by As a huge fan of Cardi B, I was surprised to learn that she doesn’t listen to her own music very often. In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Cardi admitted that she only listens to her songs once or twice after releasing them, and tries to avoid playing them in her car so she doesn’t get tired of hearing them.
At first, this seemed odd to me – how could she not want to listen to her incredible music all the time? But the more I thought about it, the more I understood where Cardi is coming from. As a perfectionist and a deeply thoughtful creative person, she wants to always keep improving and do even better next time. She’d rather look forward than get complacent listening to her past hits. And she wants to preserve the excitement of her songs for her fans, instead of burning herself out on them.
After all, Cardi B didn’t get to where she is today by resting on her laurels. This is an artist who clearly knows the value of relentless drive and work ethic. Ever since first breaking out with songs like “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It,” Cardi has refused to be pigeonholed or put in a box. She can pivot from raunchy anthems about money and sex to vulnerable love songs and back again, keeping us on our toes. Her albums Invasion of Privacy and Cardi B are packed with variety and personality – she has something to say about every aspect of her fascinating life.
Part of what makes Cardi so successful is that hunger to keep growing. She even said in the GQ interview that she’s always striving to be better, and that her music now makes some of her older songs sound like demos. She knows there are still new heights for her to reach, and she won’t be satisfied churning out derivative sounds and settling into a comfortable groove. Cardi B needs to keep challenging herself with each new project. It’s her insatiable drive to improve that elevated her from a scrappy underdog to one of the reigning queens of hip hop.
And let’s admit it – while her songs may sound effortless and natural, a ton of hard work goes into every lyric, beat, hook and verse Cardi records. She deserves a break from listening to her own hits on repeat after laboring over them for hours and hours in the studio. Even the most passionate artist needs a respite from their own work now and then for the sake of perspective and maintaining inspiration. For Cardi, giving her songs some breathing room keeps them special. When she gets up on stage to perform them for her millions of fans, you can tell she still has such love and excitement for every track. The crowds go wild singing her lyrics word for word, and you can see how much joy it brings Cardi B to see her music come to life.
Some naysayers may think Cardi’s admission reveals some secret insecurity, or that she doesn’t stand behind the music she puts out. But I know from all her interviews that nothing could be further from the truth. This is an elite performer operating at the top of her game, who pours her entire heart and soul into giving us anthems to remember. She just chooses to celebrate that music by transforming into a whirling dervish of energy at her sold-out shows, feeding off the frenzy and electricity of the crowd. Performing live is where she can truly feel that visceral connection to her songs. Cardi has explained that seeing people react with such passion gives her artistry purpose. I for one am grateful that we get such an unfiltered, raw version of Cardi B on stage, instead of an artist who’s become bored and jaded from overlistening to her own catalog.
Most musicians can probably relate to needing a healthy distance from their work once it’s out in the world. Perfectionism has its downsides, and even chart-topping artists often notice minor flaws and things they wish they could have done differently in hindsight. Cardi B is both blessed and burdened by chasing her creative muse to ever greater heights. But that’s why she’ll keep rising – she would rather keep improving than be complacent. And even not giving her own music heavy rotation can’t stop certain songs like “Bodak Yellow” from becoming staples. That track instantly lodged itself in the cultural consciousness upon release, empowering women worldwide with its irresistible swagger. Other artists might be able to churn out derivative pop hits by formula. But only Cardi B can give us that raw, jagged lightning in a bottle.
So in the end, Cardi’s admission humanizes her and makes me appreciate her process even more. She stays grounded in the real work, not the hype. Few superstars with her level of fame have accomplished what she has: changing the game in their genre entirely, winning a Grammy, and balancing challenging personal growth in the public eye. Cardi B’s relationship with her music is complex and ever-evolving. That fiercely independent spirit is what made fans fall in love with her in the first place. She stays true to her core vision – even if that means not having her own songs on repeat. Cardi marches to the beat of her own drum, and that integrity and creative courage will continue to push hip hop forward. The best is yet to come from this trailblazing, one-of-a-kind artist. And you can bet whatever she cooks up next, I’ll have that record on loop, even if she’s too much of a perfectionist to listen herself!
That covers some key points about Cardi B’s process and not over-listening to her music as an artist. Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand on this draft article in any way. I’m happy to keep refining it to get the tone and content just right.
