Cardi B returns to the rap scene with the release of her “Like What” freestyle. After what fans described as a short music break, the rapper announced the song’s release earlier this week. Following the new single release, supporters can’t help but wonder if the recording artist is preparing to drop an album this year.
With the New York native’s strong online presence, it won’t take long for them to find out. Cardi B is very open with her fans and connects with them through her social media channels. Whether it’s a story time on Instagram Live or a series of tweets on her latest thoughts, fans stay connected with the artist in every moment. She shares everything from her relationship drama to positive, confidence boosting mantras.
Outside of music, jokes and personal life moments, Cardi B uses her platform to speak on important topics. The rapper uses her platform to inform the public on different political topics, including budget cuts and voting. Here are three situations where Cardi B educated her fans outside of rap.
Urging President Biden to Cancel Student Debt
Student loan forgiveness continues to be an ongoing issue and conversation that the Biden Administration is finding ways to address. The SAVE and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs have aided in the financial hardship, but the concern persists. On her platform, Cardi B spoke about the financial strains of higher education. She advocated for the possibility of tuition-free public schools.
“When I was in college, I didn’t get any more [free] transportation,” Cardi B said, during an interview with President Joe Biden for ELLE Magazine. “So I had to get a job, because I needed $5 every single day to be able to go from Washington Heights to Chambers Street. And I had to feed myself. Sometimes I had to wait from 1 p.m. all the way to 9 p.m. to get home to eat because I couldn’t afford McDonald’s or any restaurants on my break.”
Cardi B went on to say that she was “starving” and felt “discouraged.” She shared this vulnerable moment with the president and the public, as a snapshot into the life of a student. It showcased the many reasons it’s important to finance students, while they’re in college.
Calling Out the Rise of Groceries Due to Inflation
Being a multi-millionaire doesn’t stop Cardi B from raising awareness about increased food costs. In 2023, the rapper tweeted about the rise in grocery prices after looking at her receipts. While she faced mixed feedback, some social media users appreciated her vocalizing the concern impacting households nationwide.
She tweeted about her experience going to the supermarket and seeing that cost of everything tripled, noting that lettuce was “like $2 a couple months ago” and now it’s around $7.
“Because if I think that s— is crazy, I can only imagine what middle-class people or people in the hood are motherf—— thinking,” she said. “So yes, I’m going to say something.”
Bringing Attention to the Origins of Social Security
In a 2018 conversation with GQ, Cardi B shared how she admired former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts to address the challenges during the Great Depression. She also pointed out that Roosevelt was behind implementing social security. Her comment prompted Senator Bernie Sanders to tweet in agreement with the musician’s statement on it.
“First of all, he [Roosevelt] helped us get over the Depression, all while he was in a wheelchair,” the artist said, during the GQ interview. “Like, this man was suffering from polio at the time of his presidency, and yet all he was worried about was trying to make America great—make America great again for real. He’s the real ‘Make America Great Again,’ because if it wasn’t for him, old people wouldn’t even get social security.”