by Beyond the Surface: Finding Literary Connections in Cardi B’s Music
At first glance, Cardi B’s music may not seem overtly literary. Her lyrics are direct and unapologetic, tackling topics like sex, relationships, and money in a bold, unfiltered way. However, dismissing her work as lacking literary merit would be reductive. Upon deeper examination, there are meaningful connections between Cardi B’s artistry and broader themes in literature. While her music emerges from a different cultural context than traditional books, analyzing it through a literary lens can uncover unexpected depth and artistry.
Storytelling lies at the heart of both hip-hop and literature. As a genre, hip-hop has long embraced narrative as a means of conveying experiences. Artists craft vivid stories through their lyrics, transporting listeners to other worlds. Cardi B excels at this storytelling element. Songs like “Be Careful” paint a picture of infidelity and its consequences through descriptive details. Over the track’s minimalist beat, Cardi weaves an engrossing tale with lines like “You was fuckin’ on me, tell me it was real/Now you tryna get me back, but I can’t feel.” Her storytelling skills shine on tracks focused on specific relationships or events in her life.
Much like novels, short stories, and plays, Cardi B’s songs have a beginning, middle, and end, with plot points that unfold over the course of the track. “Be Careful” introduces the cheating scenario, builds tension as Cardi realizes what’s happened, then concludes with her decision to cut things off. Other songs paint even more vivid narratives, like “I Like It” which depicts a night out on the town. Through clever wordplay and imagery, Cardi transports listeners to the club alongside her as the events of the song play out. Her storytelling abilities show parallels to crafting compelling fictional narratives in literature as well.
Beyond surface-level stories, Cardi B’s music often comments on deeper social issues, another parallel to literary traditions. Genres like realism and naturalism emerged to shine a light on social problems and critique society. Similarly, many of Cardi’s songs tackle themes of social mobility, female empowerment, and the harsh realities of life for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. “Bodak Yellow” serves as a defiant anthem celebrating her rise from humble beginnings. Lines like “No, I don’t cook, I don’t clean/But let me tell you, I got this ring” push back on expectations of femininity while asserting her success and independence.
Songs like “Money” delve into the socioeconomic challenges Cardi faced growing up and how lavish displays of wealth now represent overcoming struggles. Her lyrics acknowledge the gritty realities many women experience, from unsafe working conditions to abusive relationships. In “Be Careful,” she warns other women about the dangers of infidelity. Through her music, Cardi comments on societal issues like these with candidness and conviction. She uses her platform to advocate for women and speak truth to power, directly continuing literary traditions of social critique.
Beyond overarching themes, analyzing Cardi B’s lyrics through a close reading reveals artful uses of figurative language as well. While her style favors directness over flowery prose, she still employs literary devices like metaphor, simile, and other figures of speech. On “WAP,” the metaphor “There’s some whores in this house/There’s some whores in this house” sets a provocative tone. On “Money,” Cardi compares money to an orgasm through the simile “Money keep comin’ and comin’/Money keep comin’ like I’m fucking.”
These purposeful comparisons add flavor, humor and emphasis to her lyrics. Wordplay also contributes to Cardi’s artistry, like on “I Like It” where she switches meanings of the title phrase. Literary techniques pop up subtly throughout her discography. Even the album title “Invasion of Privacy” plays on the metaphor of her fame feeling like an intrusion. While more subtle than some rappers, Cardi still utilizes figurative devices to enrich her storytelling and social commentary.
Beyond just her lyrics, examining Cardi B’s influences provides further context for literary connections. She has openly discussed reading celebrity biographies and autobiographies that inspired her. Autobiographical works represent a major literary genre, and reading them likely informed Cardi’s own autobiographical storytelling approach in her music. Her background also connects to literary traditions of using art as a means of social mobility. Like authors who rose from humble roots, Cardi’s music serves as a vehicle for social commentary on her experiences with poverty and adversity.
Additionally, hip-hop itself relies heavily on sampling and intertextuality. The genre was built upon creatively referencing and recontextualizing other works. By incorporating samples into her tracks, Cardi engages in a literary concept known as intertextuality – when one text references or is influenced by another. “WAP” samples Frank Ski’s “Whores in this House,” remixing the dialogue into a new context. Other songs reference famous speeches or television shows through samples. This intertextual aspect represents another link between hip-hop and literary analysis.
While Cardi B’s music comes from a different cultural space than traditional novels or poems, viewing it through the lens of literature can uncover hidden depths. Her storytelling prowess, social commentary, uses of figurative language, influences, and intertextuality all form meaningful connections to literary traditions. Dismissing hip-hop as lacking complexity ignores the artistry at play. By analyzing Cardi B’s work through this framework, listeners can gain new appreciation for the depth, craft, and care she brings to her lyrics. Beneath the surface of her bold persona lies thoughtful social critique and meticulously woven narratives. Approaching her discography with an open literary mindset reveals a richness that deserves recognition.
In conclusion, while Cardi B’s music emerges from hip-hop rather than traditional literature, meaningful parallels exist between her artistry and broader literary techniques and themes. Her skills in narrative, social commentary, wordplay, autobiographical influences and intertextuality all form linkages to established genres. Approaching music with an openness to analyzing it through various critical lenses, like literature, can uncover unexpected nuances. For Cardi B, viewing her work through this framework illuminates carefully crafted stories, thoughtful social awareness and artful uses of language beneath her unapologetic persona. A literary analysis brings new appreciation for the depth within mainstream hip-hop and challenges preconceptions of what forms art can take.
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