How Cardi B's Political Interest Made Her A Target For Republicans
Packs Shipment No. 7
During the 2016 Democratic Primaries, but before “Bodak Yellow” teleported Cardi B to instant stardom, the Bronx-born rapper addressed her front-facing camera in a dimly lit root and said: “Vote for Daddy Bernie, Bitch.” When Bernie didn’t win the Democratic nomination, she turned her support to Hillary Clinton, tweeting, “Vote Hillary Clinton y’all idc if she a liar y’all boyfriends lie to everyday and y’all still fw them so VOTE HILLARY BITCH.”
Since Clinton’s loss and Trump’s victory as President, Cardi B—real-name Belcalis Almánzar—has become one of the most politically invested rappers in hip-hop today, remaining vocal and opinionated in a way only Cardi B can. Her stardom, and an interest in politics that dates back to high school, thrust her into the political sphere. It’s also made her a political enemy to Republicans.
Political opponents didn’t care when Cardi B made the 2016 video supporting “Daddy Bernie”; she didn't have the star power back then. Since then, she’s garnered the attention of millions from her music and has leveraged that attention to interview Bernie Sanders and now-presidential candidate Joe Biden. She quickly became an prominent voice in the Democratic Party, a voice Republicans were ready to attack.
Now, the simple act of Cardi B interviewing major political figures brings Conservatives out of the woodwork to diminish and question her ability to do so. Candace Owens was willing to spend $250,000 to debate Cardi in a sad attempt to assassinate her political credibility. In 2019, Cardi went on a rant during the government shutdown that even Democrats didn’t know how to handle. But Tomi Lahren’s plan was to directly insult Cardi’s intelligence.
Faux-moralists, who bypassed Trump’s “Grab 'em by the pussy” comment as locker room talk, became fixated on Cardi when her sexual single “WAP” flooded twitter timelines with sex lingo some politicians never even knew was possible. Former Republican Congressional candidate DeAnna Lorraine said Cardi and Megan’s song, “set the entire female gender back by 100 years.” Referencing Cardi B’s interview with Bernie Sanders, Lorraine concluded that “the Democrats support this trash and depravity!”
Cardi is no longer an interested celebrity voice in politics, she is an easy target for Republican talking heads against the Democratic Party.
A month after releasing his video for “I Love It”—where Kanye West says “I'm a sick fuck, I like a quick fuck” five times before starting his verse— Kanye was in the Oval Office hugging President Trump. Republicans praised Kanye for it.
While Republicans uplifted voices like Kanye West, who has now distanced himself from the party, they will sell an idea that a voice like Cardi B shouldn’t be allowed at the table.
But people like Cardi B are necessary voices in a country that claims to promote bootstrap-ism and the idea that anyone can be anything if you work hard enough. That idea includes Donald Trump—a trust-fund baby who inherited millions and flipped his business-reality shows and political tweets into his first government job as Commander-in-Chief. The idea includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an obvious future presidential nominee whose first job after graduating cum laude from Boston University with a degree in international relations and economics was bartending. The idea even includes Belcalis—a former dancer and reality show personality who became one of the biggest rappers in recent history.
Republicans knock AOC and her past as a bartender the same way they knock Cardi and her days as a dancer. But deeming these two women as unworthy of being in America politics goes against everything Republicans stand for.
The dismantling of elitism in American politics has become a prominent mantle in Trump’s Republican household; it’s a stance that is supposed to fight for the majority American instead of the minority wealthy. On one of the most popular television shows in America, Tucker Carlson routinely attacks elitists for his base, despite being an elitist himself. In Trump’s ideology, someone like Cardi B is who he should be listening to more than anyone.
Last night at the Republic National Convention, Ivanka Trump touted her father’s ability to buck the political elite: “Our President refuses to surrender his beliefs to score points with the political elite.” In an attempt to address every-day Americans on television while a swathe of American elites sat in front of her, Ivanka claimed, “To my father, you are the elite. He only cares about scoring points with you.”
Monetarily, Cardi is just like Ivanka and Donald Trump, wealthy individuals who had little political knowledge before they leveraged those riches into political capital. But politically, Cardi is just like anyone else, an American citizen with political interest; how knowledgeable she is in politics doesn't matter.
She is the elite Ivanka claims Trump cares about. Cardi doesn’t need to be a congresswoman or have a political science degree to be opinionated in the political sphere. Trump rose to the presidency without any degrees or experience in politics, and Cardi certainly doesn’t need it to interview Biden or Bernie. But across Trump’s rabid base, she remains a punching bag not worthy of being in the gym.
Despite conservative attempts to assassinate her political interest, Cardi remains ambitious and interested in a future career political career. The grammy-award winning rapper tweeted she wants to be a politician, saying, “I do feel like if I go back to school and focus up I can be part of Congress.I deadass have sooo much ideas that make sense.I just need a couple of years of school and I can shake the table.”
No matter what side of the line she chooses to stand on, that kind of devotion should be praised.
Heat Pack
WhoHeem
WhoHeem’s “Let’s Link” will get a high schooler beaten up behind the bleachers. The bouncy track from the San Bernardino product is a catchy attempt at stealing someone’s girl. Heem cries out, “I like youuuu, I don’t give a fuck about your boyfriend,” on the song’s hook. Of course, inspired TikTok-ers have started using the track to simultaneously post about their love interest and call out their boyfriends. If that doesn't make it a great track, then I don't know what else will.
Chynna
After tragically passing away in 2019, Philadelphia rapper, DJ, and model Chynna has her first post-humous release in “stupkid.” Chynna’s quite and indifferent tone sulks throughout the track. She flips between rumors of a love-interest (“Heard you like them freak hoes, heard you fuck with them fire signs”) and debating if she even wants to stay interested or not (“I don’t even know why I still see you, stupid). Her lyrics are painted with eery synths that can only be made alone in the middle of the night and punchy bass. Chynna’s talent was clear, and she will be missed. Hopefully, more of her unreleased work will come out with her family’s blessing.
Rest in Power, Chynna.
Joey Dosik
Joey Dosik is a Los Angeles based producer, pianist, singer, pianist—he’s just an overall talent. Here he gives the best cover to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Happening Brother” you will ever hear. What makes it great is Joey has a great voice, but it’s also one of those covers where they don’t try to make it sound just like the original. Joey takes the fast-paced original and makes it feel somber, slowing it down and elongating the lyrics. Yes, he’s really singing this shit. And yes, they’re really using a refrigerator as a kick drum.
Welp, hope y’all enjoyed this edition of Packs. We back next Friday with a new delivery.
Between Packs, follow me on all the socials: @Tribecalledni on damn-near everything.
Until next time, be cool.