Posted by Cardi B released the official video for her latest single “Hot Shit” on Tuesday (July 12), giving the Kanye West and Lil Durk collaboration a blockbuster-level visual makeover.
Directed Russian director Lado Kvataniya, the video finds the Bronx rapper towering above the competition as she perches on the Empire State Building in a Mad Max-style combat suit. Other scenes show her covered in iced-out jewelry and being set on fire by robotic arms.
Lil Durk, who has no shortage of rivals in the rap game, stands on top of a floating car in the river as red laser sights light up his body. Smurk seems unconcerned by the threat, though, as he raps, “This that drop location, drop a opp music.”
Last but certainly not least, Kanye West caps off the star-studded affair by walking on water while concealing his face behind his trademark mask. As some have pointed out, though, it appears to be an animated CGI version of the Chicago rap icon.
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Produced by Tay Keith, “Hot Shit” serves as the latest offering from Cardi B’s long-awaited sophomore album following “Up” and the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted “WAP,” both of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Details about the project remain scarce, but a Vogue Singapore cover story published earlier this week hinted at a summer 2022 release. “She’s not waiting very long – ‘a month or two’ – before her next … album gets released,” journalist Amelia Chia wrote.
Cardi B Reflects On Kanye West’s ‘Hot Shit’ Verse: ‘I Like How His Verse It’s Personal, But It’s Not Personal’
The as-yet-untitled project will serve as the follow-up to Cardi B’s historic 2018 debut Invasion of Privacy, which is the longest-charting female rap album ever and saw all of its 13 songs reach platinum status or higher in March, another first for a female artist.
Featuring the smash hits “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It,” Invasion of Privacy won Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards — beating out efforts from Travis Scott, Pusha T, Nipsey Hussle and the late Mac Miller — and has since been certified triple platinum.
Invasion of Privacy recently made waves again after Rolling Stone ranked it at No. 16 on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time, above revered records such as Nas’ Illmatic, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city.
In response to the fan outrage, Cardi B told Angela Yee’s Lip Service, “It definitely is a classic. The numbers are great, are amazing, and it’s not even about the numbers; I’ve been all around the world and people sing it fucking word for word.
“But I definitely understand when you put my album before Biggie’s album, before Nas’ album… it was a set up. Rolling Stone, you tried to set me up! You got my ass dragged on a Tuesday for no reason.”