Review: Rap Queen Cardi B Gives the Target Center A Short, Yet Sweet Show
The streaming-era hits came at a non-stop pace.
Photo: DerekPlease.com
Bronx babe Cardi B is currently the biggest name in the rap game, and the greats know to always keep the fans wanting more. Cardi did just that, only spending 50 minutes on stage at Minneapolis’ Target Center on Saturday night. In the process, she made history as the first female MC to sell out an arena in the Twin Cities. It was easy to see why, as the crowd absolutely roared along to Billboard Hot 100 #1s like “I Like It,” Maroon 5 collaboration “Girls Like You,” and breakthrough single “Bodak Yellow.”
Cardi B knows these stats and what they mean. She flaunted all her grandeur, dressed in a sparkly black-and-blue catsuit she admitted was too tight and sweaty. Maybe so, as she had a slight wardrobe malfunction that nobody alerted her to throughout the night. The rapper-singer even took victory laps around the stage between numbers to indulge herself in some karaoke. “It’s still karaoke night,” she teased, as she sang slightly off-key snippets of location-specific songs like “Minnesota” by Lil Yachty, “I Would Die 4 U” by Prince, and “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo.
Photo: DerekPlease.com
Saturday’s spectacular was one of only six arena dates on her summer 2019 tour, which is otherwise exclusively hitting outdoor festivals. It showed, as the sort of-scant stage seemed more geared toward an outdoor setting. Besides an impressive fire and smoke show in the front, there weren’t many typical arena show tricks on display.
The former stripper kept things sexy with a troupe of 10 female dancers that surrounded her on a multi-platform staircase-like stage, as well as props like a shiny motorcycle during Migos’ “MotorSport." That song was one of many snippets she performed of just her verses from collaborative songs. Others included “Backin’ It Up” with Pardison Fontaine, “No Limit” with G-Eazy, and “Please Me” & “Finesse" with Bruno Mars. With 22 shortened songs in 50 minutes, Cardi B redefined “all killer, no filler.” It even gave her a bit of whiplash. Needing a break, the 26-year-old star admitted, “I got asthma. I would die for y’all, but you know I got a kid. I gotta make it to 75 or something.”
Photo: DerekPlease.com
In defense of Cardi B's slim runtime, let’s consider that most major pop tours feature video or dancer-assisted interludes while their stars change backstage. Maybe her one outfit, festival-ready 50 minutes was the time audiences actually spend witnessing Cher or Britney Spears on stage. Also, perhaps if Cardi hadn’t cut multiple verses out of her own hits like “I Like It,” she could have pushed the runtime over the one-hour mark. The crowd did seem to be waiting for a non-existent encore. In the words of her hype man, though, “There aren’t any rules at a Cardi party.”
Kevin Gates
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The night’s second opening act, enigmatic rapper Kevin Gates took the Target Center stage like it was nothing, yet everything at the same time. Casually dressed and casually talking about heartbreak, he introduced his set with a confession — he wasn’t feeling well, emotionally. This was reflected in about half the songs the Louisiana native performed Saturday night. The other half were hard bangers about hard topics. He spoke a lot about gender roles, mostly heteronormative and traditional ones. Like men being providers, protectors and the “tough” ones in their families. It was unclear why he subscribes to these old school notions, but Gates also admitted he had been “in and out of jail” since he was 13.
“I don’t regret any of that,” he admitted, "because if I hadn’t gone through that I wouldn’t be with you tonight.” The crowd loved his confessional nature, and cheered loudly as he frequently teased he might take his shirt off. He never did, but he bared a lot more that night — his soul. He even led the arena in a prayer before silently exiting the stage.
Saweetie
Photo: DerekPlease.com
Right at 7, “Fairy Vibemother” herself DJ Miss Milan took the stage to warm up the crowd. She introduced the night’s first opening act, California rapper Saweetie. Saweetie emerged onstage dressed in a matching furry purple panty and bra set, black fishnets, six-inch heels, and a beehive updo recalling Amy Winehouse’s ‘00s heyday. She confirmed the color choice was a tribute to Prince — “Rest in peace Prince; such a legend!” Whipping a purple boa to the ground, she said, “If you’re here with your best friend, let me hear you make some noise.”
The crowd went wild as she continually played her “Icy” producer tag stinger and hyped up her label, Icy Records. Dressed in all white, her dancers threw branded t-shirts into the crowd. While Saweetie claimed she was sick, and that her doctor advised her against performing, the way she effortlessly spit bars along to the track sounded like she was pulling through just fine. She saved her biggest hit, “My Type” for last, and the crowd lived for it.
What’s your favorite Cardi B song? Let me know! @DerekPlease on Twitter
