Cardi B: ‘People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school’

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I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to read Cardi B’s New York Magazine cover profile, but I came away from it having a lot of respect for her. She’s a funny, strange woman and she does “deserve” to be famous. Cardi’s “Bodak Yellow” famously dethroned Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” from the #1 position on the charts, and in doing so, Cardi became the first female solo rap act to hit #1 since Lauryn Hill. Taylor Swift graciously sent flowers to Cardi when that happened. Anyway, you can read the New York piece here. Cardi is hilarious. Some highlights:

She just met Jennifer Lopez: “I just kept acting like a fucking weirdo, but I think she understands. Man, I met Beyoncé, too. Who else I gonna meet? Jesus?”

She worries about her future: “They keep saying, like, ‘You got this,’ ‘You’re the one.’ Sometimes I get a little discouraged, and I wonder how it is going to be next year, but it seems like everybody already predicting where I’m gonna be next year, and it’s just like f–king farther than my a–hole.”

She bought some big-ticket items when “Bodak Yellow” became #1: Cardi bought herself a $240,000 burnt-orange Bentley SUV, even though she doesn’t drive, because it’s what rappers should have. She bought herself a Patek Philippe watch, too, but somewhere on the road from a party-hosting gig in Philly, it went missing. She says losing it made her feel like she “just got f–ked in the heart. Without a condom. Without lubricant. With a yeast infection.”

She wants to get a nose job next: “God makes everybody perfect, but sometimes He f–ks up,” Cardi says, and later asks one of her publicists for three weeks off in December so she can take care of it in a more permanent way.

She wants everybody to wear red to her wedding: “The world is not ready for it. Everybody got to be wearing red.” (There’s a persistent rumor that Cardi was, or maybe is, a member of the Bloods, one that’s fueled by her predilection for the color red and for adding B to words that don’t begin with B. Then, of course, there are the “Bodak Yellow” lyrics — “These is red bottoms, these is bloody shoes” — which could either refer to Christian Louboutin heels or be a more coded reference.) “And my bridesmaids are gonna be wearing suits, what’s good.”

She loved stripping at the New York Dolls Gentlemen’s Club.
“I get really happy when people see me perform and they’re rapping my music, but it’s a different feeling when you’re dancing and the men throwing you money because you look good. It’s just like when the rice is getting thrown at the bride…That sh-t really make you feel powerful. It’s the power of the p-ssy. It’s just like you’ve got to finesse it.”

On feminism: Cardi resists labels like “feminist” because she doesn’t feel like it applies to her. “You know what? I’m not even gonna consider myself nothing,” she says, her finger pointed at the ceiling, in sermon. “Here’s the thing that bitches got me f–ked up when it comes to that word. People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school. They wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady. That’s not being a feminist. Being a feminist is being equal to do what a man do. N-ggas hustle, and I hustle n-ggas.”

[From New York Magazine]

“People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school” is one of my favorite quotes of the week, quite honestly. But it’s clear that she understands feminism and has feminist principles and IS a feminist, she’s just not giving herself the feminist label. As for the rest of it… Cardi’s spending habits are already giving me anxiety. Don’t buy orange Bentleys if you can’t even drive, girl! And when you buy a Patek Philippe watch, get it insured! My God.

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Cover courtesy of New York Magazine, additional photo courtesy of WENN.

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167 Responses to “Cardi B: ‘People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school’”

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  1. queenE says:

    burnt orange Bentley

    ugh

    • blacksheep says:

      I know right?! Out of all colors??

    • Kitten says:

      It’s such a hideous car, too. $240,000 could get you something beautiful smdh.

      • Minx says:

        If that’s her preference why not? The huge question is .. “Does Kadi know what feminism is.. Or is she just dropping it into interviews to genarate press?”

    • Ripley says:

      I live in Qatar (richest country per capita in the world) and it’s physically painful what people do to gorgeous cars. There’s a pepto Bismo pink, two toned Rolls Royce I see every day and a lime green Maserati. It hurts my eyes and my heart… I’m not even a car person.

      • Deering says:

        Ow—lime green!?! Bleahhh…

      • mondays says:

        not trying to derail, but doesn’t the government of Qatar filter and block internet content? never thought celebitchy would be available

      • magnoliarose says:

        MIA did a video showcasing the cars and WOW!

      • Liberty says:

        @mondays, there is a huge media corporation where I sometimes do projects in the US, and they block this site too, as adult content — but you can access TMZ and others. I think it’s the name.

    • Iknowwhatboyslike says:

      One of the moms at my kids’ school drives a burnt orange Bentley SUV. It’s one of the most tasteless things to see in person. I judge her every time I drive past in my Camry.

    • Arwen says:

      I love burnt orange! I will stick up for that color all day long! 🙂 I’m not sure about it being on a Bentley though…

  2. i don't know her says:

    LOVE HER.

  3. Nicole says:

    One of the biggest surprise successes of LAHH and I’m super pleased about it. She does need a financial adviser who will have her spend money wisely. However I’m glad for her success. She’s hilarious.
    The one thing I don’t like is when she used a racist trope she didn’t want to apologize. So that wasn’t cool. So I’m less of a fan than I was months ago but I’m glad to see her make it

    • HH says:

      I watched her season too. I’m happy that she made it this far. However, her purchases make me nervous. I’m also nervous about the plastic surgery. While she’s honest about stripping making her feel powerful, it’s power derived from the male gaze and that can go left.

      • Nicole says:

        True but Cardi has always been upfront about playing men that watch her strip. Many strippers feel this way. I agree with your other points

      • SK says:

        I think her nose suits her face and I don’t think she’d look better after a nose job.

        Iggy Azalea looks so weird after all her cosmetic surgery IMO

  4. happyoften says:

    I’m still processing.

    • Sullivan says:

      Me, too. She seems to have a lot of fans on Celebitchy and that tempers my gut reaction to this interview.

      • V4Real says:

        Oh she’s dumb as a box of rocks. I don’t think she’s going to last long. That song is catchy, I hate it and she can’t rap.

        I did think her header pic was Nicki M. at first

      • Redgrl says:

        @sullivan – yep. No idea who she is. But I’m damn glad to be a bitch that went to school when I read those interview quotes…
        Edit – @hadtochangemyname (below) – well put!

      • Artemis says:

        @V4Real:

        She’s comic relief to people in a landscape of seriousness (at the moment). Easy to process and discard when you’ve been entertained. On to the next one. You can laugh at her without having to analyse every little move as she’s showing you exactly what she is. It’s a fun way for people to connect to popculture without feeling guilty too as everybody knows the song. She’s not trying to be anybody so people will not try to make her into something. People only like her because they don’t think that much of her in the first place and interviews like this highlight this. What can you really say about her?

        In the end if you look at her critically, it’s like HadToChangeMyName says: everything that’s wrong with rapculture.

        And you’re right she’s not going to last long, she’ll be broke and forgotten. Anybody who thinks she can last long when more business-oriented people have gone broke must be joking. She’s like the most superficial black social media memes and quotes combined in one song, people never take that seriously anyway.

      • Erinn says:

        I honestly can’t believe how positive the reaction to all of this is. Women have been ripped up for saying that they don’t want to be called a feminist. This girl is literally saying she refuses to be called a feminist because everyone thinks they’re a bunch of uptight bitches who went to school – and even though she claims to know that that’s not feminism – she still refuses the label!?

        Girl – you’re not a feminist. You’re a vapid moron who can barely even articulate your thoughts in a coherent way. She keeps skipping over so many words that I have to re-read her explanations of things.

        HOW is anyone coming away from this dumpster fire of an interview with respect for this girl? I’m seriously wondering – because SO many other young actresses/musicians/models can say things HALF this stupid and still get destroyed over it.

      • Artemis says:

        @Erinn:

        Because she’s a joke to people. It’s quite belittling actually but you know Cardi allows it, that’s how she’s making all this money. No empowerment from her or her audience but don’t tell them that.

      • jess1632 says:

        ummm everyone in this thread sounds totally disrespectful and rude. She makes music to dance to, she enjoys her life, the success of it and she is unashamed. Stop trying to shame her saying she’s to street or doesn’t conform to your style of speaking and enunciating her words. loosen up gals and let her enjoy her success however she chooses

      • Otaku Fairy says:

        @Erin: There’s a difference between what she’s saying about feminism and what some of those other famous women have said about it. She’s saying that although she rejects the label because in too many people’s minds it’s a label that excludes women like her (which is 100% true- often aggressively so), she does agree that all women and men should have equal rights and freedoms. Sometimes other starlets say things like “I’m not a feminist because I’m a humanist” or “I like men” or “I’m a girly girl.” Those statements show a lack of understanding about feminism (and humanism). It’s frustrating when famous women say things like that, but I’m not someone who gets outraged with famous women for it because it’s not like those misunderstandings haven’t been put out there both by both sides.
        Cardi B at least has a basic understanding of feminism and agrees with it, but isn’t going to insert herself into a political movement where she has good reason to feel she isn’t wanted.

      • Erinn says:

        “Stop trying to shame her saying she’s to street or doesn’t conform to your style of speaking and enunciating her words”

        Not shaming her for her the way she enunciates – because I am reading what was written, not listening to it. I don’t care if she wants to use slang, I don’t care how she pronounces things, and I’m not saying she’s “too street”. Skipping full words that connect what you’re saying isn’t doing anything to get your point across. I don’t care if she turns everything into contractions or blurs one word into the next as she speaks… but the fact stands – I had to re-read sections because I genuinely had no idea what she was saying.

        Otaku Fairy

        I almost find it worse that she DOES seem to have an understanding of what feminism is and yet still rejects the word. Not only does she reject the word – but she continues the stereotyping and mocking of what so many people think of it. I really think that’s ridiculous. If you understand what it is – and what it aims to do – and are still refusing to call yourself one – maybe you don’t quite understand it? I’m not sure that what she said is any better than “oh, no, I’m a humanist”. She’s promoting that stereotyping instead of taking the actual term and saying “suck it – I’m ALSO a feminist – feminists can look however we want”. I think that would have been a lot more empowering than what she did here. She still seems to be afraid to associate with the word and I don’t think it’s solely because she doesn’t think she’d be accepted by feminists – I think it’s stemming from fear of alienating her fan base.

      • InVain says:

        @Erinn – I had the same reaction to her lack of words… I had to reread several of her quotes to make sure I was connecting them properly.

      • THE OG BB says:

        Not defending Cardi eschewing the label of feminist, however a lot of ladies who do call themselves feminist (here and elsewhere) are very judgmental on ladies who didn’t go to school, are housewives, stay at home moms, PTA mom types, women who are either super modest or are overtly sexual etc. I will still call myself a feminist as a stay at home mom and former teacher (also seen as a lower kind of job for women) but yes I get where Cardi comes from on this. She sees it as those type of women look down on her.

      • magnoliarose says:

        CardiB is a feminist who has been left out of the conversation. Feminism has done an abysmal job empowering black women and especially women like CardiB. I believe in inclusive feminism and shared experience.

        I would love to have her for a talk about feminism on a panel with other women for a brutally honest conversation.

        Why would she feel included? It can seem like a group of highly articulate educated women only but not for groups of women who come from the street or rural communities. Many of them are already feminist but have no understanding of what it means and no support.

      • Trashaddict says:

        If feminism is coming from a place of equality and she says when she strips that she’s “hustlin’ n****s”, doesn’t that just play into the concept of human beings manipulating each other, playing for power? So they’re not really interested in her for who she is and she’s not interested in them for who they really are (which I hope is where equality is built). I’m guessing she would interpret this really differently than me, and I would be interested to hear people think she views it.
        At least she’s up front. I would wish her some success and survival just for being straight up.

    • HadToChangeMyName says:

      I’m done processing. She’s everything that’s wrong with rap culture. Vapid consumerism, forced urbanism/ebonics, glorification of gangs and gang violence and faux empowerment (while giving in to the male gaze and societal “standards” of beauty, like getting rid of an ethnic nose). I’m done with her. Won’t give her a cent for her crappy music (not because it’s rap, but because she can’t rap).

      • Aren says:

        @HadToChangeMyName, thanks for putting it so clearly.
        I think she’s given too much credit, and is not as unique or as smart as people think she is.

      • Hella says:

        Agreed – I don’t know her music, but this interview was hideous – changing her nose (saying a large nose is God f@king up?!), mocking people who went to school?!?!?! What a pig.

      • Wren says:

        Yes. I’ve never had much time for gangsta culture and she’s just another reason why.

      • annaloo. says:

        Thank you. I agree. When is financial planning going to become part of the empowerment of people whose stories are about how they came into their own? Sheer materialism is the downfall of many celebrities- I’m tired of seeing stories of bankruptcy

        Cold hard cash means nothing if you are a fool with money.

      • Scotchy says:

        I agree, I do not get this and it makes me so very sad that people buy into this nonsense. Music is seriously an endangered species. Sad face…anyhoo
        @HadtoChangeMyName you have so beautifully written exactly how I feel!!

      • amilu says:

        I’m with you. Nothing in that interview endeared her to me, and I thought her single was truly awful.

    • broodytrudy says:

      She doesn’t sound like anyone I’m interested in hearing more from, that’s for sure.

    • Wren says:

      Ok, good. I was afraid for a moment that I was the only one who found her distasteful.

    • Yezzz says:

      Yeah. This bitch is from the barrio and I WENT TO SCHOOL for my children to see an educated woman who avoided an objectification careeer. Sexy is fine, but sex industry vocation? I don’t care who’s a fan, and grrrl, lost watches and Useless vehicles that cost the price of Food on a decimated island? Yawn. Sit. Down.

      • Katie says:

        Wow, reading through all of these comments just makes me sad. All of us educated, thoughtful, and understanding women should really take the time to read up on a situation before we box it in with our judgements and self-righteousness. Cardi’s backstory and how she got into stripping is horrendous. None of us making these comments can understand where she’s coming from and what she’s been through. I enjoyed the interview (and no, not in a way of making a joke out of her) and I was pleased with CB’s take on it and willingness to write about it, but after reading the comments, I’m sad.

  5. COSquared says:

    At least she’s upfront about her surgeries. Unlike some who pretend certain body parts enlarged randomly.

  6. Rose says:

    There’s nothing wrong with her nose 🙁

    • Amy Tennant says:

      I agree. Of course, it’s her nose, and I guess she feels differently.

    • African Sun says:

      Ugh I have no idea why she wants to tweak her nose, it is absolutely fine.

      Iggy tweaked her nose, started flopping
      Lil Kim tweaked her nose, started flopping

      • magnoliarose says:

        Lil Kim used to be very pretty and then she went too far. She didn’t need surgery in the first place. Her talent spoke for itself.

  7. Slowsnow says:

    She sounds like a 90´s rap culture commodity and not the genius rapper she is. Such a shame. Love her music but can’t get behind the empty consumerism and the empowerment with money being thrown at you while you undress.

  8. tifzlan says:

    “They wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady. That’s not being a feminist.”

    Um… ok… i just don’t get her hype tbh.

  9. Lucy says:

    Haven’t heard her song, but she’s funny indeed! I liked this interview (+1 on the spending habits, though. Take care of yourself, Cardi!!)

  10. Isabel says:

    This is one of the most superficial thing I have read this week. She might be a feminist but she also sounds stupid and immature.

  11. Ploptu says:

    Why is it so cool to sound so inarticulate? I would be embarrassed if I sounded like that.

    • third ginger says:

      Yes. That bothers me, part of why I say below I did not understand the interview.

    • HadToChangeMyName says:

      And it sounds so forced. Like, look how cool and “down” I am. Puhleeze.

    • Wowza says:

      That’s what she actually talks like. She was raised in the hood and isn’t ashamed of it. She doesn’t need to conform to mainstream English now that she’s made it out of the hood — she likes the way she talks and it’s made her very successful, so what’s the problem here.

      • V4Real says:

        I know plenty of women from the hood and they don’t all talk like that. No one is asking her to conform but she could at least learn how to put a complete sentence together. Her choosing to remain in ignorance is not a good look. That’s the problem here. I hope no young girl growing up in the hood think it’s ok to talk like you’re an idiot.

      • Wowza says:

        I don’t know what hood you live in, but I live in NYC in the hood, and yes, people talk like that, and it doesn’t mean they’re stupid. Question your stereotypes.

      • V4Real says:

        Born in N.Y., Bronx baby so get out of here with what you thought was your gotcha moment.

        You’re the one stereotyping Black women because of where they live. Shame on you.

  12. Beth says:

    If she doesn’t even drive, why did she waste all that money on a car? There’s much more important things she could have use that money for. Irresponsible

  13. manda says:

    She seems really funny and pretty interesting from the few things I’ve read. I’m old, so literally just heard of her last week. I listened to her song, and not really sure why it’s so popular, but ok. Hopefully, she’ll stick around.

  14. Laur says:

    Wow that’s a grating interview to say the least…

  15. lala says:

    she likes to constantly cloak herself in fur – a big nope from me.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Fur always tempers my feelings about a celebrity. There is always as an asterisk, and I won’t buy their products or spend money on them. Gossip is harmless, but I won’t help them add to their animal cruelty collection.

    • Kitten says:

      Ewwwwwww

    • AsIf says:

      me too!! had to drop Ariana Grande recently because of her huge fur jacket. Mrs Oh-I-care-so-much-about-animals-did-I-mention-I-was-vegan??? Who would’ve thought? Like you have so much money, so many assistants, you’re going to be able to find a perfect faux option

  16. sr says:

    I think it’s about as feminist to criticise women for wearing long skirts as it is to criticise them for wearing short skirts.

    • Hella says:

      100% agree

    • Otaku Fairy says:

      It’s not really a criticism of women who wear long skirts. It’s a (pretty accurate) criticism of some of the things women are expected to be before they can label themselves as feminists.

      • THE OG BB says:

        We are on the same page about this. I think the fact that so many people find her “inarticulate and trashy” proves her point.

    • matahari says:

      yes! this. don’t dislike her, don’t like her…don’t care to hear anything more she has to say though. Shallow ass interview

  17. third ginger says:

    As one of the bitches who went to school, I can’t pretend to understand this interview.

    • slowsnow says:

      Ahhahhha I had the same gut reaction. And I also wear long skirts and don’t like to do strip-tease.
      Now seriously, she is a sort of textbook female rapper/entretainer in what she says. Playing by the Nikki Minaj playbook if you will. All the tropes are there: fast expensive cars, empowerment throught “sexily” teasing males, swearing, talking about her pu**y (dick), the N word.
      She is talented and grounbreaking only inasmuch as the rap industry is full of men but no women. She broke through in the industry so I suspect that’s why she’s getting more of a free pass here in CB than she should.
      But I’m guilty of listening to some of her music and other rappers that I love although I can’t get behind the lyrics and culture myself…

  18. littlemissnaughty says:

    I had a hard time following some of her sentence structure but she seems fun and entertaining. I don’t know about that Bentley though. Girl, have someone you trust keep an eye on your money if you can’t.

    The only thing that irks me is her “People think that” feminist statement. Who thinks that? Possibly the men around you? I understand why minority women have issues with the term and the movement but are we ever going to overcome that dumb Birkenstock stereotype? It’s just so outdated.

  19. Diana says:

    I effing LOVE her!!!! Get it Girl!!!

  20. Amy Tennant says:

    That “F–ked in the heart” bit cracked me up. Poor girl. I hate that happened to her, but dang, that was funny.

  21. Nikzilla says:

    Enjoyed the interview. You need to read it through the lens of someone that grew up in the ‘hood. I mean the REAL hood. Just because people haven’t been formally educated doesn’t mean they aren’t smart. Also, please don’t get a nose job, Cardi! You look good the way you are now.

    • HadToChangeMyName says:

      Yeah, no. I grew up in the “real” hood and it annoys me even more because of it. The glorification of stripping and violence (as if they are the only choices out there) along with the vilification of education are really problematic for me. She gets no pass because she’s from the ‘hood.

      • Otaku Fairy says:

        She glorifies stripping just as much as Channing Tatum does, and yet liberals and feminists have no problem with him. He’s even described the experience as empowering without getting any criticism for it.
        I’m not bothered by her description of her own experience.

      • SilverUnicorn says:

        Another from ‘hood here, took me about a century to get a higher education and I made it in my 40ies.

        I really dislike people with a disadvantaged background making it appear as there are no other choices but stripping or violence.
        By the way, I did pole dancing in my early twenties, I still graduated and I am proud to be called a feminist.

        She’s coming across as very vapid and superficial.

        P.s. and people giving her a pass for bad enunciation? Honestly, if she was a migrant she would have been crucified.

      • bikki says:

        nothing wrong with stripping if that’s what they chose to do. you do you boo, let other people swim in their lanes.

    • Artemis says:

      Yeah no. Rappers have a way with words, they’re like walking dictionaries. They can speak in ebonics, it doesn’t mean they don’t have an extensive vocabulary. Many famous rappers (e.g. Jay Z) came from the hood, dropped out of school and were living the raw hood life and he does not speak like Cardi. And that’s in a time where it wasn’t that easy to access educational material yet he knew how to sell himself and make a business real quick. Cardi is clearly appealing to the social media crowd with social media values (everything surface, short-term and materialistic). This is why I don’t consider her a rapper, her flow is bad and it’s a bunch of empty sentences. She’s not saying anything in this interview either.

      • HadToChangeMyName says:

        Artemis – Yup! Listen to Nas. KRS One. Tupac. All of them were from the ‘hood and were beyond articulate. They all had great flow. They didn’t speak like ignoramuses.

      • slowsnow says:

        @Artemis and @HadToChangeMyName, completely agree. Rappers have an impressive vocabulary albeit not an academic one and thet know their way around rythms and pace.
        I wouldn’t give her a hard time if she wasn’t spewing so many stupid ideas such as long-skirted feminists and slightly implying that education is a sort of invention of concepts that are not interesting.
        She needs a long talk with Stormzy IMO.

      • Artemis says:

        Tupac was a damn poet! Same with Nas. Jay’s last album was better because it showed his feelings about his family and his failure as a husband and father (although he’s still cancelled in my eyes 🙂 ). I can’t with people clearly glorying gang/hood culture in the most stereotypical way and Cardi represents that for them. It’s perfect for them to enjoy and laugh with the most common type of rap as they don’t have to think but good rappers make effin’ poetry that makes you think not this Cardi crap.

        Rappers behind all their showing off are still real people and real rap represents their humanity and self-reflection, not their materialism or gang glorification. Tupac’s ‘Mama’ lyrics make me cry, that’s self-awareness and real emotions from a man (even though I know he was far from perfect). Rap is often very vulnerable, it deals with the harshest things in life, a life that most people will never know (including me but I appreciate the artistry and vulnerability). I don’t like contemporary rap as much but Kendrick would be closer to poetry than a lot of them out there now and he was a straight A student! His family was connected to the Bloods too but man has a whole repertoire of songs dealing with different life issues (alcoholism for one). Obvious commercial rap like Cardi’s is not indicative of true good rap, it’s a mockery of it.

        ETA: about Stormzy, he’s great and I appreciated him talking about his depression. So unexpected and beautiful. Man also has his flaws but I respect that openness about a serious topic that’s still stigmatised.

      • slowsnow says:

        @Artemis, I am not as critical of her rap as you are. I love Rae Shremurd and I think she has that new, lingering way of talking/rapping that they also do. I don’t know much about them, just that they were in the streets. Stormzy was piss poor but was also a straight A student. Legend has it he was offered a place in Oxford that he declined. Yes, talking about a tough life that involved crime at some point (at least for your friends and/or family) is of course natural when rap is about one’s life and one’s struggles. Then wealth comes and you talk about how you succeeded – that’s the bit that looses me a little with some rappers because succeeding does not equal money only but well! So gang culture being promoted I’m against too but I understand if crime is mentioned and discussed in some instances. However I really struggle with the wealth flashing and brand dropping, knowing of all the kids they “leave behind” in a way. It’s Jenny from the block reversed and it’s as bad for me.

      • Wren says:

        I’m not a huge fan of rap but what I do enjoy are big words, deep thoughts, and poetic reflection. The rappers who can do this I adore. I just hate the thug life mentality, glorification of violence, and exploitation of women that is so rampant.

      • detritus says:

        https://pudding.cool/2017/02/vocabulary/
        always relevant.
        Some rappers use more unique words than shakespeare, including wu-tang as a whole and most members.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Oh my I found my fellow hip hoppers.
        KRS one, Tribe Called Quest, Nas, MC Lyte, Lupe Fiasco, Tupac, Heather B and I could go on. De La Soul. The poetry is underrated. It surprises people how much I love hip-hop. WuTang don’t even.

  22. EOA says:

    I really dislike the juxtaposition she’s doing here, suggesting that going to school or having an education makes you someone who can’t be attractive. That, to me, does not fit the definition of feminism. Everything else she said about it was fine.

  23. Tess says:

    Aw, her nose is fine, she looks like her mom, and if she changes it well….sigh

  24. Artemis says:

    Of course people are gassing her up. That’s Hollywood. It’s no different than having that false sense of power that comes from stripping only now more people want to see you and touch you and you make more money. They always say you’re the next big thing before they throw you under the bus for the next big (younger) thing. If she doesn’t have a goal for herself, she’ll be finished soon enough. It’s too soon to call her the next big thing, 1 hitsong can be a fluke, let’s see if she survives one album at the very least. The problem is also, there’s a lot of Cardis out there. Social media is overflowing with Cardis.

    Her spending is indicative for how her fame trajectory will go. Instant gratification is indicative of the type of famous person/personality she’s going evolve in. P Diddy can afford to drape himself in luxury, man did his time and hustling, he’s got a steady cashflow and a real business. Music never makes as much money as people try to claim, it’s why so many people attach their names to brands. That’s where the money is. So for her to be spending this big and being reckless with it after only 1 hitsong. Girl please, you’re no hustler. Hustlers are smart, you is not.

    The gang-reference: yikes. I’m never about rappers glorifying gang (activity). It’s so ‘edgy’ for some people and I don’t get how or why. Anything to do with pain and murder and I’m out tbh.

    I cannot even deal with her other comments. I’ll take Blac Chyna’s hustling stripper ass over hers.

  25. magnoliarose says:

    Cardi B is not my favorite, but I do like how she challenges comfort levels and provokes conflicting responses. I don’t find her original or particularly talented, but she is unapologetic and hilarious.
    I am a hip-hop fan and have been forever, so I am not precious about lyrics, but I dislike this style.

    If she is a gang member, then shame on the music industry for promoting her. I hope not.

    • Kitten says:

      “I do like how she challenges comfort levels and provokes conflicting responses.”

      Both Minaj and Amber Rose do this and they do it far better IMO.

      And yes we must be old because I feel the same way as you do about hip hop these days.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Agreed. Minaj is better at it and more authentic. I think she will be a one hit wonder and forgotten.

        We need get out our canes and shawls for the aged. lol

  26. Miss Kittles says:

    She’s so damn dumb it hurts! I had to read that title 3 times to understand it. I have to get an education to succeed but this clown just pops her puss & becomes a millionaire. Its extremely frustrating. I didn’t realize being a damn idiot was so lucrative.

  27. JA says:

    Nah. Nope. No thank you. Everything about her as you wrote shows how everything she does she does to be famous. No substance, no depth. Buying a outrageous car in an ugly color when you don’t even know how to drive? Girl, BYE! She will be broke before the next hustla female rapper comes on the scene and is the next best thing… wash, rinse, repeat. I’ll pass on watching her cycle.

  28. idontknowyouyoudontknowme says:

    I can’t believe she is the first to break number 1 since Lauryn Hill.. who is far superior as a singer, rapper and overall artist. She is a one-hit wonder, a walking talking cliché who could only have succeeded in today’s social media environment, and I hate her weak flow and annoying as hell song. :/

  29. Leslie says:

    So when other women refuse to label themselves a feminist, it’s a problem and how dare she. But when this person does it, it’s fine?

  30. Caty Page says:

    How is she ‘inarticulate’ and when does she imply education is not an asset? She states the problem many women of color have with ‘feminism’- the movement historically hasn’t been inclusive of women who aren’t middle to upper class, educated, white, English-speaking documented citizens. Many people see feminism as a movement that excludes them.

    If she had stated, “The word feminism is problematic to me because of its non-integrated past and arguably present. However, my lifestyle reflects that I embrace a very sex positive womanism.” We’d all drool and type ‘yaaaassss’ over and over.

    We’re proving her point about feminism.

    Additionally, the way we speak about her decision to continue stripping removes her agency. It’s clear there’s no economic coercion, so why can’t she enjoy ‘the power of the p*ss’?

    The mild, coded racism in this thread isn’t a good look for us, guys. This is my favorite site, stop getting all ‘Fox News analyzing Beyonce’ on me.

    • slowsnow says:

      Why are you equating being a sexy woman making her feel excluded from feminism with race issues? Many white women have said the same.
      “Nword hustle and I hustle Nword” is not a good definition of feminism for me, it’s a dangerous MO whereby we do what they do to us and what they’ve done. Feminism to me is not only about having equal rights, that’s not ambitious enough (albeit important and necessary as a first step), it’s about changing society completely – not reversing the roles. Serious paternity leave, no discrimination on anyone on any grounds (sex, colour, sexuality, etc), gender and transgender acceptance and tranversality of opportunities for all, desexualisation of professional environments (women dressed sexy whereas men wear working gear, aka suits), not using human beings as commodities… it’s a whole change in values that we need.
      Give me Stormzy and Zendaya anyday.

    • Leslie says:

      I understand that historically and still today women are looked down on and insulted for wearing ‘sexy’ clothes and the feminist backlash to that – especially in Hollywood – is to dress as ‘sexy’ as possible, but looking down on and insulting women who “wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady” is not being very feminist either. Why does Cardi have to insult the way others dress in order to get her point across?

      • slowsnow says:

        Yes and I also find it beautiful that rap music is an incredibly valid counter-culture that refuses academic values but sh*tting on education is a no-go. If you replace feminism with “race inclusiveness” you see how dismissive her speech sounds. And then add a nice description of anti-racism or black lives matter people as “angry baddly dressed black people” and you get how prejudiced and silly what she is saying sounds.
        When you have a platform…

      • magnoliarose says:

        Because those “others” have insulted her all of her life. She learned early she could never be one of those educated women in high power jobs. NYC is full of extreme wealth, and those without it are keenly aware of it and how far from it they are.
        Not everyone feels like they can “overcome” the disparity, so they find a different avenue. But we can’t reject that road when girls like Cardi had very few choices from birth. Within what was achievable to become independent and strong she succeeded.

    • Deering says:

      Caty—I’m African-American, and education has traditionally been cherished in the community as a way black women achieved. For Candi to say that learning is something confined to dumpy white women is ignorant and insulting. And I won’t even get into the implication that “real” women know how to work men’s gonads, because that’s what real women are fundamentally all about. There’s nothing racist about calling her ignorant and sexist, because she is.

    • Giggs says:

      I just went off on this in my own post. The comments here are racist and awful. 100% agree.

    • detritus says:

      I’m here for what you’re saying Caty and that was my first take as well, there are layers of classism, and I worry racism as well, at play here especially regarding her language use.

      I will not fight any WoC who doesn’t want to identify as feminist, and Cardi B obviously has found her own brand of female empowerment.

      At the same time, I’d like to hear the criticisms people of color, not white ladies, on this topic.

      final thought, Cardi B’s stances strikes me as similar to the feminism many sex workers subscribe to, which is understandable based on her roots.

    • Otaku Fairy says:

      +1000. She’s rejecting all the different types of respectability politics that come with the feminist label. There are other WOC as well as transgender women, sex workers, and other women who have basically said the same thing as what she’s saying here, just in a different way. The fact that so many feel this way is a reflection of some of the areas where feminism and society need to improve.
      I’m also a little surprised that this is being taken as an attack on the feminism of classy, highly educated feminist Good Girls when it’s really an attack on what’s expected of feminists.

      • detritus says:

        “rejecting all the different types of respectability politics that come with the feminist label”

        there are the words I was looking for, thank you O’Fairy.

      • Salome says:

        +1000 to the respectability politics and a recognition that feminism–the reality and not the ideology–tends to cater to white middle class women. Why is it so hard for these same women to shut up and LISTEN when a black woman from the Bronx tells them why she doesn’t subscribe to their movement? Instead we get all these irrelevant comments about her accent. Yeesh.

      • THE OG BB says:

        Agreed. Also there is quite a bit of classicism in these responses. I’m a white girl who grew up in the hood (and no, I’m not one of those idiots who whines that black kids were mean to her- most of my friends growing up were black) and I saw quite a few ladies who were like Cardi. They thought educated white women looked down on them and thought they were skanks or idiots. These comments and the stupid mini van majority comments are such the antithesis of feminism to me. Set your sights on the women defending Trump and Roy Moore or who are supporting anti choice laws.

    • Detriotgirl says:

      Thank you, Caty. Also, I’m not sure why people in these comments are challenging her “hood” credentials… ummm she’s from the South Bronx? I’m pretty sure Cardi is giving us her 100% real life personality at all times, which I find very refreshing. Also, I think a lot of people missed her point… I didn’t take what she said as meaning that education was bad, so much as she meant that shaming people who don’t fit into that box is bad. I think she was saying that she doesn’t want the label because it will lead to people judging and shaming her, which… oh look, it totally already did right here in this comment section! Idk, maybe I don’t have a problem understanding her slang because I’ve lived in the Bronx for most of my adult life and know people who are a lot like Cardi personally. 🤷🏼‍♀️

      • detritus says:

        She makes sense to me. And this all strikes me as a different form of tone policing. She’s using a different form of slang than we use here, who cares?

        Taylor Swift could put together a more cogent sound bite, perhaps. But Cardi is doing her best to live a feminist life, and share that vision with other ladies.

    • A says:

      Completely agree @Caity Page & @Detroitgirl. The comment sections have been very dog-whistly lately. Almost all the regular POCs have fled and it sucks.

      • THE OG BB says:

        Yuuuuupppp. It’s why I had to take a break.

      • detritus says:

        This makes me super sad, it’s a loss to all of us.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I miss the ladies and wish they didn’t go for purely selfish reasons. I learned a lot from you. Now I see what you were saying after I stopped being defensive. It isn’t your job, but I do appreciate all of you.
        Her statement about education should be looked at carefully for what she is saying. If you know about the neglected schools in the South Bronx, you would understand why some kids give up on it.

    • African Sun says:

      @Caty just want to say you’ve summed up a lot of my views pretty much and you’ve explained Bardi’s point beautifully more than I could have.

      I think its refreshing that she isn’t even afraid to say that she isn’t a feminist. I’m not a feminist either, and I think the movement has made some women feel like you have to be one or you are a self hating woman.

      I’ve tried to be a feminist but I can’t get into the lack of inclusivity that feminism suffers from. It’s more interesting and connects to me on a bigger level when I connect with celebrities I find interesting like Beyonce, Nicki or Cardi.

  31. Caty Page says:

    @slowsnow “Why are you equating being a sexy woman making her feel excluded from feminism with race issues?”

    Those are 3 distinct complaints, nothing is being equated.

    1. We shot down her sex positivity by denying her agency to show off her body in a manner that makes her feel empowered.

    2. Feminism is exclusive based on many factors. One of them is undeniably race. That’s why womanism began.

    3. The exclusivity of feminism is not based only on race and I never claimed it was. White trans women, white undocumented women, and white poor women won’t feel included. The term ‘race issues’ typically means ‘don’t forget white people,’ so I’m assuming that’s the point you wanted addressed.

    • slowsnow says:

      @Caty Page
      I get what you’re saying. I just think you’re much smarter than Carli B.

      1 – she mentioned feeling empowered by having men throw money at her. Not only is this a rap cliché (see Rae Shremurd’s song Throw som mo” with Nikki Minaj which I love but cannot help find problematic) and I feel she is serving her own audience and here we are debating feminism. Don’t you think it’s problematic that sex is what is chosen here to feel empowered (it was done in the 70’s and so much better by artists such as Adrian Piper and later Chris Kraus) and the money value as appreciation? It’s a lame tactic. It’s the “You don’t dump me I dump you” technique.

      2 – agreed! But that’s your vision, certainly not hers. She does not mention white ladies in long skirts. And that’s pretty much over: being a university rat myself, there is a lot going on about transversality and inclusivenes in academia and talks, much more than in pop if I may introduce some of my experience.

      3 – No of course I wasn’t saying don’t forget the white peope. If I understand you right? I meant that she is adressing a very narcissistic problem that only applies to her because the biggest problem a say, trans woman is facing is not the fact that she can’t display her sexiness. It’s usually more about getting a job and a loo to pee in, and friends, and acceptance.

      I hope this makes sense.

  32. Deering says:

    “People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school. They wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady. That’s not being a feminist. Being a feminist is being equal to do what a man do. N-ggas hustle, and I hustle n-ggas.”

    1) A real feminist doesn’t give a damn how people perceive her. And she doesn’t think “bitch” is the default word for woman. 2) So if men do dumb illegal shit, a woman is equal if she’s dumb, too? 3) Last I looked, any number of Candi B’s rap peers are feminist and they hardly dress like schoolmarms. 4) She’s going to wish she’d gone to school once she blows through all her cash. It may take ass to make money, but it sure as hell takes education to keep it.

  33. OTHER RENEE says:

    Why is she being a pass for refusing to call herself a feminist when other “I’m not into labels” women featured on this site have been ripped to shreds? How do her words imply that she has “feminist principles?” Her words imply she’s in need of financial guidance and education on what it means to be a feminist.

  34. Caty Page says:

    @slowsnow, I think we agree, just have different knee-jerk reactions to performative sexuality.

    We grow up in a society that values women for their appearance and openness to being objectified, so it’s difficult to tell what is genuine expression born of desire and what’s seeking approval through the male gaze.

    When anyone tells a WoC her particular display of sexuality is catering to the male gaze, I get defensive. Especially in light of our history of sexualizing PoCs and disregarding non-trafficked sex workers.

    However, it’s arguable that these choices are very ‘put yourself first in a sexy way’ (Crazy Ex Girlfriend references always welcome).

    We seem to agree on the crux of the issues, we just react differently.

    • slowsnow says:

      @Caty Page
      Yes, I suspect it is so.
      It’s always good to be reminded of inclusiveness and of the fact that people who reject education can also be knowledgeable and build their own place in society.
      Performative sexuality is such a complex issue.
      “We grow up in a society that values women for their appearance and openness to being objectified, so it’s difficult to tell what is genuine expression born of desire and what’s seeking approval through the male gaze.”
      I guess that’s the whole thing in a nutshell.

  35. Pandabird says:

    I don’t find this interview funny. And I’m kind of put off by it. Just my 2 cents. I’ve never heard of her music; now I don’t plan to. But, I wish her well.

  36. detritus says:

    “People think that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school. They wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady. That’s not being a feminist. Being a feminist is being equal to do what a man do. N-ggas hustle, and I hustle n-ggas.”

    if you take out the tone policing her statement is

    People think that being a feminism means being educated. That feminists dress conservatively. (Being conservatively dressed and educated) is not being a feminist. Being a feminist is believing that women are equal to do what a man does. Men may con other men for their money, but I hustle those hustlers.

    We don’t need to #notallfeminists her, or #notalldegreeholders her. My take is that shes saying education and conservative dress are not required to be ‘feminist’, not that they are ‘counter’ to it.

    • THE OG BB says:

      When you grow up in a “bad area” sometimes that’s just how you see feminist and educated women. Obviously most of us know that’s not the norm.

      • detritus says:

        And I don’t blame her one bit. I think she speaks to an audience educated white feminists can’t. That’s super valuable, and honestly her sentiments are pretty bang on if you parse them out.
        Most educated people value education, and that value system is going to colour their discussions unless they watch themselves.

        I find this is especially the case when feminists look at sex workers. sex workers as a population tend to be less educated, and less conservative and ‘proper’. It’s easier to dismiss their ideas and words because they don’t fit into the appropriate jargon, and because feminists as a whole are divided on sex work and agency and the variety of issues that come with it.

        So I don’t blame people for being hesitant or distrusting, especially when that system may not have been available for them. Education is a privilege, and those of us who are educated have a responsibility to those who did not get that chance. It doesn’t make us better, it just gives us a different tool set.

  37. Vary Kary says:

    If this site could stop saying women who say they aren’t feminist are feminist that would be greaaaaaaat.

  38. Caty Page says:

    I still don’t understand how her comments are ‘anti-education.’

    “PEOPLE THINK that being a feminist is a bitch that, like, went to school. They wear skirts all the way to their motherf–king ankles like a g-ddamn First Lady.” She’s discussing the PERCEPTION of feminism in some communities.

    She’s not wrong. We’re proving her right: as feminists, we’re currently a bunch of very educated women jumping on her for sounding ‘uneducated’ or ‘anti-education.’

    @deering, I’m also a PoC, so I understand the perception. I just disagree that there’s one “community” view on this particular issue.

    • Kitten says:

      “She’s discussing the PERCEPTION of feminism in some communities.”

      She’s discussing it in the pejorative and then using it as a reason to ESCHEW feminism—I suspect that’s why it’s leaving a bad taste in people’s mouth. If she had said that she eschews feminism because historically, it’s been the exclusive domain of WW then people wouldn’t be side-eying her.

      That being said, I DO think we’re parsing what was obviously a comment that was meant to be colorful and humorous (at least that’s the impression I got) a bit too much at this point.
      I don’t think what she said was a huge deal, but I also don’t see her as some sort of important visionary like some of the other commenters here. I’m also a 38-year-old white woman so I’m fairly certain that I’m not her target audience anyway 😉

  39. Mar says:

    She’s so much cooler then most of her peers. She’s honest and not trying to be something she’s not. On another hand, America has really downgraded our standards for good entertainment and this is why she’s thriving.

  40. Neelyo says:

    Feminist or not, she’s gonna be broke in a year.

  41. Lena says:

    I feel like there are so many people commenting that don’t understand or like the hip hop culture to begin with. The tone in the comments is so dismissive for what was just a funny interview.

  42. applepie says:

    Maybe its because what she understands and sees of feminism and feminists is not where she is at. Maybe her and girls her age think of feminism as an outdated idea and it needs to move with the times….IDK . I don’t agree with some of what she says but I am interested in what the younger generation feel and think and it seems that feminism needs a rebrand for the 21st century.

  43. Luci Lu says:

    I like her, and I think she’s funny and entertaining, But, for me, she is not a bona fide rapper, by any stretch of the imagination. For me, Bodak Yellow is garbage, and she’s got about five minutes of fame left of the original fifteen. However, I don’t believe she’ll ever be poor again, and she will always have Mona Scott Young, and Love & Hip Hop.

  44. African Sun says:

    Cardi is fun and breezy and her interviews are always interesting.

    If she doesn’t want to see herself as a feminist, that’s her choice and that’s fine. Celebrities shouldn’t feel forced to think one way.

    Love the fur coat and the shades from the shoot!

  45. Tallia says:

    I don’t want to like her, I don’t, but I do. She has no filter and she says whatever she is thinking and I find it refreshing. I would totally (guiltily) watch a reality show with her as the star and I do not watch reality TV and I went to many schools. LOL

  46. Electric Tuba says:

    I get what she is saying but I’m just too burnt out to have any sort of nuanced conversation about the statements implications or how the sentiment was born so it’s just gonna have to sit there and exist without me giving a shit. You do you Cardi. Win at life if you can it’s hard out here man

  47. Ozogirl says:

    I love her song and I think she has a good sense of humor, but I’m glad I have an education because I’d never want to sound as stupid as she does.

  48. Lori says:

    I dont like her song at all. But hopefully she’ll make better music down the line. I also find her personality just annoying.

    But I agree with her on the feminist stuff.

  49. Shannon says:

    I don’t think too much about her, but I didn’t really understand this interview or find it particularly impressive. I know tons of feminists who wear short skirts; in fact, I usually associate long skirts with the Duggars lol. She does need to be more careful with her money though. I don’t get a ‘staying power’ vibe from her.

  50. justme says:

    Am I the only one who thinks that song is hideous?

  51. Patty says:

    Reading comprehension is seriously lacking these days. She’s not looking down on women who went to school. She’s saying people think that being a feminist is someone who went to school” and she’s not wrong!

    Just look at the comments on this thread. It’s way past time for White women to recognize that a lot of other women don’t call themselves feminist ir want to be associated with feminism because of the behavior of a lot of self proclaimed feminists. The white fem movement has never been inclusive, it’s always thumbed it’s nose and looked down on poor women, and uneducated women. It’s hyper sensitive and obnoxious. The Mommy Wars being a great example. Lean In being another great example.

    That movement has only ever been advancing the prospects of a very specific type of white Woman. Just look at the comments here and on the Drew Barrymore story today. Comments saying she’s an idiot because she doesn’t have formal education, comments saying she probably was assaulted but doesn’t remember because she was an addict or drunk / high.

    It’s absoutley ridiculous and Cardi B. is right, feminism is simply supposed to be about women being able to live their lives the way they see fit; just as men do, having the same opportunities, and not being seen as less than.

    But the modern face of feminism is judgmental and small minded, no wonder some women don’t want to be lumped in with that and having issues describing themselves as such.