Cardi B Salute Meaning and Review

Cardi B’s track “Salute” from her second studio album Am I The Drama is a masterclass in confident, unapologetic rap. Opening with a minimal beat that emphasizes a booming bass, the song immediately sets a bold tone. The instrumental leaves plenty of space for Cardi’s commanding voice to dominate, creating an infectious energy that makes listeners feel her power and presence in every line. The stripped-back production works perfectly here, allowing the lyrics and flow to take center stage.

Lyrics and Themes

Lyrically, “Salute” is a celebration of success, resilience, and unapologetic femininity. Cardi flips a 2 Chainz track into her own anthem, infusing it with her signature personality and swagger. In the first verse, she paints a vivid picture of her rise from nothing, her luxury lifestyle, and her influence over fashion and culture. Lines like “I am the reference, yeah, I am the vision board / I put that shit on these bitches, they can't ignore” highlight her role as both a trendsetter and a mentor figure in the rap game. It’s confident without feeling boastful, a balance Cardi has perfected over her career.

Chorus and Hook

The chorus of “Salute” functions as both a rallying cry and a statement of solidarity. Repeating the phrase “Salute the real bitches” reinforces the song’s theme of empowerment, giving listeners a sense of inclusivity while still celebrating individual achievement. Cardi’s delivery here is infectious, her tone carries both pride and playfulness, inviting listeners to join in the celebration rather than merely admire from afar. It’s a hook that sticks immediately and feels both anthemic and personal.

Second Verse and Wordplay

In the second verse, Cardi turns up the intensity with her characteristic wordplay and braggadocio. She intertwines humor, sexual confidence, and luxury references seamlessly, rapping lines like “High off a molly, my breasts are like Dolly / I'm ridin' my nigga just like a Ducati.” The verse is playful yet precise, demonstrating her lyrical dexterity and knack for creating memorable imagery. Even in lines that could feel excessive, Cardi’s charisma and flow make everything land with effortless style.

Cardi B Salute Review 

“Salute” is a testament to Cardi B’s dominance and influence in contemporary hip hop. The minimal beat paired with heavy bass gives her space to shine, while her lyrical confidence and infectious energy make the track impossible to ignore. It’s a bold, empowering anthem that not only celebrates her success but also salutes the real bitches, those who hustle, rise, and stay authentic. Cardi B doesn’t just perform this track, she owns it, making “Salute” a standout moment on Am I The Drama.

Listen To Cardi B Salute 

Cardi B Salute Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of Salute by Cardi B is a bold celebration of confidence, empowerment, and authenticity. The track serves as an anthem for women who hustle, rise from humble beginnings, and embrace their individuality without apology. Through her lyrics, Cardi B highlights her personal journey from the “mud” to luxury and success while asserting dominance in both her career and cultural influence. The song blends braggadocio, playful wordplay, and vivid imagery of wealth, fashion, and lifestyle to create a powerful message: success is earned, authenticity is essential, and real women deserve recognition. At its core, Salute is both a personal declaration and a rallying cry to honor those who embody resilience and unapologetic self-confidence.

Introduction

The track opens with a series of repeated “yeah”s, setting an energetic and confident tone. The repetition immediately draws attention and creates anticipation for Cardi B’s verses. It functions as a vocal hype that establishes her presence and dominance on the track.

Verse 1: Confidence and Hustle

In the first verse, Cardi begins by questioning superficial loyalty, rapping, “You mean to tell me you'd die over nothin'?” and following it with, “Ho, everybody fuckin', that's the end of discussion.” She dismisses trivial conflicts and highlights her focus on real priorities rather than petty issues. She then reflects on her rise from humble beginnings with the lines, “Bitch like me that came out the mud / Might help somebody out 'cause I came up from nothin',” emphasizing both authenticity and mentorship. Cardi’s luxury lifestyle is highlighted in the line, “Big Bardi in a big-body Benz / With a big-body kit, put the lane over somethin',” referencing her customized car and suggesting dominance on the road while signaling her status and success. She asserts control in relationships with, “He getting mad, won't give him my number,” showing independence and selective interaction. The line, “Cup in the middle got me feelin' December,” uses alcohol as a metaphor while “December” conveys coldness, numbness, or reflective emotion, illustrating complexity behind her confident exterior.

Cardi continues by emphasizing her work ethic and the rewards of her labor, rapping, “Put in lotta work, I'm gonna kill it this summer / Been on a yacht, no ceilin' this summer.” These lines highlight her dominance and limitless potential. She reinforces her consistency and authenticity in the lines, “Bitch been bad, so it make you curious / Never switched up, so you can't be serious,” and warns those who disrespect her, “Disrespect me, yeah, you can't be serious.” Her references to luxury cars continue with, “I'm in a Lam', it can't be yours / I'm in a Urus, my whip premature,” showcasing both wealth and trendsetting status. Cardi exaggerates her influence with, “When I look around, I have children on childrens,” suggesting protégés or followers inspired by her. She declares her dominance in the industry and desire for recognition in the lines, “Killin' the game, my heart the purest / I need my flowers, now call the florist / I plant the seeds, it's time to flourish,” emphasizing growth, legacy, and reward for her hard work. She also cautions others with, “Don't turn on that street, it's not for tourists,” indicating respect for her world. Flexing her luxury lifestyle, she raps, “You know I'm livin' it up when I'm liftin' it up / Let a nigga know I came to stunt / Then we gon' park in the front, wasn't sittin' in the front / Let a nigga know I came to front,” asserting dominance both physically and metaphorically. Cardi also acknowledges her cultural impact in the lines, “This shit is bigger than us, let you know that it's bigger than us / 'Cause they pickin' it up / Takin' the lingo, the fashion, the foreign cars / Man, bitches is eatin' it up,” noting how others imitate her style, speech, and choices. She reinforces her status with, “I am the reference, yeah, I am the vision board / I put that shit on these bitches, they can't ignore,” while asserting her consistent hustle in, “Hustle too hard to ever be unemployed / Just like a Honda, got things in accord,” a pun on the Honda Accord that suggests stability and control in her career.

Chorus: Empowerment

The chorus, “Salute the real bitches,” repeated multiple times, functions as both a rallying cry and a statement of solidarity. Cardi celebrates women who are authentic, hardworking, and unapologetically themselves, creating an anthem of empowerment that invites listeners to join in the celebration of resilience and ambition.

Verse 2: Playful Bravado and Wordplay

In the second verse, Cardi heightens the energy with playful and provocative wordplay. She opens with, “High off a molly, my breasts are like Dolly / I'm ridin' my nigga just like a Ducati,” combining party imagery, sexual confidence, and high-energy metaphors. She continues with, “Choppin' the top off the car like karate,” highlighting luxury and modification with precision imagery. References to wealth and status appear in, “Eliantte put a bracelet up on me / Shorty tried stealin' my style, but I caught her / Send me a picture of drip and I bought it.” Cardi reinforces her iconic status with, “Bardi an icon and this is iconic,” while noting financial success through individuality in, “Made a few millions off talkin' Ebonics.” She contrasts positivity and success with negativity in, “I am too blessed to be talkin' demonic,” and emphasizes savvy with, “I switched the lies and gained the money.” Sexual confidence and luxury are blended in, “Rub on the thighs and kiss on the stomach / My watch is sick, it's makin' 'em vomit / My throat as long as a trumpet,” while loyalty and empowerment among her friends are highlighted in, “If my bitches say fuck it, then fuck it / Hold your partner up just like some crutches / Got her pussy wet just like a bucket, fuck it.”

Cardi B Salute 

The chorus repeats, reinforcing the central theme of empowerment and recognition of authenticity, celebrating women who are ambitious, resilient, and unapologetically themselves. “Salute the real bitches” serves as both a mantra and a declaration of solidarity, framing the song as an anthem of confidence and influence.

Cardi B Salute Lyrics 

[Intro]

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah, yeah

[Verse 1]

You mean to tell me you'd die over nothin'?

Ho, everybody fuckin', that's the end of discussion (End of discussion)

Bitch like me that came out the mud

Might help somebody out 'cause I came up from nothin' (Came up from nothin')

Big Bardi in a big-body Benz

With a big-body kit, put the lane over somethin' (Yeah)

He getting mad, won't give him my number

Cup in the middle got me feelin' December (Woo)

Put in lotta work, I'm gonna kill it this summer (Kill it this summer)

Been on a yacht, no ceilin' this summer (Summer)

Bitch been bad, so it make you curious

Never switched up, so you can't be serious (Yeah)

Disrespect me, yeah, you can't be serious (Huh)

I'm in a Lam', it can't be yours

I'm in a Urus, my whip premature

When I look around, I have children on childrens (Ah, haha)

Killin' the game, my heart the purest

I need my flowers, now call the florist

I plant the seeds, it's time to flourish

Don't turn on that street, it's not for tourists (Skrrt)

You know I'm livin' it up when I'm liftin' it up

Let a nigga know I came to stunt (Yeah)

Then we gon' park in the front, wasn't sittin' in the front

Let a nigga know I came to front (Woo)

This shit is bigger than us, let you know that it's bigger than us

'Cause they pickin' it up (Yeah)

Takin' the lingo, the fashion, the foreign cars

Man, bitches is eatin' it up (Eatin' it up)

I am the reference, yeah, I am the vision board

I put that shit on these bitches, they can't ignore

Hustle too hard to ever be unemployed

Just like a Honda, got things in accord

[Chorus]

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

[Verse 2]

High off a molly, my breasts are like Dolly

I'm ridin' my nigga just like a Ducati (Just like a Ducati)

Choppin' the top off the car like karate

Eliantte put a bracelet up on me

Shorty tried stealin' my style, but I caught her

Send me a picture of drip and I bought it (Ice)

Bardi an icon and this is iconic

Made a few millions off talkin' Ebonics

I am too blessed to be talkin' demonic (Talkin' demonic)

I switched the lies and gained the money

Rub on the thighs and kiss on the stomach

My watch is sick, it's makin' 'em vomit (Bleh)

My throat as long as a trumpet (Trumpet)

If my bitches say fuck it, then fuck it (Fuck it)

Hold your partner up just like some crutches (Yeah)

Got her pussy wet just like a bucket, fuck it (Woo)

[Chorus]

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (Salute)