by How Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” Impacted Cardi B
Missy Elliott’s 2001 hit single “Get Ur Freak On” is an empowering anthem that has stood the test of time. Nearly two decades later, the song continues to inspire and connect with new generations of listeners, including up-and-coming rapper Cardi B. Though Cardi B has not explicitly mentioned “Get Ur Freak On” as an influence in interviews, there are clear parallels between the song’s themes and Cardi B’s own music and persona.
Missy Elliott’s Influence
Missy Elliott is a pioneer and icon in hip hop and R&B. As one of the first successful female rappers, Missy blazed a trail for artists like Cardi B to follow. Missy’s unique and boundary-pushing style, as well as her unapologetically feminine and sexy persona, made her a role model for young women aspiring to break into the male-dominated rap world.
Cardi B has cited numerous hip hop legends as influences, including Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Lauryn Hill, and Nicki Minaj. Though Cardi B has not specifically named “Get Ur Freak On” as an inspiration, Missy’s overall impact on Cardi B’s artistic journey is undeniable.
“Get Ur Freak On” Themes
The lyrics and themes of “Get Ur Freak On” – female empowerment, unabashed sexuality, and embracing one’s authentic self – clearly resonate with Cardi B’s own music and persona.
The song’s title and chorus encourage women to “get their freak on,” meaning to let loose, have fun, and express their sexuality without shame or inhibition. This message of embracing and celebrating one’s sexuality aligns perfectly with Cardi B’s own unapologetic approach to female sexuality in her music.
The lyrics are full of double entendres and innuendos that celebrate female desire and pleasure. Lines like “I’m feelin’ frisky and I want you to get it on” and “I wanna get it on ’til the break of dawn” convey Missy’s message of sexual empowerment for women. This dovetails with Cardi B’s own explicit and sex-positive lyrics that normalize and celebrate female sexuality.
Overall, “Get Ur Freak On” gave young women like Cardi B permission to embrace their authentic selves – quirks, desires, and all – and express that through their art without apology. This message of empowerment through self-acceptance no doubt resonated deeply with Cardi B as she found her own voice in the male-dominated rap world.
Impact on Cardi B’s Music
Though Cardi B’s music differs stylistically from Missy Elliott’s, the thematic connections between “Get Ur Freak On” and Cardi B’s songs are unmistakable. Cardi B’s breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” contains similar messages of female empowerment, sexual freedom, and embracing one’s authentic self – themes that can be traced back to Missy Elliott’s influence.
Cardi B’s unapologetic lyrics about sex, relationships, and money continue Missy Elliott’s legacy of using hip hop as a vehicle for self-expression and empowerment for women. While their sounds may differ, the through-line of empowerment connects Missy’s “Get Ur Freak On” directly to Cardi B’s own music and persona.
In summary, though Cardi B has not explicitly cited “Get Ur Freak On” as an inspiration, Missy Elliott’s impact on Cardi B’s artistic journey – through songs like “Get Ur Freak On” – is undeniable. The themes of female empowerment, sexual freedom and embracing one’s authentic self clearly resonated with Cardi B and shaped her own approach to music as an unapologetically feminine and sexy female rapper. Missy Elliott paved the way, and Cardi B is continuing the journey of empowerment through self-expression in hip hop.
