MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE: Cardi B's sophomore album, Am I The Drama?, was worth the seven year wait

If you’ve been online in the last few weeks, or eight years, you are well aware that Cardi B is the drama. Her sophomore album Am I The Drama? has dropped and it was worth the seven year wait. In what has to be one of the most genius marketing campaigns for an album in years, Cardi helped to revive the hype in support of her delayed album which had all but died only a few months ago, from the new singles, the constant headlines about her relationship with Stefon Diggs and of course, the trial. The trial which was aimed to take her down but actually did the complete opposite by giving her some of the best press she’s ever gotten and just in time for the album. In a recent interview, Cardi says “drama funnels me” and that she doesn’t chase the drama. But the drama without backup is empty so the music had to deliver. And, indeed, the music slaps.

Cardi may have released 12 separate stand-alone singles over the seven years she was “away”, but once “Outside” premiered in June, the rollout was kicked into high gear and there was no going back. The album itself is 23-songs deep and has a bit of a rocky start in the first few songs, before it finds its footing around track 6 and just hits non-stop track after track after that. Cardi has lived multiple lives since the release of her last album Invasion of Privacy back in 2018, and with so much pressure mounting over the years to follow it up with a big success, it seemed that she was never going to measure up. The fears of a sophomore slump are all but dead in the water since she’s already won. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on release day – easily a move by the label to ensure that any “sophomore slump” accusations be dead upon arrival. Well played. The album also earned a world record in the Guiness Book of World Records for “most deliveries by UAV drones in one hour” thanks to a partnership with Wal-Mart that had her album sent to homes across the USA. The album title is a question that I think most of her fans know the answer to, but it’s why we love her. Whether it’s her beefs with JT and Bia, or her constant drama with her ex Offset, Cardi acknowledges it all in the music and lays out some of her most impressive bars thus far in her career. Tickets to Cardi’s first-ever concerts, the Little Miss Drama tour, are selling fast, and she recently announced that she was pregnant with her fourth child. Cardi is a master at remaining in the headlines, but this will be the first time she takes her music and talent on the road. I know we’ll all be watching whether we want to or not, some of us will just be doing it from the stands at the local arena, ha!

Next week is a big one up in my world, as it’s the release of Mariah Carey’s 16th studio album Here For It All. Another seven year wait which seems insane looking back, given how much Mariah continues to give her fans even without a new album - the drought is finally over. Other big releases include Doja Cat and Olivia Dean so it’ll be a fun one. This week we got some music from Cardi B, Miley Cyrus. RAYE and Thundercat. Plus, Gwen Stefani gets a “sweet” viral hit.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“Bodega Baddie” by Cardi B

“Bodega Baddie” is Cardi fully embracing her Dominican heritage with the use of two iconic Spanish samples to make one fuego ass track. The song samples both “Ta Buena (Tipico)” by Magic Juan, and “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, the latter being the song that is often credited with bringing reggaeton into the mainstream musical conversation in the mid-2000s. The minute the song came on I had to get up and dance, and since Kelly Rowland specifically pointed this song out as a highlight during her Spotify interview with Cardi, I was ready for the jams. Even my Latina music experts/co-workers Laura and Esther let me know that this was a favourite. The minute you get the Latina stamp of approval you know you’ve created a banger. One of the more impressive feats on Cardi’s album is her clever use of samples throughout the project, elevating each song to the highest of its potential. This track in particular also has a perfect tie-in with her marketing strategy as she sold special edition physical copies of her vinyl at local New York bodegas as a way to both honour where she came from, and benefit from her fan base in those areas. She’s certainly done an incredible job selling this album with a guerilla-like marketing that capitalizes off the infectious personality that has helped make her a favourite with the public. This song just feels like a block party, someone please pass the Henny and Coke. I know that I’ll be dancing the night away with a drink in my hand when she performs this song during her upcoming arena tour in the spring.

“Pretty & Petty” by Cardi B

All my friends, including Lainey, were sending me separate lyrics from this song over the weekend as the level of savagery in Cardi’s raps is high. Cardi spent most of 2024 on the receiving end of a ton of hate from fellow female rappers (that are not Nicki Minaj, go figure!). Whether it be Bia’s viral flop of a diss track, or JT’s you know, everything… Cardi stayed silent for years since she already knew she won by simply being more iconic. Just in case that wasn’t enough for the haters though, she made sure to throw it down on this deliciously savage diss track, “Pretty and Petty”. Every line gets harsher and more cutthroat – whether it be Cardi referring to Bia as “Diarrhea Bia, breath so stank, you can smell her before you see her” or her no holds barred words for JT, “why you always at Diddy house? I heard they combed that lil kitty out”... yikes. Cardi may have taken the high road the first time around, but in a recent interview she mentioned that Bia had taken aim at her children and as any mother will tell you, children are off limits. Clearly she’s still the same Cardi B who was causing havoc on Love & Hip-Hop. Thank god for that, because Cardi is perfect the way she is and one of the crowning jewels of her persona is how unapologetically herself she is. Don’t try her, because she will come right around for you and bury you into the ground. If you ask me, she let the girls off easy because as far as Cardi is concerned, if she saved the insults for the music and not social media then she already is holding back lol.

“Children of the Baked Potato” by Thundercat, Remi Wolf

I love a funky track, it feels like the meeting of both the old and new school in a sonic form. Plus, it makes for sick music to spark a joint and light a candle to, and I’m all about the vibes. “Children of the Baked Potato” is about as unconventional of a song format as one could imagine with elements of funk, electronica, soul, rock and alternative all in one 4-minute package. The song was named after one of the most exclusive and legendary LA clubs “the baked potato” which in its peak was the go-to spot for musicians to show off their best talents. The song being about “the children” of said bar is a metaphor for the next generation of artists to come out of that time, artists who aren’t afraid to experiment with their sound and to disturb the peace. Adding Remi Wolf to the song gave it another layer to the already “out there” recording, pushing the idea of being the next generation of those great musicians. From the piano solo at the end, to the hard hitting drums at the heart of the track, in the words of Top Gun this song truly is the “best of the best”.

“Secrets” by Miley Cyrus feat. Lindsay Buckingham & Mick Fleetwood

This song first came into public knowledge when Billy Ray Cyrus posted a video of himself enjoying it, which he said was dedicated to him from his daughter. Cute as that might be, it’s the little fact that the song was by Miley featuring two of the members of Fleetwood Mac that made this significant, to me at least. After her latest album Something Beautiful underperformed commercially, it’s generally the rule of thumb to abandon the project and move on, but Miley’s dedication to the art she created is respectable, releasing this new track as a bonus for the deluxe edition of the same album. It may not have had as many commercial bops as her previous records, but it still is a solid body of work and Miley is at the stage of her career where she can take those risks – she’s already made her mark in music, now she can just be an artist. The song is 80s folk meets pop, and feels like a song that would’ve sounded great with Stevie Knicks’s vocals. Should Fleetwood Mac ever do a traditional reunion ever again, this song definitely needs to make an appearance on the set list. A Miley duet would suffice as well. One thing’s for sure, getting icons like Lindsay Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood to play on your song is telling to your own level of stardom, given that they rarely, if ever, record with any other artists. Miley’s relationship with her father has been a popular headline over the last few years, so knowing that this song was her peace offering to healing that broken relationship makes the listening experience that much more special for all of us.

“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” by RAYE

What else is there to say about RAYE other than whenever she decides to release new music, you can just about count on the fact that I will be streaming. The song is giving total Christina Aguilera “Ain’t No Other Man” vibes in the way that it turns classic Jazz and Big Band music into its own contemporary pop with a soulful edge. A part of me is almost angry that she didn’t duet this song with Christina, but I’ll save that one for my pop diva wish list. This new music serves as the first single from her as-of-yet untitled sophomore studio album which is set to release early next year, a release date that she will have to uphold given that she is heading out on the road early next year as well. RAYE blends her soulful voice with a sassy attitude, making for the perfect kiss-off type song. Still keeping true to her tradition of blending older styles of music into her sound, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” feels less like an Amy Winehouse imitation and more of the true RAYE. Something that has plagued her career up until this point are those very comparisons, so it’s exciting that she is carving out her own lane amidst all the noise. Besides, I understand the lyrics that she’s singing about because I too am out here in these streets asking that very question… “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”. Let me know if you find him babe.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani, Akon

I’m not quite sure what are the requirements are for a pop song to get a viral TikTok dance, perhaps it’s simply the luck of the draw. Either way, if that means my girl Gwen Stefani gets another moment in the sun then I can co-sign it. The now viral “Sweet Escape” dance was first posted by British dancing influencer Amie Mills back in July alongside a male dance partner with Jazz/Funk inspired dance moves with a commercial dance spin. The original choreography has since amassed 2.3 million likes and over 18 million views, with young girls and gays all over the world creating their own versions of the choreography to the Gwen Stefani classic. TikTok has become a leading vehicle for musicians to help launch their music careers, and the same can now be associated with the dance community. Just last week I featured the viral choreography from KATSEYE’s dance campaign as well, proving that the market for dancers is hotter than ever right now.

@amiemillss
sweet escape 🍭 this one is pure fun!!! jazz funk cutesy dreams🥹 dancing with the best @Neal Piron ⭐️ I teach every Friday @basedancestudios 🫂 #dancelondon #basedancestudios #dance #choreography #sweetescape #dancestudios #dancer #fyp
♬ original sound - amie mills

@ana_bensig
my favorite dance atm dc @amiemillss If you want to learn this dance, I have a step by step tutorial on my yt channel: Ana Bensig to guide you ;) #thesweetescape #thesweetescapedance #dancechallenge #dancetrend
♬ original sound - amie mills

@beginnerdancetutorials
Learn the trending “Sweet Escape” dance with this step-by-step tutorial 💃🏻 DC: @amiemillss #sweetescape #dancetrend #blythe #sororitydance #dancetutorial
♬ original sound - Beg. Dance Tutorials w/ Carrie

@haleyemma97
The #SweetEscape dance but on the sideline! #Cheer #SidelineCheer #JV #TiktokDance
♬ The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani ft. Akon

@tessabrooks
I LOVE THE RAINNNNN
♬ original sound - amie mills

Gwen is reaping some benefits to this dance craze as her song is now in the Top 25 of TikTok’s Viral 50 music chart, and has Gen Z’ers all over the world dancing to a song that was released when half of them weren’t even born yet. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in the early months of 2007, so there’s still room for it to finally earn its well-deserved #1 spot. Weirder things have happened on the Billboard charts, so I’m happy to be the one manifesting this. Music and dance help to bring people together and in a time as tense as the one we live in now, more unity is always welcome.

You can also check out my “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year.

With Love,