Following the three year anniversary of their historic collaboration “WAP,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion reunite for “Bongos.”
“WAP” Makes History
In August 2020, during the midst of the pandemic, two female rappers managed to debut at No. 1 with their first collaboration, “WAP.” Raunchy lyrics are nothing new in hip-hop, but “WAP” was a defining moment for female sexual empowerment. Republicans were outraged, eliciting debates over the sexually explicit lyrics and music video. The overwhelming backlash is rooted in sexism, as male artists have been making songs about sex for decades. Nonetheless, “WAP” has accumulated over 1 billion streams on Spotify, with over 500 million views on the music video.
Second Collaboration: “Bongos“
Notably, “Bongos” is Megan Thee Stallion’s first musical release in over a year. It is also rumored to be on Cardi B’s sophomore album. Fans have been waiting for a full-length project from Cardi since her 2018 debut album, Invasion Of Privacy. In recent promotion interviews for “Bongos,” Cardi revealed the album will arrive in early 2024.
Besides, “Bongos” is more experimental for Bardi and Meg as it has a hyper tempo with a Dembow/ Brazilian funk sound. Dembow is a supersonic dance genre originating in the Dominican Republic, which is snowballing into the Latin pop scene. This explains why Cardi raps a lick of Spanish at the end of the song.
However, the intricate and stunning visuals steal the show more so than the song itself. The hook is forgettable and Cardi fails to deliver any bars. But Cardi B does kick off “Bongos” with some attention-grabbing similes that involve plums, nuns, and piñatas. “N***a, eat this a** like a plum / This p***y tight like a nun / Better chew it up like it’s gum / Then wipe your mouth when you done,” Cardi spits. Overall, the “Bodak Yellow” rapper’s performance is underwhelming, as she recycles flows and delivery.
Megan Thee Stallion is Back!
But, Megan picks up the momentum with her flows on the third verse, proving her confidence is still fiercer than ever. She addresses her “wannabes,” calling them her “lil ponies,” and shakes off the internet trolls. “H**s pop pills, but I’m the one they can’t take / Hot-girl sh*t, I’ma make somethin’ shake / I know these stiff h**s can’t relate,” Megan raps on “Bongos.” The rappers interchange lines for the fifth verse, sporting their diamonds and foreign cars. Check out the music video below, which, Cardi B disclosed, had a $2M budget.
