Before seeing all the videos for the Cardi B concerts for the Little Miss Drama Tour, I wasn’t going to check it out. My entire TikTok feed was Cardi B videos. These videos had people screaming “yasss” or and writing novels in the comment section. Clips showing Cardi B dancing, wearing revealing outfits, and making people argue whether her moves were entertaining or inappropriate were gaining millions of views. Then, people went crazy to the “guitar” moment, arguing whether it was out of line or if it was Cardi B just being Cardi. After that, it was more than just a concert tour. Cardi B made it a TikTok viral moment because in TikTok, going viral is as essential as the music being performed.
Many of the positive attributes of this tour rest under the assumption that Cardi B is not just going to show up to a venue, pull out some pre-recorded verses, and just rap over her own music. While that is a way to make money in the music industry, Cardi B is going to provide a high-energy performance that justifies the price of admission. In the video clips of the shows that have surfaced, the fans look to be heavily engaged up and throughout all of the songs. Beyond just a rap show, Cardi B is going to put on a show. Over the years, some fans have thought about booking a Cardi B show just so that they can enjoy the high confidence that Cardi B has so that even the fans are going to appreciate a fully confident and high energy performance from Cardi B.
Now, it may start to appear dishonest. There are moments in the tour where it looks like it’s being designed to go viral, with little emphasis on the music. It is more about making trends with their videos. The videos being reposted are usually not about her vocal ability or the quality of her performance, but about the shocking thing she did. The “guitar” performance is a typical instance of this phenomenon. It surprised many, but not in the context of a music discussion. Eventually, it starts to move away from the realm of art and more toward commerce. It makes you ask, is it meant to entertain the fans in the arena, or the people watching from their screens?
Then, it is also strange how her history is once again being used. Cardi B had already spoken about her past previous as an exotic dancer. The tour has sparked a renewed conversation about it, though, and not in a more positive light. Some people say her shows are reflective of that part of her past, while others say that she is just reclaiming her history and cashing in on it while she can. Regardless of the position taken, it serves as yet another distraction.
It seems unfair that people reduce her to where she came from instead of her growth as an artist, even if she does lean into that image at times during her performances.
The most disturbing part is how quickly everything turns into judgment instead of appreciation. Instead of talking about someone’s hard work and stage presence, people critique her for how she acts. It is less about her achievements and more about how she is “too much,” “too explicit,” or “not appropriate.” While some of this criticism is justified, it seems that people are holding her to a standard that they do not expect from others.
The Little Miss Drama Tour is, at the end of the day, exactly what it says on the tin – Loud, dramatic, and hard to miss. It is clear that Cardi B isn’t trying to please everyone. She is putting on a performance that will get people talking about it, for better or worse. And honestly, in a world where attention is everything, that might be the smartest move she could make.
