Did Cardi B Deserve the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars?

The question on everyone’s mind is: did Cardi B deserve the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars? We break down the argument for and against to help you make up your mind.

Cardi B’s Career

Cardi B’s career skyrocketed in 2017 with the release of her single, “Bodak Yellow.” The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first female rapper to do so in 19 years. Cardi B’s debut album, Invasion of Privacy, was released in April 2018 and received critical acclaim. She won the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars in November 2018.

breakout moment

Cardi B’s career has been on a steady upwards trajectory since she first burst onto the scene with her breakout moment in 2016.

The Bronx-born rapper first gained notoriety for her viral videos on social media platform Instagram, which led to a starring role on the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York. It was during her time on the show that Cardi B began to gain a following for her catchy songs and humorous persona.

In 2017, Cardi B released her debut single, “Bodak Yellow,” which quickly rose to the top of the Billboard charts, making her the first female rapper to do so in nearly 20 years. The song’s success helped to solidify Cardi B as one of the most promising new artists in the music industry.

The following year, Cardi B released her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, which received critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s lead single, “I Like It,” earned Cardi B a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.

Cardi B continued to enjoy success in 2019 with the release of her single, “Money,” which became another chart-topping hit. She also made history by becoming the first female rapper to win two BET Awards in one night.

Most recently, Cardi B won the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars, cementing her place as one of the hottest names in music today.

commercial success

Cardi B’s career began when she rose to prominence as a cast member of the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2013. She released her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, in 2018, and received the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars in 2019. She has achieved five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and her single “WAP” peaked at number one on the Rolling Stone Top 100 chart. In 2020, Cardi B became the first woman of color to headline Coachella.

In October 2020, Forbes estimated Cardi B’s net worth to be $24 million, making her one of the richest female rappers in the world.

The Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show that honors the best in black music and entertainment. This year, Cardi B won the award for Rhythm & Bars. Did she deserve it? Let’s take a look.

history of the awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show that honors the best in Black music and entertainment. It is produced by the founders of Soul Train, Don Cornelius and Sylvia Rhone, and is hosted by BET Networks. The awards ceremony is held every November and is broadcast on BET.

The first Soul Train Music Awards show was held on February 17, 1987, at the Fox Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The show was created to celebrate the success of Black music and to recognize the contributions of Black artists to the music industry. The award show has been held annually since its inception, with the exception of 1988, when it was not held due to financial difficulties.

The award categories have changed over the years to reflect the changing landscape of Black music. Some of the original award categories included Best R&B Song, Best Rap Song, Best Gospel Performance, and Best New Artist. Over the years, new award categories have been added, such as Rhythm & Bars (formerly known as Best Hip-Hop Song) and Best Dance Performance. The Soul Train Music Awards also features special tribute performances to honor legendary Black musicians. past performers include Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, James Brown, and Prince.

Cardi B’s win

This year, the Soul Train Music Awards were held virtually on November 29th due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The awards show celebrates the best in Black music and culture, and this year’s show did not disappoint. One of the most talked-about moments of the night was Cardi B’s win for Rhythm & Bars (formerly known as Best Hip-Hop/Rap Song of the Year). Cardi B is only the second female rapper to ever win this award, and many people are wondering if she deserved it.

Here are some reason why people think she did:

1. Cardi B is one of the most popular rappers in the world right now. Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, was one of the highest-selling albums of 2018 and her singles “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It” were both #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

2. Cardi B is a talented lyricist. Not only can she spit fast verses, but she also has a way with words that few other rappers can match. She’s been praised for her clever use of metaphors and similes, as well as her ability to tell stories through her music.

3. Cardi B is unapologetically herself. In an industry that often tries to silence women, especially women of color, Cardi B has made it a point to be loud and proud about who she is. She doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, and she always speaks her mind – even if it means stepping on some toes.

Whether or not you think Cardi B deserved to win the award, there’s no denying that she’s one of the biggest names in hip hop right now. Love her or hate her, you can’t deny her talent or her impact on the music industry.

The Criticism

Some people argue that Cardi B did not deserve the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars because her song “Bodak Yellow” does not contain enough of the elements of hip hop.

Cardi B’s music

Cardi B’s music has been criticized for being “raunchy” and “explicit”, with some music critics and pundits suggesting that her success is due to the fact that she is catering to the “lowest common denominator”. In an interview with The Fader, Cardi B responded to these criticisms, saying: “I make music for people to have a good time. I don’t care how intelligent somebody is. Everybody deserves to have a good time”.

The award itself

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show that honors the best in African-American music. The awards were established in 1987 by Don Cornelius, the creator of the television show Soul Train. The award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist was first given out in 1996. In 2017, the award was renamed to Rhythm & Bars (the name of Cardi B’s debut single).

Cardi B won the award for Rhythm & Bars in 2018, becoming only the second rapper to ever win the award (the other being Lauryn Hill in 1999). Some have criticized the decision, saying that Cardi B is not a “traditional” R&B artist and that she does not deserve the award.

The Defense

When it comes to Cardi B, there is no middle ground. People either love her or they hate her. But there is no denying that the woman can rap. And she proved that when she won the Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars.

Cardi B’s music

Since the release of her breakout single, “Bodak Yellow,” Cardi B has taken the music world by storm. She is the first female rapper in over 20 years to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she currently has three songs in the top 10. Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making her only the fifth female rapper ever to do so.

Due to her massive success, Cardi B was nominated for eight Soul Train Music Awards, and she won three of them, including the award for Rhythm & Bars (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year). Some people have argued that she did not deserve to win this award because her music is not “real” hip hop. However, I believe that Cardi B’s music is just as valid as any other type of hip hop, and her success is well-deserved.

Cardi B’s music is a mix of trap and drill, two subgenres of hip hop that originated in the southern United States. Trap music is characterized by its heavy use of 808 bass drums and highly-synthesized melodies, while drill music is characterized by its dark and violent lyrical content. Cardi B’s lyrics often deal with topics such as money, sex, and relationships, and she has said in interviews that she tries to be as honest as possible in her music.

Some people argue that Cardi B’s lyrics are not “deep” enough to be considered real hip hop. However, I believe that all music should be judged on its own merits. Just because Cardi B’s lyrics may not be as deep or complex as those of other rappers does not mean that her music is any less valid. In my opinion,Cardi B’s biggest strength as an artist is her ability to connect with her fans on a personal level. Her lyrics are relatable and authentic, and they offer a unique perspective on life in America today.

Cardi B’s rise to fame has been meteoric, but I believe she is here to stay. She is a talented rapper with a unique style, and I think she has a bright future ahead of her.

The award itself

The Soul Train Music Award for Rhythm & Bars, formerly known as the Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year, is an annual award created and hosted by the television network BET. The award recognizes “songs that contain sublime rapping, intelligent use of cadence and metaphor, challenging subject matter, and overall top-notch performance.” In order to be eligible, a song must have been released within the eligibility period and received significant radio airplay or digital downloads.

Cardi B won the award for her song “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” at the 2017 Soul Train Music Awards. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 2017, making her the first female rapper to do so since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998.