First, let me say this, for anyone who feels triggered by the sexual connotation and lyrics presented in the single WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, please exit now. This post is not for you. It is understood that some people cannot handle women possessing the freedom to explicitly state in a song their pleasure of choice. The song is Rated R and not suitable for young audiences, although most of them will be singing and watching the video without parental consent. Therefore I feel obligated to discuss some a-ha moments from the premiere.
I thoroughly support women in the rap game because it’s ten times harder to reach the pinnacle of success than men. It has been a long time since we’ve seen a multitude of women being represented and spitting lyrics that make men blush or hush their criticism.
Oh, how I long for a 21st Century remix of Lil Kim’s “Not Tonight” Ladies Night Remix featuring all of the current female emcees. So whenever I see women stepping up and collaborating on projects, it brings joy to my heart. As an authentic Hip-Hop and Lil Kim stan, I remember when the HARD CORE album came out, and I sang every lyric word-for-word. That was my era of music, and I enjoyed it immensely.
And now, a new generation has taken over and continues to heighten the level of exploration we never realized existed in the manner presented. So yeah, I’m getting old, and it is now starting to show :). Let’s discuss the top three moments, shall we?
1.) No Broke-Down Budgets Allowed
Bravo to the ladies and their respective teams for a no holds bar approach with the construction of the hair, video, garments, and promotional content. The project appeared expensive and colorful to the eye. Cardi B mentioned that extensive work occurred behind the scenes as the garments for the video were being flown across the country and internationally. Everything was top-notch, and I appreciated this aspect.
2.) Face Drop & Jaw Pop
If your face did not drop or jaw pop during various scenes in this video, kudos to you for being named an official OG (Original Gangsta). The snake scene was pretty visually, but in my spirit, I cringed. Snakes and I don’t get down like that. That’s just my preference. It was nice to see other female hip-hop artists showcased throughout the video too. Although one surprise feature made my face drop and honestly had me thinking, “I don’t know how I should feel about this?” I love Normani; that’s my girl. (I met Normani in-person and she is an absolute sweetheart.)
3.) An Ode To Greatness
When the beat dropped, my body quickly got into position as if the dance floor was calling. If you are unaware, the backtrack is a sample of DJ Frank Ski’s 1992 single “Whore’s In This House,” an all-time classic. This song also played in the background during a strip club scene in the 1998 film THE PLAYERS CLUB. Therefore hearing this song brought back so many fun memories of being young, foolish, and carefree.
The gorgeous and electric photo of Cardi & Megan with the pin curl ponytail and earrings also pays tribute to the 1997 classic BAPS (Black American Princesses) film featuring Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle. Once again, another one of my favorite proud to be Black memories. Kellon Deryck, the hairstylist for Megan Thee Stallion, is fantastic when it comes to transforming hair for artists on a project. Shout-out to Kellon and Cardi’s stylist for collaborating on some gorgeous hairpieces.
In conclusion, I have yet to hear the uncensored version and probably prefer not to. Although I am past the explicit lyric phase in life, I enjoy vibing and popping it in my kitchen or in the car as a mini-workout to get me hype when needed. My only wish is to incorporate more of the sample as an infectious hook or chorus, so to speak.
Nevertheless, thank you, ladies, for working together and looking beautiful during the process. Side Note: In case you’re wondering what WAP stands for: Wet A** P****y.
Here’s a new recipe inspired by the new Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion single WAP. I love playing with ingredients in the kitchen and developing fun dishes.
