The audio release of Cardi B’s “Hot Sh!t” was surrounded with naysayers calling the single lackluster, despite the added features of hip hop hitmakers Lil Durk and Kanye West. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper even had her own doubts about the greatness of the new song, a bad sign for anyone who is trying to promote a record, and even worse for those who need someone to tell them what to think and how to feel.
In spite of her doubts, the song debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it Cardi’s 17th top 10 hit, according to Billboard. “Hot Sh!t” is the rapper’s last standalone single and music video since the release of “Up” in February 2021 and “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, in August 2020. Both songs leaned more toward the sexy and seductive side of Cardi B.
“Hot Sh!t,” on the other hand, gears more towards the ambitious side of the Bronx hustler, a perspective that has been on demand since Cardi’s earlier days. For the past few years, the married mother of two has often been criticized for explicitly embracing her sexuality in her music and on highly publicized platforms. Some even deemed the over-sexualization to Cardi masking her true rap talent and entertaining abilities.
Cardi has actively attempted to dismantle the one-dimensional image of herself by engaging in politics, maintaining family life, and diversifying her entertainment content through acting. “Hot Sh!t” is a nice, subtle transition back to the Cardi B who is about her business.
Lil Durk slides through with some of the best verses, while Ye does a bit of interesting storytelling. Cardi’s routine 8-count rapping tells another story. Unfortunately, Cardi’s flat delivery doesn’t seem believable. The Tay Keith beat, along with Durk’s contribution, are the standout elements of the single, but admittedly, the single sounds a bit dated or the opposite of futuristic.
Can’t say the same about the music video, however.
On top of a skyscraper, Cardi B debuts a fresh look in a futuristic, dominatrix fit with middle-part in tow. She walks up and down the sides of the building before the video cuts to her in an all-white room with modern tech as flames engulf her tresses and later, rocking a diamond-encrusted pendant of character Simon “Ghost” Riley just in time to promote the upcoming Call of Duty Modern Warfare II.
Durk shows up rapping atop a vehicle submerged in water and then, again, with Cardi on a gigantic, fallen golden statue in the middle of a sandy desert. Ye’s entry is the most futuristic. Scales vibrate to the beat on the top of a reflective water base with an overcast of mellow clouds. West sports his usual face coverings, along with a spiky hedgehog-style helmet using a motorcycle as an additional aesthetic.
So, while the single itself seems to have the curse of pandemic lag when it comes to energy levels, the music video gives just enough visual stimulation to make “Hot Sh!t” more likable.
The official music video for “Hot Sh!t” is directed by Lado Kvataniya, with Andrey Krauzov doing cinematography. Executive producers include Jeremy Sullivan, Brien Justiniano, and Frank Borin. Cardi B is signed to Atlantic Records.
Watch the Music Video Below:
