“Am I the Drama?” The question that started the conversation. With the title of her second studio album, Cardi B accomplished what most communications fail to achieve: genuine two-way dialogue. The interrogative title was an invitation for engagement, a vulnerability that asked audiences to participate in the narrative rather than passively consume it. In lieu of declaring her position, Cardi B created space for conversation, a platform of exchange capable of support multifaceted connection. Her approach is a stark contrast to industry norms of posturing publicly, where campaigns retreat into corporate headquarters to copy, paste and polish plastic. From the tangible title, Cardi B planted herself directly in the cultural garden of everyday human experience. The title quickly sprung up in the form of:
A Sidewalk Vendor
By positioning herself in the economic reality her music addresses—hustle, grind, resourcefulness—she made her values physically experiential rather than merely conceptual. Her NYC Street vendor theater balanced celebrity with humility offering hope to real humans grappling with real challenges. A recent grad grinding to realize a dream of their own. A mid-career professional refusing to settle in pursuit of growth. The inspiration was audience agnostic. It was universally human.
The Bodega Pop up
The appearance at a Washington Heights bodega exemplifies what happens when public relations revolve around authentic human exchange. The raw moment opted for innate spontaneity over staged lighting and choreographed interactions. It was Cardi B, the larger-than-life entertainer, juxtaposed against a pedestrian neighborhood space, made special by community. The contrast of the moment, not in its production value, made media coverage inevitable.
Breaking Down Facades
The quintessence of Cardi B’s intent in this public relations campaign is to humanize her celebrity persona and create genuine connections by exposing her authentic self and shared human commonalities. Her PR intends to make her connection with fans more authentic and human, showing that despite fame, she shares everyday struggles and vulnerabilities. This strategy effectively bridges the gap between Cardi B the celebrity and Cardi B the individual, making her more accessible, real, and relatable to her audience. Fostering closeness, not calculated distance. Building trust through consistency and the courage to be… human.
The PR Inversion
Cardi B’s “Am I the Drama?” strategy demonstrates that the best public relations is building authentic interactions with the public. In an era of infinite information and sophisticated manipulation, audiences crave the irreplaceable authenticity of genuine human connection. Experiencing is believing.
Existing and aspiring PR Baddies should:Invite audiences into real conversationsAudiences engage more deeply in dialogue than deliver one-sided messages. Questions, by nature, invite or open exchanges. Create space/opportunities for participation, feedback, and emotional investment.
Make values tangible
Values become more credible when physically demonstrated in real-world contexts instead of only stated verbally. When principles are embodied through lived experiences—such as Cardi B aligning with street vendors to reflect hustle and resilience—audiences are more likely to perceive those values as authentic and aspirational.
Transform “everyday” into distinct memory placards
Ordinary locations and moments can become powerful cultural markers when connected to meaningful interactions. The Washington Heights bodega pop up elevated a common space into a collective memory that linked Cardi B to community identity and authenticity, leaving an enduring impression. At this point earned media serves as a reinforcer. Cloud Deli is an ever-present reminder that Cardi B was here.