Invasion of Privacy

by Cardi B

Overview

Following a landmark year of record-breaking success and a quick rise into the mainstream, New York rapper Cardi B issued her first studio full-length, Invasion of Privacy. The spiritual descendant of Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma, the artist born Belcalis Almanzar brought a similar glitz-meets-grit attitude to her debut, a fun and endlessly quotable collection of big-bass trap dusted with pop-savvy glitter. The production is top notch and the guest features are not wasted, but it's Cardi's personality and charm that are the stars of the show. When she's not dropping shocking threats at her detractors ("I'ma put a Louboutin where her neck at") or making outlandish boasts ("Pussy so good, I say my own name during sex"), Cardi takes the time to remind listeners of how far she's come since her stripper days, and doesn't shy away from revealing the woes and pitfalls that came with sudden fame. The underdog angle is exploited for maximum effect and it's so genuinely endearing that listeners will be rooting for her -- if they don't already -- by the last line of the empowering, SZA-assisted closer "I Do." Invasion of Privacy keeps pace and doesn't wear out its welcome, kicking off with Cardi's own superhero origin story on "Get Up 10," as in "Knock me down nine times/but I get up ten." The rags-to-riches narrative continues from there, with Cardi remarking that she's gone from "small ass apartments to walking red carpets" on the uplifting "Best Life" with Chance the Rapper. Later, on the popping "Money Bag," she playfully laments "I been broke my whole life/I have no clue what to do with these racks!" She gets filthy on the explicit "Bickenhead" -- which samples its namesake Project Pat song with a little Blood twist -- that it could make Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown blush. Her chart-busting singles "Bodak Yellow" and "Bartier Cardi" are also included here, nestled with other tough-talking shots like "She Bad" with YG and "Drip" with fiancee Offset and his group Migos. The Latin trap "I Like It," with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, is a notable highlight, a potential chart-buster in waiting. Surprisingly, Invasion is not just sneering street bangers about her "money moves." Bittersweet infidelity dirge "Be Careful" finds Cardi yearning for a solid relationship with a real man, not an unfaithful one (all signs point to Offset). On "Ring," a smooth R&B jam that features Kehlani, Cardi is vulnerable, revealing a well of pain beneath her tough-as-nails facade. "Thru Your Phone" is unflinching and relatable, wherein Cardi burns with vengeance as she poisons her cheating man with bleach in his cereal and a good old-fashioned stabbing. It's cartoonish but real, a confession of thoughts that are all too familiar to the scorned. This balance between over-the-top party starters and thoughtful reflection makes Invasion of Privacy an impressive debut for a rising star who can back up her outspokenness with raw talent. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	08/04/2023
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0075678626173
Rank:	15336

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cardi B   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
YG   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
J Balvin   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Bad Bunny   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Nick Seeley   Vocals (Background)
Frank Dukes   Co-Producer
Benny Blanco   Keyboards
Juan Chaves   Trumpet
Andrew Tinker   Vocals (Background)
Juan Chavez   Trumpet
Sarah Sellers   Vocals (Background)
Cubeatz   Co-Producer
Michael Romero   Vocals (Background)
Chance the Rapper   Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Nonstop Da Hitman   Co-Producer
Migos   Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
SZA   Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Kehlani   Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Andrew Watt   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Holly Seeley   Vocals (Background)
Laquan Green   Co-Producer
21 Savage   Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
DJ Official   Co-Producer
Nes   Co-Producer

Technical Credits

Paul Beauregard   Composer
Nick Seeley   Additional Production
Invincible   Producer
Leslie Brathwaite   Mixing
Lauryn Hill   Composer
Corey Woods   Composer
Lamont Hawkins   Composer
Marvin Hamlisch   Composer
Dennis Coles   Composer
Marilyn Bergman   Composer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Robert Diggs   Composer
Boi-1da   Producer
Craig Kallman   Editing,Producer,Vocal Editing
Matt Allen   Producer,Producer
Frank Dukes   Producer
Todd Shaw   Composer
Alan Bergman   Composer
Benny Bonilla   Composer
Kuk Harrell   Editing,Vocal Editing,Vocal Producer
Tony Pabon   Composer
Benny Blanco   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
U-God   Composer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Michael Freeman   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Manny Rodriguez   Composer
Benjamin Levin   Composer
Edgar W. Semper Vargas   Composer
Khari Cain   Composer
Derrick Ordogne   Composer
Jordan Houston   Composer
Needlz   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Sean Allen   Composer
Keyz   Producer
Andrew Wotman   Composer
Jason Hunter   Composer
Matthew Allen   Composer
Zvi Edelman   Production Coordination
Gary Grice   Composer
Vincent Watson   Composer
Colin Leonard   Mastering
Benito Martinez   Composer
Russell Jones   Composer
Max Lord   Engineer
Andrew Luftman   Production Coordination
Clifford Smith   Composer
Robert Williams   Composer
Mike Riley   Composer
Dion Norman   Composer
Peter Kim   Editing,Engineer
Donnie Meadows   Production Coordination
Keenon Jackson   Composer
Xavier Alexis Semper Vargas   Composer
DJ Mustard   Producer
Matthew Samuels   Composer
Sarah Shelton   Production Coordination
Philip Coleman   Composer
Dijon McFarlane   Composer
Joshua Cross   Composer
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali   Mixing
Ebonie Smith   Editing,Assistant Engineer
Ali Tamposi   Composer
Louie Gomez   Editing,Engineer
Jermaine Preyan   Composer
Joseph Pomarico   Editing
Kevin Gomringer   Composer
Tim Gomringer   Composer
Anthony Tucker   Composer
Maurice Jordan   Composer
Austin Owens   Composer
Adam Feeney   Composer
Mike "Scribz" Riley   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Marcos Masis   Composer,Producer
Tainy   Producer
Edgar Vargas   Composer
David Rodriguez   Engineer
Allen Ritter   Composer,Producer
Anderson Hernandez   Composer
Vinylz   Producer
Nonstop Da Hitman   Producer
Geoff Swan   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Anthony G. White   Composer
Kirsnick Ball   Composer
Chancelor Bennett   Composer
Luian Malave   Composer
James Foye III   Composer
Cassius Jay   Producer
Andrew Watt   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Darryl McCorkell   Composer
Kiari Cephus   Composer
Quavious Marshall   Composer
Shane Lindstrom   Composer
Solana Rowe   Composer
Kirshnik Ball   Composer
J. White Did It   Producer
Gary Fountaine   Composer
30 Roc   Producer
Cheeze Beatz   Producer
Noah Assad   Composer
Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin   Composer
Murda Beatz   Producer
Kehlani Parrish   Composer
Samuel Gloade   Composer
Laquan Green   Composer,Producer
Klenord Raphael   Composer
Belcalis Almanzar   Composer
Bill K. Kapri   Composer
Avery Earls   Production Coordination
Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph   Composer
Jacquez Lowe   Composer
Edgar Machuca   Composer
Ayo the Producer   Producer
Evan LaRay Brunson   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Leslie Andre Wakefield Jr.   Composer
Keyzbaby   Producer
Jordan Thorpe   Composer
Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio   Composer
Nija Charles   Composer
Simone Torres   Assistant,Vocal Engineer
Soffia Yen   Production Coordination
Philip Coleman, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Carlyn Calder   Production Coordination
Desmond Dennis   Composer
DJ SwanQo   Editing,Engineer,Producer
James Steed   Composer
Joel Iglesias   Engineer
DJ Official   Producer
Dieuson Octave   Composer
Louis Bell   Vocal Producer
Jose Osorio   Composer
williedonut   Producer
Louise Bell   Additional Production
Sofia Yen   Production Coordination