Cardi B Opens Up About Overcoming Fear And Finding Confidence In 360 Interview
Cardi B revealed a vulnerable side in a recent interview on the Complex series 360 with Speedy. The Grammy-winning rapper confessed to feeling “afraid” of negative feedback throughout 2023, leading her to retreat from public appearances.
The 31-year-old artist expressed her struggles, admitting, “I just feel like I lost myself with everything.” She cited the pressure from music commenters and the constant scrutiny as factors that fueled her apprehension. Despite her past success with hit singles like Money, Up, WAP, and Press, Cardi disclosed that fear hindered her creativity and productivity in 2023.
While the rapper has maintained a prominent presence in the music industry, releasing singles such as Bongos with Megan Thee Stallion, she acknowledged a decline in her public engagement last year. The fear of judgment prevented her from going live, sharing photos, or even participating in social events, according to her.
“I just feel like I lost myself with everything, you know, like, a lot of music commenters and everything and a lot of people just be like, you know, ‘She’s afraid to drop an album, she’s afraid to drop music.’ Last year, I barely dropped music. It’s just like I was just afraid to do everything,” she shared.
“I was afraid to go live, I was afraid to post a picture, I was afraid to go to the club, and then the next day seeing people, what they going to say about me, and everything,” she shared.
Furthermore, Cardi’s reluctance to address political and social issues, a departure from her previous outspokenness, surprised many fans. Known for her candid discussions with political figures like Bernie Sanders and President Joe Biden, Cardi revealed her reluctance, stating, “I love talking about politics and everything. I don’t even want to talk about it anymore because I’m just so afraid of just getting dragged every single f—ing day. Like, I’m tired.”
Despite her challenges, Cardi said she is gradually regaining her confidence. So far in 2024, she has released two solo singles, Like What (Freestyle) and Enough (Miami), indicating a resurgence in her creative output. Her recent appearance on stage with Madonna at the Queen of Pop’s Celebration Tour in L.A. signals her growing comfort with public exposure.
In the interview, Cardi emphasized her desire to prioritize her fans and focus less on external opinions. She acknowledged her supporters’ role in her success, saying, “I should be catering to you, ’cause you’re the ones that put money in my pocket, and you’re the ones that love me.”
