com/iamcardib/status/1409568208559001601

https://twitter.com/iamcardib/status/1409570830590283779

Cardi B to Perform at the VEWTOPIA Music Festival During Super Bowl Week

Cardi Bis headed to Miami for the Super Bowl festivities…

The 27-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar will perform at the VEWTOPIA Music Festival during Super Bowl week in Miami, VEW Live! has confirmed.

Cardi B

Cardi B joins a lineup that includes Chris BrownMigosDaBabyNicky JamDJ KhaledGunnaMegan Thee StallionBurna BoyRemaAlex SensationJeremihTy Dolla $ignKoffeeDaniLeighSatoriShenseeaAfro BKid CapriSquashSafaree and Kali Cass.

VEW Live! announced in December that the acts will make up the inaugural VEWTOPIA Music Festival, which takes place January 31-February 1 at Marlins Park.

Vewtopia

Super Bowl 54 will take place on February 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez will headline the halftime show.

Christina Aguilera to Contribute New Music to Animated “Addams Family” Movie Soundtrack

Christina Aguilera is joining the Family

The 38-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer will contribute original music to the upcoming animated Addams Family movie soundtrack, according to MGM

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera will perform “Haunted Heart,” which was written by Antonina Armato, Aguilera and Tim James. It was produced by Rock Mafia. “Haunted Heart” will be released later this month by RCA Recordsahead of the film’s debut. 

But Aguilera isn’t the only Latina appearing on the soundtrack…

Karol Gwill perform “My Family” alongside MigosRock Mafiaand Snoop Dogg. The song was written by Antonina ArmatoQuavious Keyate MarshallCarolina GiraldoDanny ParraTim JamesCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. and Vic Mizzy. It’s produced by Rock Mafia.

It’ll be the first Addams Family track to be released. The track is being released by MGM Records and distributed by 12 Tone Music

“Christina Aguilera, Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop Dogg are powerhouse talents,” said MGM Motion Picture Group president Jonathan Glickman said in a statement. “We could not have asked for a better lineup of global superstars to help audiences embrace the weird and celebrate the absurd with two brand-new songs that perfectly [complement] this fresh, fun take on MGM’s beloved franchise, just in time for Halloween.”

The first new song, a collaboration between Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop titled “My Family,” will be released on Friday, September 13. 

Featuring the voice talents of Oscar IsaacCharlize TheronChlöe Grace Moretz and Bette Midler, The Addams Familyis slated to hit theaters nationwide on October 11.

Maluma Sets Attendance Record at Morocco’s Mawazine Festival

Maluma is makin’ his mark in Morocco…

The 25-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter and rappermade history at the 18th annual Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco, reportedly setting an all-time attendance record.

Maluma

Over the weekend, Maluma shared an emotional video during his set, showing the massive audience screaming and waving lights. “You guys have to see this! More than 200,000 hearts beating together! Dreams do come true, I love you Rabat,” he expressed. 

Maluma, who was the headlining act at the festival’s closing night, apparently set the all-time attendance record with more than 220,000 people, according to a post by his manager Miguel Lua

Mawazine, which brings artists from all over the world as well as Moroccan musician, is the largest and most important music festival in Africa. 

This year, the festival ran from June 21 to June 29 and included artists like RosaliaJ BalvinKarol GMigos and Travis Scott in the lineup.