Cardi B What's Going On Meaning and Review

Cardi B’s latest single, "What’s Going On," from her album Am I The Drama?, immediately grabs attention with its unexpected sampling of A-ha’s classic "Take On Me." The opening riff feels playful yet nostalgic, setting the tone for a track that blends personal vulnerability with Cardi’s signature boldness. Lizzo’s presence adds a dynamic layer, and the interplay between her melodic interpolation and Cardi’s sharp delivery creates a memorable, contemporary twist on a classic pop motif. Right from the start, the track feels like it is balancing familiarity with freshness.

Minimalist Production and Cardi’s Storytelling

The song’s structure relies on a minimalist beat that puts Cardi’s storytelling at the forefront. In her verses, she candidly details the frustrations and heartbreak of a faltering relationship, with unfiltered honesty and occasional humor. Lines like "He stopped sharin’ his location / I wonder why he got short conversations" capture the subtle irritations of modern romance, while her reference to intimacy adds a raw, unvarnished edge. Cardi’s delivery here is confident but vulnerable, allowing listeners to feel the emotional weight behind the braggadocio.

Lizzo’s Contribution

Lizzo’s contributions elevate the track further. Her interpolations of "Take On Me" in the chorus feel both nostalgic and inventive, creating a memorable hook that contrasts beautifully with Cardi’s straightforward verses. She also brings emotional resonance, her voice punctuating Cardi’s narrative with a mixture of encouragement and exasperation. The chorus serves as a thematic anchor: a catchy, singable refrain that underscores the confusion and frustration in a complicated relationship.

Emotional Depth and Empowerment

Verse two digs deeper into Cardi’s perspective, blending personal reflection with pointed observations about her partner’s betrayal. She balances lament with empowerment, acknowledging the pain while asserting her self-worth. Lines like "Findin’ a nigga that loved me more than you did / Is what I call payback for you, for real" highlight her resilience, turning heartbreak into a form of self-affirmation. Cardi’s storytelling is vivid and specific, making the song relatable while maintaining her signature unapologetic voice.

Cardi B What's Going On: A Standout Track

"What’s Going On" is a standout on Am I The Drama? because it combines nostalgic sampling, sharp lyricism, and strong vocal performances from both Cardi B and Lizzo. It is a track that balances humor, vulnerability, and empowerment, and it showcases Cardi’s growth as an artist who can deliver introspection without sacrificing her bold personality. By the end, listeners are left both nodding along to the catchy chorus and reflecting on the emotional honesty that underpins the entire song, a potent combination that makes it one of the album’s most memorable moments.

Listen To Cardi B What's Going On 

Cardi B What's Going On Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of “What’s Going On” by Cardi B is a raw exploration of love’s unraveling when neglect, dishonesty, and betrayal enter a relationship. Blending Lizzo’s soulful interpolation of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” with Cardi’s unfiltered storytelling, the track captures both the emotional confusion of a fading romance and the anger of confronting a partner’s failures. Lizzo’s soaring refrains highlight the bewilderment of asking what went wrong, while Cardi delivers vivid details about distance, lies, and infidelity that strip away illusions of loyalty. Together, they create a powerful narrative that balances vulnerability with empowerment, showing how love can both wound and strengthen.

Intro: Setting the Tone

The song begins with Lizzo singing, “Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah / Hey, yeah, yeah / I said hey, what's going on?” which directly interpolates 4 Non Blondes’ 1993 classic “What’s Up?” The refrain captures a sense of exasperation and confusion, framing the track as an open question about love and relationships. Her soulful tone establishes a mood of searching and frustration. Cardi then cuts in with “Ayy, what? (Hol' up) / Look”, breaking the flow with a sharp transition that signals her readiness to give her raw perspective. This juxtaposition immediately highlights the dynamic between Lizzo’s melodic delivery and Cardi’s blunt storytelling.

Verse 1: Signs of Distance

In the first verse, Cardi paints a picture of a relationship in decline. She opens with “What's goin' on? He stopped callin' (Callin') / Wasn't wakin' up to me in the mornin' (The mornin’)”, pointing out the absence of everyday intimacy. She follows with “No vacay, shit got borin' (Huh) / How you treat a bitch like me normal? (What?)”, expressing disbelief at being taken for granted despite her larger-than-life presence. The signs of neglect continue with “He stopped sharin' his location / I wonder why he got short conversations (Huh)”, which references digital behaviors as modern indicators of dishonesty. She expands on emotional and physical withdrawal through lines like “We not laughin’ (Not laughin’) / Stopped grabbin' my ass when he passin’ (Passin’)” and “Anniversary gifts started lackin’ (Lackin’).” Cardi’s frustration escalates into blunt honesty in “When I open my mouth, it's truthful / Nigga wasn't eatin' this pussy like he used to”, where she uses intimacy as a symbol for emotional distance.

Chorus: Revisiting Warnings

The chorus, delivered by both Lizzo and Cardi, reinforces these themes. Lizzo repeats “And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah / Hey, yeah, yeah / I said hey”, echoing the “What’s Up?” refrain as a cry of disbelief. Cardi responds with “I told his ass be careful with me, huh / What's going on? / I guess he thought I wouldn't practice what I preach, huh?” This directly recalls her 2018 single “Be Careful”, where she warned against betrayal. Here, she frames those earlier warnings as foreshadowing, emphasizing that her words carried weight. She further admits, “I let shit slide so many times that he got comfortable / What's going on? / Shit almost tore a bitch down, see, that's what love could do,” acknowledging how her forgiveness enabled complacency while also reflecting on how love can simultaneously empower and damage.

Verse 2: Betrayal and Empowerment

In the second verse, Cardi turns to explicit accusations and emotional contradictions. She begins with “Seems like every day, a new lie (Right) / You fuck anything with two eyes (Facts)”, bluntly calling out dishonesty and infidelity. This is contrasted with the sincerity of their past: “Nigga, on our wedding day, you cried (You cried) / You wrote down some beautiful vows (And then) / Gave my first beautiful child (And then).” These lines underline the depth of betrayal, as promises and family are undermined by hypocrisy, highlighted in “Told me you was quiet for all of these hoes / Come to find out you the one loud (Huh?).” Despite this, Cardi admits, “Still, I stay (Stay), I don't regret it (Regret it),” while asserting her self-worth with “Still ain't cheap (No), I ain't get credit (Huh?).” She emphasizes her honesty in “Told my truth (What?), and I ain't hit edit / I stood on shit like, 'Yeah, I said it’ (I said it).” The verse closes with empowerment: “You don't like that I moved on and I hate that for you (Hate that for you) / Tellin' yourself that I ain't that loyal (Ain't that loyal) / Findin' a nigga that loved me more than you did / Is what I call payback for you, for real.” Here, she frames moving on as both justice and healing.

Bridge and Outro: Final Release

The bridge adds further emotional weight. Lizzo begins with “I can feel it in the air when I step outside / I listen to my heart and it don't feel right,” using intuition to illustrate the atmosphere of doubt. She continues, “Got me feeling just a little peculiar (Uh-huh),” directly referencing the phrasing from “What’s Up?” Cardi then takes over with “Yeah, I told you I would put up with you one last time / But then you did too much and you crossed that line,” revealing that she had given a final chance only for it to be wasted. The frustration climaxes in “Now I scream from the top of my lungs, 'The fuck is going on?’” which flips the “What’s Up?” refrain into Cardi’s raw, explicit anger. The final chorus repeats this sentiment with “The fuck is going on? (What's going on?) / Shit almost tore a bitch down, see, that's what love could do.” Lizzo closes the song with “Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (What's going on?) / Hey, yeah, yeah (What's going wrong?) / I said hey, what's going on?” ending the track by shifting the refrain from “going on” to “going wrong,” underlining the total unraveling of the relationship.

Cardi B What's Going On Lyrics

[Intro: Lizzo, Cardi B]

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, yeah, yeah

I said hey, what's going on?

Ayy, what? (Hol' up)

Look

[Verse 1: Cardi B]

What's goin' on? He stopped callin' (Callin')

Wasn't wakin' up to me in the mornin' (The mornin')

No vacay, shit got borin' (Huh)

How you treat a bitch like me normal? (What?)

Ain't goin', I was gettin' impatient (Patient)

He draggin', I ain't racin'

He stopped sharin' his location

I wonder why he got short conversations (Huh)

What happened? We not laughin' (Not laughin')

Stopped grabbin' my ass when he passin' (Passin')

Wasn't mentally there, just actin' (Just actin')

Anniversary gifts started lackin' (Lackin')

What's goin' on? I ain't never knew you (Knew you)

Didn't think about givin' up too soon (Too soon)

When I open my mouth, it's truthful

Nigga wasn't eatin' this pussy like he used to

[Chorus: Lizzo, Cardi B]

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, yeah, yeah

I said hey

I told his ass be careful with me, huh

What's going on?

I guess he thought I wouldn't practice what I preach, huh?

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Uh-huh)

Hey, yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)

I said hey

I let shit slide so many times that he got comfortable

What's going on?

Shit almost tore a bitch down, see, that's what love could do

[Verse 2: Cardi B]

Seems like every day, a new lie (Right)

You fuck anything with two eyes (Facts)

How can you treat me like I ain't shit? (How?)

Nigga, on our wedding day, you cried (You cried)

You wrote down some beautiful vows (And then)

Gave my first beautiful child (And then)

Told me you was quiet for all of these hoes

Come to find out you the one loud (Huh?)

Still, I stay (Stay), I don't regret it (Regret it)

Still ain't cheap (No), I ain't get credit (Huh?)

Told my truth (What?), and I ain't hit edit

I stood on shit like, "Yeah, I said it" (I said it)

You don't like that I moved on and I hate that for you (Hate that for you)

Tellin' yourself that I ain't that loyal (Ain't that loyal)

Findin' a nigga that loved me more than you did

Is what I call payback for you, for real

[Chorus: Lizzo, Cardi B]

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, yeah, yeah

I said hey

I told his ass be careful with me, huh

What's going on?

I guess he thought I wouldn't practice what I preach, huh?

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Uh-huh)

Hey, yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)

I said hey

I let shit slide so many times that he got comfortable (Yeah)

What's going on?

Shit almost tore a bitch down, see, that's what love could do

[Bridge: Lizzo, Cardi B]

I can feel it in the air when I step outside

I listen to my heart and it don't feel right

Got me feeling just a little peculiar (Uh-huh)

Yeah, I told you I would put up with you one last time

But then you did too much and you crossed that line

Now I scream from the top of my lungs, "The fuck is going on?"

[Chorus: Lizzo, Cardi B]

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, yeah, yeah (Hey, yeah, yeah)

I said hey

I told his ass be careful with me, huh

What's going on?

I guess he thought I wouldn't practice what I preach, huh?

And I said hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Uh-huh)

Hey, yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)

I said hey

I let shit slide so many times that he got comfortable (Yeah)

The fuck is going on? (What's going on?)

Shit almost tore a bitch down, see, that's what love could do

[Outro: Lizzo]

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (What's going on?)

Hey, yeah, yeah (What's going wrong?)

I said hey, what's going on?