Cardi B is mad. When you’re on the lips of everyone, the oversaturation of your image and music can (undeservedly) start to rub people the wrong way, and few of today’s artists know this better than 2018’s highest-selling female rapper. After a year of nonstop accolades and shit talk, she’s ready to address all the negativity on “Press.” Over an ominous, minimalist beat — a couple bells here, a few hi-hats there — and multilayered vocals, Cardi takes her own shots at detractors in the media to inspiring effect.
Things are made quite clear from the get-go, the rapper declaring “bitches be pressed” before launching into two scathing verses. With a punchy flow that has become her calling card, Cardi is particularly bloodthirsty in her bars here; the most exciting moments here include “murder scene, Cardi made a mess” and “they suckin’ on my dick with no teeth.” The chorus shows the rapper’s self-awareness, telling her devout listeners “Cardi don’t need more press.” At just under two-and-a-half minutes, there’s not a whole lot to unpack on “Press,” but Cardi delivers plenty of tabloid fodder in such a limited amount of time.
Rating: 4/5