Album Review: Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" Gives Her Rollercoaster Insta Stories a Soundtrack

(Chirping noise.) Cardi B’s debut studio album Invasion of Privacy gives you exactly what you want: More Cardi B.

The best reality show isn’t on television. It’s on Cardi B’s Instagram.

It has characterful confessions, on-again/off-again relationship dramas, comedy sketches, unexpected guest stars and, as of this weekend, a surprise pregnancy.

Plus, ever since the former dancer and Love & Hip-Hop scene-stealer burst out with monster, mission statement single “Bodak Yellow” in 2017, it’s had one hell of a soundtrack too.

Now comes her ironically-titled debut album, Invasion of Privacy, which lays it all out and leaves little to the imagination. The thing is, even though she's armed with what Justin Bieber might call "expensive sounds" (courtesy of two dozen producers), nothing can outshine Cardi B’s persona, or the sounds she makes herself, which ultimately means Invasion of Privacy, as biography or entertainment, can’t compete with her unfiltered Insta Stories.

(Language warning, obviously.)

For those who only came here for something closer to “Bodak Yellow, there are plenty of would-be trap anthems, including "Bartier Cardi", "Drip", "Bickenhead" and "Money Bag". They all pale in comparison. Thankfully, at only 45 minutes, Invasion of Privacy never outstays its welcome (for reference, it’s less than half the length of Migos' Culture 2).

It opens with three unbroken minutes of menace and mythologising. On the grandiose "Get Up 10", Cardi (born Belcalis Almanzar) boasts about her rags-to-riches story, yet she can’t help but be endearing when she marvels about being the first in her family to see “six figures” (a comically small amount in hip hop stunting, not dissimilar to her bragging about ordering steak in "Bodak Yellow").

The anomalous, orchestral production by the Beat Bully shares too much DNA with Nicki Minaj’s now decade-old studio intro "I’m the Best", which does a disservice to both uniquely talented artists. No biggie. Cardi’s signature delivery remains unimpeachable, and her feminist statements echo loudly. That’s a trend for the album, even as the production improves, and the big-name features emerge. Chance the Rapper, Kehlani, SZA and Migos all struggle to stand out here. YG, meanwhile, never had a chance with his tedious hook on “She Bad”, wherein Cardi reclaims the spotlight by demanding a threesome with Chrissy Teigen and Rihanna. In response, Chrissy dropped her biscuits.

Invasion of Privacy will no doubt reignite the 'ghostwriting' rumours that have plagued her for months (Almanzar has a writing credit on all 13 of the record’s tracks). I can see how the idea of her paying someone else to write her verses might diminish her authenticity. However, Cardi is a fierce protector and author of her own identity—that’s literally the theme of Invasion of Privacy—and modern pop production is all about taste and curation anyway. It’s hard to imagine any song making it onto this without her explicit authorisation. She owns every nasty, catchy and utterly ingenious one-liner, and her flow, whether picked up from Kodak Black or elsewhere, is irresistible. Those chirps, blaps and squeals are all undeniably hers.

(Again, language warning.)

"Be Careful"—a bossanova that credits Lauryn Hill, the Wu-Tang Clan, Tony-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch and Oscar-winners Alan and Marilyn Bergman—is a highlight. On it, she frankly addresses fiancé Offset (of Migos) for allegedly cheating on her, saving her most cutting and threatening lyric for the lilting, sung chorus: "I want you to live your life, of course/ But I hope you get what you dyin' for." It eschews the ferocious sound of Lemonade, without pulling its punches.

It’s a companion to the spirited, Dominican-flavoured "I Like It", in which she’s on the prowl. You hear a more vulnerable Cardi on "Ring", a ballad that’s only memorable for the uncommon glimpse of her gentler side.

The sequencing of the album makes it hard to tell if Cardi’s still engaged. In "Bartier Cardi", she talks about being "on Offset", only to sing about inspecting his devices on "Thru Your Phone". (She also blows up Migos’ spot by talking about their “little group texts”. Sorry, Takeoff!) And though you may have a romantic expectation for final song “I Do”, Cardi B ends up walking off into the sunset on her own, offering this final piece of sage advice: "Leave his texts on read/ leave his balls on blue." Oh, Cardi.

3.5/5

Invasion of Privacy is now available.

(If you still need a language warning, you've learnt nothing from this review.)

Photo: Atlantic