Cardi B has addressed the backlash over ghostwriting and honored collaboration while receiving ASCAP’s Voice of the Culture Award.
The rapper fired back at critics and praised creative collaboration while accepting the ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award during a private ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 8).
The ‘Bronx’ rapper used her moment on stage to address long-standing criticism over her songwriting, making it clear that teamwork doesn’t erase authenticity. “I hate that I hate the idea that if you don’t write every line on your own, that it makes what you have to say not real,” she said.
“Music is a collaboration, it has always been. The biggest hits, the greatest records, come from teamwork. They come from sharing experiences, energy, pain, and joy. It’s not about ego, it’s about impact, and I love my team. I write, I co-write, I rewrite. I speak to what’s true to me.
“My pen, my mind, my feelings are in every verse and in every hook, and I respect every writer who brings their magic to the table. This award is not just for me. It’s for the culture, for every writer who helps shape it and makes us do something. Let’s keep pushing our pens and the power that comes with it.”
Cardi B
The comments come amid ongoing backlash from some Hip-Hop purists who believe rappers should pen every bar themselves. One critic wrote, “This is embarrassing to the culture.”
Another added, “So she basically saying – she don’t write her RAPS – it’s a collaboration/ team work. Man helllll nahhh!”
Still, not everyone was critical. Supporters praised Cardi B for her honesty and impact.
“I’m proud of you @iamcardib. These flowers and recognition you get for your writing and talent, that’s what matters. Not what haters say behind these pages. Please always remember that.”
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ASCAP Chairman Paul Williams applauded Cardi B for “redefining and challenging the norms for women” in Hip-Hop and called her “unapologetic authenticity and talent” a force in the culture.
Cardi B Claims Offset’s Cheating Hurt Her Pregnancy
The rapper opened up about the toll her estranged husband Offset’s alleged infidelity took on her during her recent pregnancy, revealing a deeply personal struggle that left her feeling “like I was going crazy.”
The “WAP” artist detailed how the emotional trauma manifested physically, marking a raw moment in her ongoing separation from the Migos star.
Cardi, who welcomed her third child with Offset last year, reflected on the final months of their relationship, which ended with her filing for divorce in late July 2024.
“Last year, I really felt like I was going crazy,” she admitted, her voice trembling as she spoke to fans. She attributed the distress to more than just the cheating rumors that have plagued their marriage, pointing to “constant lies, the gaslighting—it was really messing with my head and my body.”
The Bronx native suggested that the stress exacerbated physical symptoms during her pregnancy, though she stopped short of specifying medical details.
The couple, who share three children—Kulture, 6, Wave, 3, and their newest daughter, born in September 2024—have had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship since their secret 2017 wedding. Offset’s alleged infidelity has been a recurring issue, with past incidents fueling public speculation.
This time, Cardi B’s revelations paint a picture of a woman grappling with the psychological and physiological impact of betrayal while carrying a child. “It’s not just about him stepping out,” she said. “It’s how it tore me up inside, and I could feel it in my whole body.”
Despite the pain, Cardi B emphasized her current state of mind, noting she’s “the happiest I’ve been in a very, very long time.” Her comments come weeks after she was spotted courtside with NFL star Stefon Diggs at a New York Knicks game, fueling dating rumors.
She dismissed suggestions that these outings were meant to provoke Offset, instead framing her newfound freedom as a necessity for her mental health.
“If I were still there, I was going to end up going to jail,” she declared, echoing a fiery outburst, where she wished Offset a slow demise, a sentiment she later clarified as an expression of frustration rather than intent.
Offset has not publicly responded to Cardi’s latest statements, though their social media exchanges have historically been explosive.
Cardi’s disclosure adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing divorce proceedings, where she seeks primary custody of their children.
Sources close to the situation suggest the emotional strain she described could influence legal arguments, though no official court filings have referenced this yet.
As she navigates single motherhood and a budding post-Offset chapter, her openness about the trauma underscores a broader conversation about the impact of infidelity on mental and physical well-being, especially during vulnerable times like pregnancy.
For now, Cardi appears focused on healing, telling fans she’s cautiously exploring new connections while prioritizing her children. The hip-hop world watches closely, awaiting Offset’s next move, if any, in this unfolding saga of love, betrayal, and resilience.
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