Seven months after breaking music and video records with her megahit single WAP, Cardi B has dropped the video for her new single Up.
In the Tani Muino visual, which was filmed over two days during Christmas break, Cardi celebrates the end of 2020. The headstone reads “RIP 2020.” The slick video sees the rapper in a number of sleek outfits and locations, joined by dancers.
Cardi raps about her sexual conquests, immense wealth, and other girls who simply can’t keep up with her. The video features quite a lot of saliva exchange despite there being a pandemic.
In a YouTube livestream before the video premiere, Cardi said she wanted the track to be more “hood” as her last one “too sexy.” “I wanted to do something more gangsta, more cocky.”
Cardi B’s video also features product placement from Jay Z’s champagne brand Armand de Brignac; as well as homage to TLC’s Lucy ‘Left Eye’ Lopez and an array of hip-hop references.
The catchy refrain, “If it’s up, then it’s up, then it’s up, then it’s stuck;” will very likely resonate in TikToks and Instagram Reels for months to come. The song and visuals will undoubtedly start a trendy dance or challenge on social media soon. The memes are already rolling in.
Up along with WAP will most likely appear on Cardi’s highly-anticipated sophomore album due sometime this year. It will be the follow-up to her 2018 debut, Invasion of Privacy. In 2020, she also teamed up with Blackpink for their song Bet You Wanna and appeared on Anitta’s Me Gusta.
