The chaotic Zoom session gathered hundreds of DJs and media members, including Billboard Canada, to listen to the track and hear from the rapper herself.
Cardi B
Two nights before its official release, Cardi B gave a first listen of her new single “Enough (Miami)” at an exclusive online listening party. Over Zoom on Wednesday night (Mar. 13), nearly 300 radio hosts, DJs and media — including Billboard Canada — from across the world gathered to hear the “I Like It” rapper talk about the new single.
The new song — which she teased in a minute-long snippet on her Instagram — comes out this Friday Mar. 15. On it, she delivers an aggressive, fast-paced and domineering flow over a drum-heavy beat with enough bass to make your toes curl. With lyrics about her dominance of the rap game and her growth as a musician, it's a club banger we’re sure to hear a lot of over the summer.
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“I hope you guys like it because right now I feel like we’re in a state of music that I don’t know what people like anymore,” she said, introducing the track. “I come from the stripping world, y’know, so I like to make club bangers, I like to make fun music.”
Cardi hasn’t released an album since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy which includes some of her biggest songs, including “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.” She’s said that since becoming a mother in 2019, and again in 2021, music has not been her top priority. The pressures of touring combined with a lack of need for money, have led her to focusing on her home life.
Fans have long wondered when the next full-length project would come, and it seems their waiting will soon be coming to an end. The 31-year-old mother of two released a freestyle on Mar. 1, and will now follow with “Enough.” During the online gathering, Cardi spoke about her hiatus and upcoming plan to release an album this summer.
“I took a little break, I came back on social media. I dropped a little freestyle and everything, y’know just to wet my feet. A week later, I’m dropping this single, and the next announcement is not going to be a single, it’s gonna be an album,” she said. “I’m back outside, I’m tired of sh-t holding me back. It’s been six years since I’ve dropped an album, so I’m gonna drop an album this year.”
The event itself was reminiscent of Cardi's chaotic personality. After an hour-long delay, the rapper was on with hundreds of others on Zoom, who often spoke with overlapping praise and questions. As she sat in a Los Angeles home, getting her hair and makeup done, expressions of adoration drowned out her every attempt to talk. She displayed a genuine sense of respect as she sought feedback from those whose opinions she respects. The overwhelming feeling was clear: the people love Cardi B.
“I’m glad that you guys like it and everything, because at the end of the day, the DJs is the people that know the best. You guys move the music, so if you guys like it, I’m really grateful, I’m really thankful,” she said. “And if you don’t like it, tell me, so I can work on my sh-t.”
Where there’s an album, touring follows closely behind. With the upcoming project, Cardi B could be back in Canada to perform for the first time since her 2019 OVO Fest appearance. She was also billed as a headliner at Montreal's Osheaga festival in 2021, but a Covid cancellation prevented her from playing. Could she be back? Either way, new music is most definitely on its way.
The advocacy organization is hosting a day of conversations about climate and the music industry on Mar. 22 in Halifax, prior to the Juno Awards ceremony on Mar. 24.
Music Declares Emergency (MDE) Canada is looking to spark conversation about the climate crisis at this year's Juno Awards. Ahead of the ceremony on Mar. 24, the advocacy organization will host a Mini Music Climate Summit at the Halifax Central Library, on Mar. 22, to promote the need for climate action in the music industry.
The summit will feature panel discussions and interactive workshops, with notable speakers including Devin Latimer of Trout Forrest Music Festival; Elsa Tokunag, sustainability coordinator for This Hour Has 22 Minutes; and agent and manager Adam Kreeft, a board member of MDE Canada. Also speaking is Kelly Drennan of non-profit Fashion Takes Action, which has prepared a guide to greening the Junos red carpet through sustainable fashion choices.
The free, one-day event will consider topics such as sustainable transportation, carbon calculation, merch and food, and much more, providing an opportunity for industry members to share best practices and develop strategies around curbing emissions in the industry. MDE Canada previously held Canada's first Music Climate Summit in Toronto in 2022.
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The climate summit accompanies MDE Canada's Climate Emergency Concert on Mar. 17 in Halifax, where artists like Talia Schlanger and Jenn Grant will pay tribute to Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, two Canadian musicians who have used their platforms to promote environmental awareness.
The music industry has a significant environmental impact, from vinyl production to streaming to, especially, live performance. Individual artists like Coldplay, Massive Attack and more are already working with environmental organizations and policy experts to reduce that impact, while organizations like MDE Canada seek to push the conversation forward at a systemic level.
The Mini Music Climate Summit takes place Mar. 22 at the Halifax Central Library. Register here to attend.
