GRAPHIC BY CHRISTINA QUACHBy CAROL LI
ONLINE EDITOR
Cardi B’s arrest, more or less, was due to an “Invasion of Privacy.”
On Oct. 1, Bronx rapper Belcalis Almanzar, known as Cardi B, turned herself into the New York police where she was arrested and charged with assault and reckless endangerment. This stemmed from the fiasco when Cardi B attacked rapper Nicki Minaj while she was in the middle of a conversation at the Harper’s BAZAAR “ICONS by Carine Roitfeld” party at The Plaza for New York Fashion Week (NYFW) on Sept. 7.
This incident takes place in the midst of Cardi B’s ever growing career. Her debut album “Invasion of Privacy” shot to the number one slot on Billboard 200 immediately after its release, becoming only the second female rapper to ever score a chart-topping solo song. From “Bodak Yellow” to “I Like It Like That,” Cardi B’s songs never fail to become instant hits among her audience. She has also collaborated with well-known artists such as Maroon Five and Bruno Mars.
Despite her successes in the music industry, many of Cardi B’s decisions have landed her in hot water. Rash actions such as lashing out at Nicki Minaj to her recent arrest has given the public has many opportunities to criticize the singer. However, people should realize that Cardi B, like every individual, is prone to poor judgment and can make mistakes.
Unlike other celebrities, Cardi B has not always been wealthy; in fact, many of her songs include references to a tough life such as having odd jobs to receive money. In addition, being raised in such a discouraging environment such as the Bronx makes it extremely difficult to not become engaged in bad habits such as alcohol and drugs. Keeping in mind of Cardi B’s background, society should be more open-minded when forming an opinion on her individual and works. For example, many criticize Cardi B as “unprofessional” because of her playful demeanor. Nonetheless, people should not judge her just by their perspectives, but realize that she is not as experienced with being exposed to the public eye as compared to other famous individuals.
Furthermore, Cardi B has dealt with her dilemmas instead of concurring an image that she is above laws or the justice system by hiding her scandals. While it seems obvious for people of high influence to make the right decisions, the fact that Cardi B turned herself in depicts integrity on her part. In this day and age where scandals from extremely influential people frequently occur, it is refreshing to see a famous individual make known of their wrongdoings without worrying too much of their reputation.
Moreover, at the start of Jan. 2018, rumors were circulating that Cardi B’s fiance Offset was caught cheating. In response, Cardi B tweeted “I’m going to make a decision in my own times with my heart and mind…I don’t need to be rushed or be told what to do. It’s my life! I belong to me, not to the world.” Her posts on social media are another instance of handling being in the spotlight in a positive manner. Having every little detail on one’s life publicized is certainly not ideal. Nevertheless, instead of being held down by what others think, Cardi managed to successfully “clap back” at haters while still maintaining a large fanbase, which is something that definitely should not be overlooked.
However, this does not mean that all her bad decisions are excusable. Causing disturbances at such a widely attended event to the extent of becoming arrested is not justifiable, given the fact that Cardi B should have realized that the people around her had high status in different aspects of careers.
On the other hand, after the scandal, Cardi B posted on social media indicating that Nicki Minaj initiated the fight by remarking that she was not fit to be a parent. Understandably, nobody likes to be told that they cannot do a certain task or, even worse, are not capable enough to do so. In this perspective, it is understandable that Cardi B would have this upscale reaction, and the follow up to turn herself in demonstrates that she is a strong individual that will stand up for her beliefs and take the consequences.
By asserting her opinions and standing up for her beliefs, Cardi B lets her audience know that it is okay to express your opinion, despite what others think. In a society where sometimes fitting in is better than having a voice, Cardi B’s personality and music encourage others to speak out, which is important since much of her production appeals to teenagers, who are still developing their individuality.
Ultimately, no matter what opinion that people have of her, Cardi B’s impact on the music industry and public will last “foreva.”