Aspire with Emma Grede - Her Next Money Move: Cardi B is Tired of Making Everyone Else Rich

Episode Date: March 31, 2026

Emma sits down with Cardi B, global superstar, entrepreneur, and now founder, to talk about what actually changed once she understood where her power sits. Cardi didn’t come into this industry with a co-sign. She came in figuring it out in real time, investing her own money, navigating bad deals, and slowly realizing she’d been making everyone else rich before herself. Now, as a two-time Grammy winner and a mother of four, she’s launching Grow-Good, her own haircare brand, and stepping into a new level of ownership. Cardi shares: Why getting burned early became her best business education What she looks for in partners now, and what she won’t tolerate How she shifted from quick money to ownership and equity Why this moment feels urgent, and what she’s building toward How she’s balancing motherhood, relationships, and ambition Where do you need to stop settling and start taking control? Drop it in the comments, we’re reading. And subscribe to Aspire with Emma Grede so you don’t miss what’s next. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit emmagreed.com to purchase the book, also available on Amazon, your favorite audio platforms, and all good bookshops. Okay, my darlings, don't say I don't give you anything because today we have a real one. It's the one and only Cardi B. Oh my goodness. How I have waited for this girl to sit in this chair, I cannot even tell you. We're going to talk all about her brand new brand grow good, which I'm really interested in. She gives us, all the tea. We also speak about becoming a mother of Ford. We talk about the money. You know I'm going in. I just am so excited for you to listen to this episode. Here we go, Cardi B. And don't forget to like and subscribe. You might not be able to drop everything and book a ticket to Italy, but you can go to the theatre on April the 10th for you, me and Tuscany. Will Packer, the guy that produced Girlstrip, brings us a brand new Roncom with all the ingredients of your favourite classics. huge laughs and sizzling chemistry

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And before everyone interviews you, they say the same thing. They say, oh my God, Cardi, you've been on my dream list, you've been on my wish list. And I was like, I can't start like that. But then I wouldn't be being true to myself. I have to tell you right from the get-go, from the beginning of starting this, we're like, We want Cardi. And I'm here. You are here.

You are here. And it is so amazing to have you. and to have you just sit in here in the flesh. I've got so many questions that I want to ask you. Yeah. And I know because you're you, you're going to answer all of them. I have to answer all of them. You're going to answer all of them.

And she's going to be speaking in a British accent by the end of the... It's getting there, but I don't want to do it, but it's like, oh. I know it's going to come out. I actually, I will be disappointed if it doesn't. So listen, I feel like you are and you mean so many things to so many people. You are an incredible artist. You're an icon. You're a mother of four kids.

You are a businesswoman and a trailblazer. But I really want to ask you, at this season of your life, at this moment of your life, who are you and how do you define yourself right now? Right now, I feel like I'm a totally new person. Yes, like I feel like my life have changed so much in a span of a year.

Because it's just like, okay, not only do I got four kids. So even like my, it's so insane. Like it's like your house dynamic changes from three to four. And it's so weird, right? Because it's like, oh, it's just three to four. But it's like, no, the dynamic has changed so much in my home. I'm balancing my work.

And I'm balancing like, oh, how am I going to do so many things that I want to do without giving attention to all that little in my life? like my family, my career. And I just feel like it's like I'm a grown-up now. Like I feel like I am a grown-up for real. I always be like, I'm just a kid. I'm just a kid, but I'm not, I'm not. I'm a grown-up.

And it's like, oh, it's so much. I love that. Cardi B's a grown-up. I mean, you really are. You've got so much going on. I wonder how you're even thinking about it. When you start and you look at your life and the four kids and everything that you've got going on,

you feel overwhelmed by it? How do you actually just look at everything and think about how you're going to attack the next few years of your life? I get overwhelmed when I think about it and I write it down. And then I just be like, you know what? It's all going to work out.

Everything have worked out. Because last year when I was pregnant, I'm like, okay, how am I going to put out an album while I'm pregnant? And there's so much promo to do. There's so much pictures to take. there's so much performances to do. And I was like, I'm going to do it.

And I did it. So now that 2026 that I have a tour coming up, I'm negotiating my European tour, and I got these businesses coming up. It's like, you know what? Stop thinking too much. Just take it day by day. Just do a little bit of something.

And you'll be okay. And it's like, you know what? I am going to be okay. Of course you're going to be okay. I got it. But before we get into the business of cars, B, because this is what we're here to talk about. They're here to talk about you as a business.

I want you to kind of go back to the beginning because I think if one thing comes through about you over and over again, is this sort of level of ambition that has always been there. So I want to understand, like, what part of you as a kid, as a little girl, still exist there today? Oh, that's such a good question, because I feel like when I was a little girl, I really hated being poor because I love clothes so much. I love clothes so much.

And I used to look up to Dad So Raven so much. But it's like the reason why I can't dress like her and have certain things is because I was poor. And I just always hated that. Like I know I know I do not belong in an apartment in the Bronx. Like I always knew that. Like, it's like, I know that this cannot be my ending. But I don't really enjoy school. I enjoy history, but it's like, I know that that is not my calling.

Like being a history teacher, it was just not my calling. And then my mom, I always wanted to make her proud. And she always used to like brag about like, look at your cousins. During Syracuse University, one of them is this, this, isn't that. She's graduating now. Like, what are you girls are doing? What are you girls are doing? And it's like, I have to do something.

I have to own some type of business. I have to do one thing to make my mom proud. And not only did I surpass that, but it's like, I just want more. Like, I can't help it. Like, I just know that it's like, I'm not done here. And that's what just makes me. I just hate it being poor. Like, I just fucking hate being poor.

I swear to God, there's nothing that you could say that could resonate with me more. Like, I hated being poor so much. Yeah. And, you know, I think now we talk so much. about purposing business and wanting to do something that kind of, you know, like, it's like deep-seeded and deep root in. But everything that I wanted to do from the beginning was because I just didn't want to be poor. Yes.

So I guess like when you think about where the drive and ambition comes from now, because you ain't poor. That what is driving you and motivating you at this point in your career? I want to leave like a legacy for like my kids. Like I want to leave a legacy for my kids. and it's not even really about power. I just really feel like it's like sometimes I be thinking like it's like this is not fair. I feel like I'm making everybody super super super rich and I need to be super.

I need to make me super super super rich. I feel like I'm helping out everybody and I'm getting the short end of the state. So it's like I have to find what makes me happy because I don't want to, I don't want to be an owner or I mean, I would. But it's like I would and I could and I can. I don't want to sell something that is like I'm not really knowledgeable in and I don't really care much and it's like, you know what?

I'm going to make a business about things that I really like about things that I really put my time in and no, I'm not going to make somebody else rich off of it. I'm going to make myself rich off of it. I like clothes. I made my hair healthy again myself. So it's like, oh my God,

I'm going to be my own owner of the own shit that I'm, like and that's what I'm going to do. Well, I feel like you've been on this journey to be such a founder and an entrepreneur for a long time, right? But before we go back, because when I look at you, what I find so impressive is before all of the fame, you were an entrepreneur because you were someone that invested in yourself. It wasn't like you were plucked from obscurity from a, you know, by a record label.

It was like you were working to make yourself seen. You were investing in your own money. Will you talk a little bit about that? because I feel like for so many people and for so many women, like taking a bet on themselves is a very, very difficult step to take. But you've been doing that for the longest time. Yes. My first manager, he was like connected with people that are popular.

He used to produce music, but he didn't have money. But I was making money. So I was investing in my music career. I was investing in my studio time. I was investing in my own clothes. It was never managers. It was never a label that cut me a check. Like, it's that, oh, here.

If you want to get into fashion, here's a check for you. And you could invest in fashion and go to fashion shows and everything. Everything I had to invest in me. It was never like I had a manager and he believed in me and he invested so much money. He was doing the work, but I was investing every single dollar that I made every single night hosting these clubs, promoting T-shirts, promoting other people's business to my music career. And it paid off.

I mean, it really paid off. I want to know if you had a vision for yourself. Like I always talk about having a very clear vision for what it was that I want to do. But some people are not like that. They just know they need to get out of their situation. Did you have a big plan? Were you like, I'm going to take this $15,000 and put it here

because I know that's going to get me there. And then I've got this big grand plan. Like, what did that look like then? I'm trying to, again, for people that have like a dream and they know that they're in the wrong place, I just want to understand, like, how you did it. Even like with my first music video, I was just like, I have to put out this music. Like, I have to turn my personality and I got to put it in the music and I got to put it in the music video. Even with that, I was like, I had to pay like some influencers that they were like really funny at the time.

I had to pay them. And I was just like kind of upset. Like it's like, they're like, they. Damn, I'm going to have $2,000 left when I'm finished with this. But it's like, I was saying myself, like, if I get a million views on YouTube, I can make about $30,000 with this music video and people would take me more serious as an artist.

Because some people think, some people think that when you start off in a reality show and when you're really funny like me, it's really hard to convince people that you're being serious. It's like, yeah, yeah, you want to do music. And it's like, no. I really want to do music. Like, I went to so many different labels,

and it was just like, oh, this person in a reality show try to do music, it didn't work out. So I'm not really sure. We want to see what it looked like after the TV show airs out, and we want to see how does that go for you? And it's like, you know what?

Fine. I don't need your money. I just invest it on myself. I'll just do it myself. I just do it on myself. Like, even like, the money that I was getting for love and hip-hop, I was investing it all in my music.

And like sometimes I really, I wanted to buy a, I wanted to buy a chain. I wanted to buy a nice Chanel bag. I wanted that. But it's like this first, like this first. And I was so committed and it happened for me. I mean, it just shows a lot of focus and a lot of self-belief for you at that point in your career to decide. Like, that's what I'm going to do. I guess what you're describing is that you were massively underestimated.

Do you still feel like you're underestimate? I feel like I'm underestimated, but I feel like the second album changed a lot of, a lot of that. For real. Like it's like, my first album did great and I have gotten Grammys and everything, but people kept like saying like, can she do it again? And I did it again. Did you know you could do it again? Yes.

Because I believe in the music. I think people don't understand this, right? Like it's like, I get so much money for a show. I get millions of dollars for a show, right? but in order to make a show, you just got to put on music. I could do a song in two days. Like, I could put out so many songs,

not that great quality. It doesn't matter what the quality is. They're going to pay me for a show. But I want it to be fucking good. I want it to be great. And that's what happened with my second album. And it's like, everything was great. And it's like, okay.

So now I have like this insane confidence now because it's like I did it again. I showed it out again. you really have shown everyone. And I think there's been so much chatter about the gap that you've taken. But when, and I mean from a music point, if you write, the gap between albums.

But what I see is somebody that has been consistently building a brand in all of those years because your business outside of just pure music has exploded in those years. And I'd love you to talk about like, you know, because I feel like, again, you're so multi-dimensional as a talent.

There's so much to you. And in the world of, of Cardi, not to mention that, you know, you've got this unbelievable, beautiful young family that you're raising. And so what's this last few years of your life felt like? Every year is different. Every year is different. That's true. Every year is a bit different for you. It's a bit different, but I feel like last year, a new person, like, was, like, reborn. Really?

Yeah. I don't know if it was, like, the divorce or I don't know. if something just woke me up, and I feel like I'm definitely a new, a new person. And I don't even know how to explain it. Like, it's really, it's really weird to, like, explain because I just feel like it's like, I have to do things, like, for myself now, for real. And I got to take things serious, for real.

Like, it's like, it's like now or never. Like, a lot of artists or, like, celebrities that, like, have, like, really big major businesses that are successful, they didn't build their brand on the second or third year of being big celebrities. Like, they build their brand

when they're like seven to eight to 10 years in the business. And I feel like right now is the perfect time. And so many things are changing now. Like, nowadays, these kids, they're watching streamers. I don't even know almost nobody's,

no streamer name or nothing. I don't even know what six, seven means. I don't know what six, seven means. I don't know, nothing. Like, it's like, it's like, you got to take advantage of the moment now. And I feel like now is the moment. Before, before I go, man crazy, before I get too comfortable, before I be like, oh, my back hurt, or before anything, I have to do it now. Like, this is the year. I'm 33 years old. I'm in my Jesus year. I'm in my Orisha year. And it's like, this is the year.

it's like God is telling me, like, it's like it's going to be now or never. Take advantage of it. It's like Jesus is telling me it. It feels like there's some like urgency. Where does that come from? Because it is the time. Even like even when I went to Saudi Arabia, right? Like I went to Saudi Arabia and I know I'm famous and everything,

but it's like I went to the mall and everybody was just coming to me. And that's when I was. You didn't expect that? I didn't expect that because I thought that the country was so strict. I was thinking. Like it's like, damn, do people even look at my videos? Do people even think? And it's like, wow, I'm really a big deal.

So many people know me. I have to take advantage of this moment now. Like, I know that I'm famous, but it's like, it's even crazier when you go to a different country and you be like, damn, I'm really, really famous. These people really, really know me. And it's like, I have to take advantage of this moment now. That's another thing. People procrastinate too much. Don't waste them.

moment, don't waste the time. You might not get the opportunity again. Sometimes it's that one time. I mean, you could do it next year. You could do it next year after. But it's like that it'd be that one time that it'd be like, this is your moment, girl. And that was when you should have done it. Then that's when you should have done it. Don't lose that shit. It's right now, right now. Right now. I really want to switch into the business of being Cardi B. And you said that this feels like your moment. Yeah. You've spent like a very, very long time doing a myriad of different types of deals. Like you've had a lot of different brand partners. So I really want to understand some of the lessons that you've learned from doing those partnerships and putting yourself out there. And then obviously now transitioning into this new era of equity and ownership for yourself, which I love, obviously. We're going to talk a lot about it.

Well, you want me to tell you about a lot of lessons. I want to know the lessons. I want to know the lessons. I want to know. what you learned, what you liked, what you didn't like about that period of your life? Well, there has been like brand deals and then also partnerships that is like, I feel like there are just not ambitious as I am. And they don't really understand marketing. And that pisses me off because I am a big marketing person. And it's like sometimes like a lot of these brands and a lot of these companies, they only rely on you to push the product.

Oh, yeah. And it's like, I understand that like I have a lot of. followers, but it's like you need other people to push the product. You need other commercials. You need other ways and other tools to push the product. Not just me talking about it. And I really, really hate that. Like, it's like, they will invest $500,000 on a photo shoot when it's like, don't, we don't have to do all of that. Put that on advertising. You cannot only use me for advertising. Like, that is very, very important. That's one thing that I learned that it's like, you have to partner with somebody that, like, is seeing your vision.

Like, it's like, hey, I'm trying to make this amount of money. Are you with it or not? You are? Okay, well, listen, this is what we have to do. And sometimes some companies, like, is that I want to talk to my partners every freaking week. You do. Me or patience. Yes.

I want to talk every week. I want to nearly feel like I'm laying in bed with you. That's a dream partner. Like it's like, this is what I want. And it's like, it don't matter how annoying it is. It's like, there's a number and we have to meet that quota. And also what I say about business partners, even sometimes when they say that, like, is, oh, we're giving you equity. Make sure you guys are not doing ghost equities and stuff like that.

It just feels like, hold on, this don't make no sense. I feel like the equity that they give me is not worth in the timing and the wording. It's like, it's not worth all the work that I do for your case. company. Like, it's just, it's just not. You've been burned? I feel like I've been burned. I feel like I've been burned. And even when I haven't been burned, it's just like, you never know when you're getting burned. If you're not seeing the numbers every single day, those numbers are not coming to your phone every single day, like you're accounting them. You're going to get burned. I need to see the numbers every day. I don't want to hear like, oh, you, no, you got to see those

numbers. Your hands on. It has to be hands on. It has to be. I feel like I made so many people rich, and then they tell other people that are, they're, they're, they're so good. But when we get on these type of number calls, they'll be like, well, we didn't meet this, this and that. And it's like, yeah, no, you're lying. Because one thing about it, I ask all my social media platforms, like, it's like, hey, give me the insights. And it's like, yeah, don't play.

You know. I know. You know. Yeah. And so you're in a different season now because you are out of that moment of purely being a partner to brands. Yeah. Because you've already, you've launched your own.

brand. You're about to launch your second brand that you've taken equity in. And I really want to talk to you about this because those are big business decisions to be making when it's your business, when you're taking the reins for something. So talk to me a little bit about that transition into that phase of your life. Like what made you take a leap? It was like around 2024. And like, I just call patience and it's like, yo, we are wasting time. Like, we deserve to be somewhere else. We deserve to be bigger than this. Like, it's that we have so much big dreams,

and I know that we could do it. Like, it's like, I have the ideas, and she have the brains. Like, she has the talk, and I just have the ideas. And I have the ways of how can we make it happen? Like, I'm tired of waiting on managers. I'm tired of waiting on this.

Like, it's like, we practically grew, grew my brand together from the beginning. And it's like, there's nobody else that is going to be as passionate for what I want like her. And it's like, yo, we got to put pep in our step. You go find these people that are going to help us do our brands. And we're going to ride this shit to the end. And that's exactly what she did. And we're here.

Now with them, it doesn't even feel like a partnership. It just feels like it's like friendships and cousins and stuff like that. There's so many people that want to invest and want to get like, and like, you know, and deals with us. But it's like, yeah, but are you passionate? And are you understanding how I want these things done? And it's like, they are. They have fulfilled everything that I want.

And it's like, it's time to put everything we work for in the engine. So this was really, this is something that you came up with. You were like, okay, I'm ready now to go and start my own brand. And it was about you going out and finding the right partner. So this is like your idea, you and your team going out and saying, okay, who's the right partner for us? Yes. And that's the thing too. Like it's like all this time that I've been party beat, I've been burned so much that now we do know what we're looking in partners. And what are you looking for? Like when you think about what's happened in the past, what for you were the primary things that you knew you needed when you went out and looked for a partner? I want people that understands good product. And I want people.

to understand how important it is marketing. Because if I be like, hey, buy this mug, buy this mug and this water, like they're going to buy it the first time all the time because of just my name. Like, because I, well, we love Cardi. I'm going to support her. But if it's not good, you're not going to buy it the second time. You want people to buy it the second time. So we have worked so hard for these products to be amazing, great.

so many things that we have done like it's like I don't even want to I don't even care about here anymore like I'm going to sell over it because we, I feel like that's what we do we eat and breathe it and it's like they understand the importance of a good product

and they also understand the importance of marketing and they don't want to be comfortable I don't want to be don't get comfortable with the first 100 millions let's take it there let's go

we can take it there let's go all right so let's talk about this brand of yours because it is so exciting. And I feel like for such a long time, like you were known around this idea of hair care, right? You were on your social media. It was part of your identity. Like people really looked at you and were like, wow, like, what's she doing? What's she using? So was that the first category that you wanted to go into? Or was that something that you came up with together? Well, I always wanted like to do things for hair because I know that like,

I'm good at it. Like, I'm really passionate. I was really passionate to getting my hair healthy again. And I was doing, I was doing my hair mask myself. Oh my God, let me tell you something. Like around 2022, my cousin, he put like this, he made like this mask with garlic. I kid you not. My hair, every single time that I sweat, smell like garlic for a one year straight.

It was so disgusting. That's commitment. Yes. And I was like, one. I would never do is put garlic again on my hair. I'm going to stick to what I like on my head. So it's something that was like, I really like this. And I really like fashion. So that's something else that I'm getting in. As someone who spends a lot of time talking into a microphone, I've learned that old adage is absolutely true. It isn't just what you say. It's how you say it.

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The start with yourself tour kicks off on April 15th in New York City. Tickets are on sale now at emigre.com. So talk to me about how you're thinking about your brand world. So you have, what have you done? You've done a deal with Revolve where. like all of your rights are with them or just like specific categories? What does it look like?

Specific categories, but like we are partners completely in love. Everything. Like we are partners and everything. And it's like they are involved with everything. Like every testing that we do, every conversation,

like it's like they are super hands on. And if I say I don't like something, they take it very seriously. Like it's like, okay, they're changing it. All right, we're changing it. Fine. We're going to change it. And how have you set up the company?

Like, what do you do? What do they do? What does it look like? We do everything from smells to testing to, okay, like, is like, I'm going to test it, this person going to test it, to having conversations with labs in Korea. Like, that's one thing that I don't know about it. It's like, oh, wow.

But they have the connections. We be on the phone with them every single time. And it's just like, it's a lot that people don't, it's more than just making a mask in your home. It's like every little detail. Like it's like, I can't even believe that sometimes like the way that your product is colored or is named is even a big deal. You cannot just name your product a certain type of name. And it's like, no, a good name will sell a product.

Yeah, a good name will sell a product. Oh my God, a good name will sell a product. I remember in the beginning of Good American, we had these shorts and they didn't sell and I changed the name to the bombshell. And that short, still to this day, is like one of the. best-selling things we ever had because just people like the name. That was just it. So you got to like really have those things. And I feel like what you're so good at is the chat.

Like I can't think of somebody who is like better at talking about products and describing things. Like you would be such a dream, amazing partner to somebody like to do that stuff. I bet you could come up with a million things. But I want to talk to you. So let's go back to the brand. The brand's called Grow Good. Yeah. Grow Good.

I love that. Just imagine what's going to happen. Talking of good names, I can imagine what's going to happen to my hair. So what does the product line look like? I'm launching shampoo. I'm launching conditioner, a hair mask, and I'm also launching a shine. Oh. Yes, like a shine that you could like put before you blow dry your hair and after.

And boy, it sounds so easy. But it's like, oh my gosh, I'm so tired of talking about it. I'm so tired of talking about it because everything, everything is such a big deal. I'm telling you, even from the name, like, it's such a big deal. Yeah, because you got to live with that. Yeah, like, you have to live with that. Like, if I go to a beauty supply, one name, how would I like a product? Like, what makes me want to buy a product?

It's just all those little things. It's just, like, from putting, like, the conditioners and it's like, I'm putting my own hair. I put my own hair at risk testing these products. There's no way. hair. She's like, it's better be good. Like, it's like, ooh,

who Jesus. I put my own hair on the line. And what's it like, calling it? It was good. The first testing, I was like,

the product is not thick enough. And it's like, let me tell you something. I have big fucking hair. If I take off two months without me washing my hair and these braids and the conditioner don't go,

don't penetrate in, I don't fucking want it. forget it. I don't want it. If there's not a certain type of shine, I don't want it. Go do it again. Let's do it again. We are trying to, we're trying to sell not only just fucking hair product. We're trying to fucking say some shit about, I want people to be online talking about this shit is life changing. Yes. Look at these fucking reviews. We need these type of reviews. The only way we're going to get these reviews if the shit is fucking good. That's the only way you're going to get the reviews because I'm telling you, that is one saturated category. Did you ever sit there and think,

okay, you know, you've got Tracy with pattern, you've got Beyonce with Sacred, you've got Ree with, you know, Fenty. Did you ever sit and think, wow, there is a lot of competition and especially like in celebrity hair care? It's not even about competition. It's about what's going to have your hair growing.

Are you sacred? And it's like, it's very fucking good. It's very fucking good. And that's what I want, and I'm saying it with confidence. So I want people to be like, yo, her shit is really fucking. I like this shit.

I don't want nobody to complain. I don't want nobody to complain. And I feel like people know me. People have seen my hair transition. Yeah. People have seen it. Like, people have seen it. And I've been doing my hair on live since, like, 2016.

Like, I remember when I did, like, a live on Instagram. I'm not sure if it was, yeah, it was 2017. And I was doing rollers. And that is the first time I told him, like, yo, I boil onions. and I use the water on my hair and it really don't smell like onions. Where did you get this from? Like, who's boiling onions?

It's the Dominican recipes. It's the Dominican recipes. It's like the Dominicans. That's what they do. I need to understand this. So you're boiling onions and then the water that comes from the onions, this is going on the hair.

You wash it. You wash it. You just wash your hair with it. So it's like, make sure you have a big fat pot. And I'm telling you, it works. And it does not smell like onions. It don't. It really, really don't.

So we don't have the garlic problem? No. The garlic, don't fuck with it. Okay. Garlic we're not doing, onions we're doing, just to get it, just to gut it straight. Garlic, oh my God, even when you sweat, it smells like, I don't know, like a Italian restaurant. No, none of us think that. So talk to me about the lessons that you've learned because you have another brand whip shots.

Was there anything that you'd learned from that partnership and that business that you've taken on over into your new venture. Oh, absolutely. I learned a lot. Oh, honey, I learned a lot. Oh, come on. Let's go. Whip shots is getting a whole revamp.

Is it? Yes. The cans are going to look completely different. I guess they fired their old marketing team. But that's the thing, though. I'm not in charge of the marketing. Like now, patience, she represents the brand. So a lot of things have changed.

But it's like I had to get somebody directly for my team because I only have a little tiny percentage. of that company. Fair. Like, I'm not really the sole owner of that company. You have a slither of equity and then you have some decisions, but it's not like this new thing, which is yours. Which is mine.

So I learned a lot from it. So you learned to take more equity, basically. Yes, yes. But it's like, oh, I learned a lot from it. Right now, they're going to do a revamp on it. And it's like, okay. You still believe in that business? I do believe in it because a lot of people do buy it.

Like, they do really good. Like, there was sometimes. I'm like, oh, y'all make, we're making money over here. But I want it bigger. Yeah. I want something bigger. But it seems to me like what you want is more decision making. Like you want to be more in the driving seat of these businesses.

I want something that is like people are ringing off the, the cause like because I believe in this company. I want like investors to be like, I want to put millions and this and this and like. I just want like. Massive success. Massive success. massive success. What does that even look like to you nowadays?

Like when you sit down with everything that you've built, with the albums, with the Grammys, with the money, like what does massive success look like to Cardi B today? I want my product to be in every single store. I want it to be on every single beauty of supply. I want to be, I want to be able to go to Target. I want to be able to go to OTS. I want to be able to go to Sipora.

I want to be able to go to all these stores and be like, oh, that's my shit. That's me. That's really, really me. Like, not just on some stores. I want it to be everywhere. And why? Like, what in you?

Is it about the money? Is it about the validation? Is it about you trying to prove something? Like, why? I don't know. It's just a high. I need that. You need that?

I need that. Does that drive you? It's driving me. Like, I need that. I want to take it to the max. Like, I just. I want it big. I don't want just a couple.

Well, I don't want like just like, oh, but it did good. I want it to be like, this is number one. This is her shit. Like, she did that. She did it. I need to do it. I need to do it. I'm interested, like, who you admire?

Like, who do you aspire to? She, you. But it's true. But it's true. Like, you made that happen. Like, it's like you really like, well, a lot of those companies. and it's like, you just got to really put your work in there. You got to live and breathe it too.

You got to live and breathe it. You got to live and breathe it. Like, it's like, all right, changes have to happen. And not just like, oh, I don't want to promote today. I don't want to do it today. You have to do it every single fucking day. You got to do it every day. Yeah.

And that's another thing. Oh, my God, please, y'all. If you ever want to build something, please choose good partners. Like, not everybody with money are good partners. I'm telling you- Oh, say that again. Not everybody with money are good partners. Like, Riza, she's very, very, very hip.

She's very, very hip. And Adam? She's solid. Yes. And Adam, my publicist for the brand and my personal publicist, he's very hip too. Like, they see everything.

They see how business starts from here. They see how things are being built. they see what makes people not like something. They see how things spread around. Like, they see everything. And they have a track record. Yes, they have a track record. I don't want to be anyone's first.

Like, do you know what I mean? I feel like in your position, when you've got your pick of being able to do so many things, you want partners with a proven track record that can take your superpower and like light a fire under it. You don't want to be experimenting with anyone. Yeah. Okay, Cardi.

Now here's where I'm just relying on you a little bit. Now, this is a podcast where we like to talk about business. And if we like to talk about business, we like to talk about money. But I will tell you, I have a lot of amazing women on this podcast. Famous women and rich women and women that weren't rich that made themselves rich. And now they're billionaires. And no one wants to talk about money. They make me take it out.

They don't want to talk about it. So can we police just talk about money for a second? She's like, maybe bitch. I don't know. What we're going to talk about money, girl? Well, this is what I want, because again, you said that, first of all, you hated being poor. So it's been a big driver. You clearly have massive ambition.

You're not just sitting here going, yeah, I want to put this little hair care brand out and hope that it does well. You're looking for global world domination. You want to go everywhere in the world and you want to see your product. And I've read a lot about what you've been doing in the last seven years, how you're thinking about growing your business and growing your brand. You've been very open. So I want to understand, like, you know, what did money mean to you, like, early on in your career? And what does it mean now? Like, how important is the money?

I mean, money is going to always be important. But sometimes money does not make you respectable all the time. Like, it's like there's a lot of people that got money and it's like, I still don't respect you. I feel like you're lame. But money equals also sometimes like the respect. I feel like at this point, I feel like I touched money so much. And of course, like, we don't want to be super rich. Who don't want to be able to afford everything.

But it's just like, it's that respect, that congrats that you get, like, randomly at the airport, at the store. Like, that congrat means everything. So many people got money, but so many people don't got that respect. and it's like, I love that respect. Like, I want that. I want that, that type of, like, damn, she did that. Of course, money, don't, don't.

I ain't the one. I ain't the one. It's not very about the money. I love the money, but money also just gives you that respect, too. Like, it's like there's so many, I ain't going to name you, child, but it's like, there's so many people that it's just like, they're so powerful because of the money, but it's like they're not,

you're a terrible person. Money equals that respect that you, kind of want. And that's just the truth of it. Like, it's just the truth of it. But I'm not really right now doing it for like the only just the money. Like I really want that, that power. I want that respect.

It's very, very important to me. Like, I want to show you. And I feel like I could do it. I don't know. It's something about Libras. We want it all. We want it all. We want it all.

That's why we have four kids. You're a Libra too? It's all about the Libra's because we've got like, do you know what? We've got like the balance. We understand. We can. can go hard, we can go soft. It's like very, yes, you know. I always say this about Libra's. Like, it's like, we don't really like to brag about it. We let it, we let it be shown that like

is that we're, yeah, we show it for our work. Yeah, we show it. Yeah. And we just keep going. It's like we're extremely unbelievably determined. Yes. Libras. This episode is in partnership with Airbnb. With the FIFA World Cup coming to Los Angeles, it's amazing to think about how many people, will be traveling from around the world to experience it in person. Moments like that are when cities really come alive, and it also means a lot of visitors are looking for places to stay while they're in town. For people who live in a host city, it might be a great time to consider hosting your home on Airbnb while you're away. It's a way to welcome travelers into your city, and it could also mean a little extra income

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registered agent service, a business address to keep your home address private, a domain, website, professional email, phone number, and access to thousands of free guides and lawyer drafted documents. Everything is handled in-house. No upsells, no selling your data. If you're serious about building something that stands on its own, start with the right foundation. Don't pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for what you can get from Northwest for free. Visit Northwest registeredagent.com slash aspire free and start using free resources to build something amazing. Get more with Northwest Registered Agent at Northwest Registeredagent.com slash aspire free. Talk to me about lessons and things that you've learned like with money. Is there something that you, that you,

wish you had known earlier about money? I'm taxes. It's like, oh my gosh, if I can learn something new every time about taxes, like, that's what I want to like learn. And then like, ooh, money comes and goes so fast. It goes so fast. Well, listen, I wanted to ask you about that because I think you revealed last year you were spending like $3 million a month or something like that on your

outgoings, on keeping Cardi B and the family going. Was that true? Yes. Like it's like so many, it's just, well, not three million. It would be like a month that it's like, wow, I spend so much money. But then some months are like lower than others. It was like a year that I was like, why am I spending a million dollars on transportation a year? Like driving transportation, not planes or nothing, like just driving transportation.

And that's just because it's like sometimes like you don't even be having talks with your accounting every week. to just be like, oh, whatever. Like, it's like, I can see what I got going on in my credit card. But there's just so many little accounts that you have that is like, I'm not always keeping up with it. Keep up with every single account that you have. Are you doing that now? Yes. Yes.

And I'm not, and I'm not feeling bad for people anymore. Like, it's like, hey, listen, you're taking advantage too much. You got to go. You got to get fire, baby. Yes. Yes. Listen. Okay, let's just get this straight.

There will always be an element. I think when one person in a family or in a group makes it, there's a bit of responsibility to the others. Like, we know this. We know how it works. I call it family tax. There's just like a piece of, you know, what you need. But there are limits to it, and you have to have boundaries.

Yes. You have to set boundaries. I feel like I already set boundaries with my family already. But it's like even some people that I just employ that are not my family. Like sometimes, like people that I employ sometimes, I become really, cool with or I really like them and it's like, you know what, we're getting too comfortable and you overcharging me. You got to go. You got to. You got to fucking go. You ain't got no mercy on me, bitch. So, Cardi, how is your spending changed and, like, as your priorities

have shifted? My spending change, like, throughout, like, the years and stuff like that. Like, when was it, like, around 2020? I was like, what the fuck? Ooh, Jesus. Oh, Jesus Christ. Like, it's like, one thing about it, I do not, I do not care to get on a nice, good Delta first class. I don't give a fuck. I ain't, like, it's.

They're like, Connie, gotty, got he. Like, it's like, one thing I hate is spending money. I'd rather spend the money on the strip club than spend it on a fucking jet. That's one thing that I do not like. I cannot agree with you more. And let me tell you, my team, I hate it. Because my team say to me constantly, they're like, why aren't we like yen's?

Why don't we take a plane? And I say, because we don't need to, Derek. Because it's just, oh. Get on the plane with everybody else and be safe in a nice, big, fat plane like the rest of the people. Sorry, I just have to let Derek know that one because I don't think it's a good idea to spend all your money on private plane. It's just like... And it's not good for the environment. It's not.

You know what I'm saying? But I just, I just, sometimes like when I see like the spending on, I'd be like, that was. just so fucking stupid. I mean, sometimes I do take jets, but it's like, I really have to, like, you really, I really, like, have to, it has to make sense. It was being times that, like, I would just be like, I just want to take a jet because, like,

I don't want, like, to go through security and shit like that. And it's like, why, why are you spending $35,000 to go to fucking, well, around 2020, Why are you spending $35,000 to go to New York to L.A. Just because you don't think now is not that. Now it's probably like 60. 60. Like, yeah, it doubled.

The jet prices double, honey. That's something that I have to, I definitely cut back on. What's the most ridiculous thing that you've spent money on? It's a list, girl. Oh, jury. Jewelry. Because it's like jury styles, like, change every two, three years. And it's just like, why did I bought?

Why did I go in so crazy? And it's like when you buy jewelry, it's just always super high. It's always like $250 on a chain. And it's like, wow, this chain is so fucking ugly. Why did? And I'm not even lying. Like, I swear to God. Like, it's like, it's not like, like, sometimes like with a bag.

It's like, okay, it's like a little $30,000. It's like when you buy jewelry for my jeweler, you just, it's like, if I'm going to buy jewelry, I'm going to go all out. Like, that's one thing about me. Like, once I get obsessed with something, I buy so much at one time. And then I'd be like, oh, no. So ugly. So no more ugly jewelry for you. No more ugly jewelry.

And then it's like, make sure you buy timeless bags because I got so much of them and it's like... But at least you can sell them. But they're not as like, for example, like the 35s. Mm-hmm. The 35s, right? Like the value I feel like in 35s went down so much. It did?

Yes. Oh, I love a 35 because my laptop fits in a 35. Yeah, but like now like the 25s and the 20s are like in style. So it's like, damn. See, I'm a worker bitch. I need to put my, my laptop in and my files in and my makeup bag. So I like a 35, even a 40. But it's like a rule now.

Like it's like, it's like so many rules on like, on wearing it. Like I have like a concept, right? Like a concept is like, it's like don't bring a 35 for dinner. Like it's like, it's like a daytime bag. Like it's like... By the way, that's that I agree with. Like, don't bring a 35 to dinner. Yeah, but like around 2020.

You were bringing a 35 out? They were bringing the 35s out. Like, it was like a thing. And it's like, why did I did this? Like, I want, I want to call the police on myself. No, you should have. I'll call the police on. You can't take a 35 out of night.

Yeah, like, it's like, it's certain things. And it's like the values of certain things just go ups and downs and ups and downs. And it's like, oh, my gosh. Like, I spend so much fucking money on. Do you invest? Huh? Do you invest? I do invest.

Because I feel like you've got, like, a bunch of houses. Like, what do you invest in? Property. Mm-hmm. Property. or little business that are opening up. But sometimes I don't even have to invest. People just want to give me,

people just want to give me like little equities and stuff. And it's like, I'll take it. I'll take it. I ain't got to lose that. I'm losing shit. Like, it's like, fuck it. Like, I'll promote your shit. Like, whatever, whatever.

Just don't give me no fucking ghost equity and shit. Don't get me another. You want the real deal. I want the real deal. You want the real deal. You want the real deal. The real deal. I'll promote your little shit.

Like, it's like, stuff like that. Let's talk about your kids because I want to understand a little bit more about what you're teaching them, what your values are, and especially like even when you talk about like not getting on private flights all the time, like how are you shaping their reality around money? Because they're growing up in a very, very different way than you did. Oh, them kids get spoiled. Of course they do. I think I'm going to start learning about how do they really see money and how do they like see things. Like when they're probably like, 12 or 10 or something like that

because like my daughter, she doesn't really care much for brands. She just care about things that look cute. You know what I'm saying? She, that's all she cares about. Like, it's like as long as they look cute,

it's like it's fine. You know what I'm saying? But I wonder if they understand that it's like, you are so freaking privilege. No, I guess they don't because I feel like, listen, when you grew up more similar

to how we grew up, right, in the hood, you have to grow up really fast. And so I understood money because I didn't have a choice because the lights would go off. And so you're like, oh, we didn't pay for something because the lights are not on. So you're forced into understanding.

I guess you don't need to have those conversations with your kids. That's not their reality. And you can't burden them with something that's not their life. That's not their lifestyle. Yeah. And it's like, I feel like, ooh, are they ever going to understand it? Like, for example, like my daughter, she goes to the hood, I guess, all the time. Like my great grandma, she still live in the hood.

But my dad, he still lives in the Bronx. He wants to be there. Like, he likes it there. Like, it's like, I don't care. But I just don't think that my daughter will understand. Like, it's like, hey, do you know that people, lights go off if you don't pay it? Like, they don't understand what it really feels like when that type of shit and that type of pressure is on them. I don't know.

I mean, I just feel like they'll get older and they notice things. Like, my kids would always come back from England and say to me, say, mom, how comes everyone has such a tiny house and such a big TV? I'd be like, that's just how you do it. That's how we grew up. We had a tiny house and you had a giant TV and that's just because that was the most important thing. But they didn't understand that that had anything to do with money. For them, that was just a certain way of living.

Yeah. But I guess your kids will get older. They'll start to notice things, I'm sure. I wonder that, like, even like I had a conversation like, my baby daddy. And he was just saying like, it's like, my son's going to have to earn things. If you want a toy, if you want this, you're going to have to earn things. And I was just thinking to myself like, damn, my kids don't got to earn nothing. They don't?

No, they just. But they're so little. They don't have no chores, no nothing like that. Do you make them do anything? And it's so crazy, they don't have a chores. No, because I have a, my cleaning people come like five times a week. I swear to God. Like, it's like, they just come five times a week.

Like, it's like, wow. Matter of fact, I'm going to have to get into my daughter and to clean. that happened because at the end of day, one day, that you're going to be a woman. So it's like you're going to have to know how to clean. Like, you're going to have to learn how to mop. Yeah. Yes.

Didn't you know how to do everything when you were that? Like, I knew how to do everything. Everything. I didn't know how to do things around like six or seven. Like it's like, and there's a, I feel like there's a technique way to mop. Of course, Sarah. And you've got put your back into it. Yes, like it's like a technique.

You got to be aggressive. Yes. And it's like, it's, you have to. In one space, you got to do it like three times. But it's like, wow, they don't even have to earn nothing. Like, oh my God, they really get whatever they want. Is that a good thing or terrible thing? I don't know.

Listen, there's no judgment. I feel like with my kids, I have a kind of infatuation with making some connection. But they're much older than your kids. And so for me, it's like I've always tried to make some connection between what they have. Like, they know I leave the house every day. And, you know, whenever they've been like, I don't want you to go or work, I'm like, well, I have to. Oh, yeah. Because X, Y and Z, right?

It's like, Mommy has to go. And I try to make a connection between, you know, I make them make their bed. I don't need them to make their bed. And it gets remade by a housekeeper after. But I'm like, you need to learn some sense of discipline and some sense of like that you don't just get to get up and do whatever you want to do all day. Like there's a trade off in life. And I feel like the earlier they learn that, the easier it is. Because I don't want, you know, spoil rich kids from L.A.

Yeah. You know, I rather die. But one thing for sure is, like, I keep these motherfuckers busy. And one thing about it, I be telling my mom or my dad, don't even fucking try it. Because sometimes it's like, oh, but they're tired. Like, they just came for school. It was just in school all the way to 3 o'clock. And it's like, you want them to go to tutoring.

And then you want piano class. And it's like, stop. Yes. Let them. Because guess what? That one hour that they're doing in tutoring. it's going to be one hour that they have on the iPad. So stop.

That's okay, they're going to sleep later. But I don't do that for them to earn something. It's just like, I just want them to be good at different type of things. Because I'm not good at a lot of things. I don't even know how to swim. You don't? No. I just learned how to swim.

There's still time for you, girl. I'm 43. No, you're 43? Yes, I'm 43. It took me two years. I learned with the twins, with my twins who were two years out doing swimming, lessons, they would do one lesson, one for Lake, one for Rafi, one for Mommy. Yes.

Two years. So that's what I'm saying. Like, it's like, I just want them to be good a little bit of everything. So you could have like little, little options. Like, it's like even me. Like, I feel like I don't have no rhythm. For real? Yes.

I don't really have like a natural rhythm when it comes to dancing. I want my daughter to have a natural rhythm. Well, stop. One second. What do you mean you don't have any rhythm? Like, I'm really bad. You're guarding fucking beat. You don't have rhythm?

I'm bad at for you. and I've missed it? Yes. No. Yes. Yes. Well, my team says that. My team knows it.

Like, for example, like, I'm 33 years old and now I'm about to start taking salsa classes. Because when I was little, I used to be like, no, I don't want to dance salsa. Now you wish you got salsa. And now I wish. And it's like, that's why everything that I'm not good at, I want to install that on my kids. But I think that that is teaching your kids like a sense of discipline, a sense of like, you get this, you give this. you get that.

Like, that is the early foundational stuff of, like, teaching your kids good, like, you know, good practices. Like, it hasn't got to be about money, but it's got to be about, like, like, value to stuff, you know? It's like, it makes sense for them to come home from school and to put their energy and spend their time wisely. You are teaching them great things about, you know, growing up and becoming a proper person.

Yeah, like, I'm strict in that. I just don't do it like, so it's like, okay, Like, if you really do good in this class, I'm going to give you this. I go like, oh, if you want like a toy, you got to earn it. Like, I don't, I haven't done that. But it's like, yeah, I don't play about your fucking classes. So they ain't getting out of classes if they just like whining. Mom, I'm tired.

I don't want to hear it. I don't want to do it. And what are they doing? They're doing piano. They're doing piano. They're doing tutoring. They're doing dance. My son is doing baseball and soccer.

Five days a week, they get tutoring. As soon as, as Blossom turned two years old, you're going in tutoring. I'm not playing none of that shit. Two years old, she's going. Yeah, like my son, like, he just turned four and he's already reading. Like, I'm not playing with this shit. Like, it's like, if you got the buddy for it, like, invest on these kids.

What are y'all going to clean my ass and going to take care of me? One of them has got to, listen, Libra, I think you need to book some swim lessons and join in with the kids. Oh, my God. You can do it. That's the bad thing about New York. Like, it's like, swimming class is like two months. Do you know what? That's true.

I've got the excuse that I'm in LA and the sunshine in still when I get home from work so you can be in a warm pole and just, you know, do it. But you can do it. Yeah, like, even like with my daughter coach her, like, it's like, she'd be wanting to do things and then she'd be like, I don't like it anymore.

And it's like, I told her like, do that shit again and you're going to have a problem with me because it's like you wanted a ballerina class. I put you in ballerina class, you don't like it. You're complaining about it. Now you, I want to be back in gymnastics class again.

Now you, now you're whining and complaining. Keep whining and fucking. complaining. Are you straight to them? Yeah. I'm not, I don't, I'll whoop them, but I'd be like, I sure, I'll sure tell you about yourself. Like, why don't complain again? I think they just scared of my voice. They scared of my tone. You have a scary voice. I'm like,

oh my God. Because they see me as like, you're a mom voice. Yeah, like it's like, they're friendly, like they think I'm, I don't know, they think I'm like their friend and so I'd be like, one. If I come to five. That is such a mom thing to do, like just that one count. Like literally one.

They don't even let it get to five. No. If I count to five, it's a problem. Get up. She's the disciplinaria. Are you that disciplined with yourself? No. You're not.

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Starting April 15th, we're coming to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C., Boston, Atlanta, and London. Visit emigree.com for tickets and full tour details. I cannot wait. So what does a routine look like in your life right now? Tell me how, like, a regular day goes for you. A regular day goes to me. I'll wake up around 10. in the morning. Shut the fuck up. No, you don't.

You wake up at 10? Yeah, but... Are you a night owl? A really big night owl. Oh. I'm an artist. Oh, sorry. I'm just chatting to you like you're just a mama four.

Of course, you're up in the studio doing the music. Sorry, I forgot. I forgot what we were doing here. Especially because my engineer, he's a big night owl. We'll be up to 5, 6 a.m. On a regular night. On a regular night. Tinkering in the studio.

And I go to sleep in the couch and then I just wake up. No. And as soon as I wake up, any idea, anything that I have going on, we need to get. You write it down? I don't even be writing it down. I just call because I might just forget it. What I get every time you speak is that there is an urgency and a deliberateness in everything you do. Like nothing is an accident.

And even if I think about it at 2 a.m., I'm waking people up. I'm going to wake you up. Like, hey, you know what I just thought about? I thought about this, this, this, and that. No. Yeah. Call them tomorrow. Cardi, what do you think people get wrong about what it takes to change their lives?

There is, it's really work. You have to work every single day. You have to work every single day. I don't care. I don't know what your job is consist of. You have to do it every single day. You have to put all of it even in a single day. even when you fall out of love with it,

you just need to know that it's like this is a responsibility for your whole entire life. Like it's like, you might have a passion with something, but when you do it so much or sometimes when it feel like it becomes so much pressure,

like it makes you feel like, it's like, damn, do I even love this? But it's like, well, you know what? You got to pick something. You got to pick something. You got to pick something. You have to pick something and you have to stick with that

because for the rest of your life, you're going to have to fucking pay some bills. Mm-hmm. For the rest of your life, For the rest of your life, until you die. What do you want other women to learn from how you're living and how you've lived? Stop making excuses. Figure it out.

Stop making excuses. Because nobody give a fuck about your excuse. No, I'm telling you, no matter how much people will be like, it's okay. Nobody give a fuck that you got kids. They don't give a fuck. Nobody cares that you, your boyfriend is going. Nobody cares. Nobody cares about your personal life.

Everybody, nobody cares. Stop like, uh-huh, uh-huh. Nobody cares. You got to do it. You got to stand up. You got to wake up. You got to do it yourself. Nobody is, and find somebody that is just as passionate for your dream as you are.

Because not a lot of people are. Yes. It's such an important thing. Like who you choose to be around, and that's what I love what you said earlier about your team, that they're as ambitious for you as you are for yourself, that they want the best for you. And that's what you have to do.

You have to surround yourself with people that want the best for you, your partner, your team, everyone, your friends. Like, you can't have friends that are jealous of you. Yeah. Oh, no, I don't have that.

Of course you don't, babe. I think I have, like, the best friend records in the world. You do? Lucky you. And, no, I'm really, really lucky because I be hearing other people's friend stories and I'd be like, ooh, Jesus.

Drama. Well, that must mean that you're a good friend. I am a good friend, but like they're the ones that will shake me up and be like, bitch, listen. And I'll be like, oh. Well, and I'm like, you know what? Whatever.

We're just going to be there for you. I don't got none of my friends kiss my ass. They be cursing me out. I'm scared of them. Thank God. You're so lucky to have friends like that. You never ever want friends that tell you what you want to hear. Tell me, if somebody's listening right now,

a woman specifically that feels underestimated, what would you tell her from your own experience? just work into you don't. And it's going to, I'm a real sensitive person. My feelings get hurt very easy, but it's like, fuck it. I have to do it. Just do it.

Just do it. Whatever you do, just do it. Just write down your plants and then like try to execute them slowly but shortly. If you push for it, if you keep going for it, if you get on your motherfucking feet, I mean like prayer with no movement is just noise. And I've say that shit all the time. It's just knowing. You pray to God so much time.

You're going to give you the faith, but it's like, girl, you got to get out there. And me as a person that I'm like, I don't really like asking people for too much. I feel like we don't, liberals don't really like to ask people for stuff like that. We don't really do. It's like, try it. Just try it a little bit. Just be a little bit more confident and like, oh, well, it's okay. Just ask for it.

What kind of woman are you still becoming? I don't even know. I feel like I'm learning myself. I do not know. I mean, like, just like I said, like, last year, I'm like, yo, who am I? What am I? I'm starting life all over again.

I feel like I'm 16 and I'm starting over again and I'm just trying to, like, figure it out. Why did you say you're starting over again? I don't know, like, that whole divorce transition, that whole not having a partner, that whole, like, not learning, like, having advice or, like, not, it's just getting to meet people, getting to like talk people about my fears, everything.

Like it's like, so many people just know me to be like this confident, strong, like, woman. But it's like I'm also very, very sensitive. And it's like, everything was just making me so sensitive. And I just kept crying every single day. And I just, I don't know. Like, it was like, it was just weird. Like, I just feel like I was reborn again.

I want to understand, like, what are your ambitions now? Like, what do you want more than, anything in the world. What's the goal of this part of your life? What does Cardi B aspire to become? I want to be good at everything. I want to be like, damn, she's a good performer. She's a good rapper.

She's a good businesswoman. She's a good mother. Like, I want to be good at everything. Like, I want to be somebody that is like, like, oh, damn, she's really good at everything that she does. like everything, everything that she does. I got my album out the way. That was a lot of pressure on me.

And I did really great. So I just want everything to just be like, Cardi B is there. A good legacy, a good respectable legacy. Like, it's like, I just want that. I want that. And I want everything. Like, I want everything.

I want the kids. I want the great personal life. I want the business. I want everything. Like, I just want to have it all. Why can I just have it all? You deserve it. You can.

You will. Yes, like, I want it all. It's common. It's all happening. I want everything. And I want to reach my maximum goal. Like, it's like, reach it. What are you guys doing with your fucking followers?

Do something with your followers. Make every follower a fucking dollar. Do it. We did not have these. opportunities. Oh my God, if I had this opportunity when I was 10 years old, oh my God, I would be selling fucking lemonade on Instagram. Seriously, use this shit. We need a T-shirt. Make every follower of a dollar. Yeah.

Yes. Yes to that. All right, we're going to move to Rapid Fire Cardi. What's something that people assume about you that's totally false? I like the people who just probably think that I'm like dumb or airhead or stuff like that. I don't know, is it because of my accent, but it's like, it's like the best thing. ever. I think it's like I have like this look like it's like yeah I say man it's like I'm

taking notes. I'm learning. I'm putting plans together in my head. You talking to me and I'm taking my notes and I'm learning everything. I know so much about everything. Like it's like when I want to learn something

I study it all night all day. When I want it, I have to have it and I will learn it. I'll study it. I study who's great at it. And I think this is why I'm so, I'm so like, successful. Successful. Because that's what I do.

I don't know everything that somebody is like. And a lot of people, like, for example, like Kim Kardashian, people always just like talk about her accent. Like, they're just so valid girls and everything. But it's like, that bitch is very fucking smart. And that's the thing that people be like, oh, shit, how the fuck they got it? And how they did it? It's like, yeah, because we always. It's a superpower to be underestimated.

It's a superpower. You can be sitting there plotting, as you say, taking your little notes. Taking my notes, learning. What are you still learning to say no to? It's not not saying no, but I feel like there's a lot of people that I got to fire, that I haven't fired yet because I have like attachment issues and I have like a lot of love for people. So it's not really like not saying no, but it's like letting people go that is like, you're not benefiting me at all and I have to let you go or like you're making too.

or like, you're making too much money off me, and I have to let you go. So it's like a no thing, but it's like I have to let certain people go. And I said that I was going to do it this year and I have to, I have to do it. I feel really bad, but it's like I have to. Like, it's like, y'all have to fucking go.

No, no. You can't be like a people pleaser and a leader. You got to let you go. That's the thing. I really am a people pleaser. No, don't do that. I can teach you that. I'll give you the narrative.

What is something that fans can really look forward to with Grow Good? That is going to help your hair grow good. I swear to God, I swear to God. Let me tell you something. Not only have this shit been getting tested in laboratories and all that shit, fuck that. This shit been tested on me. I put my own shit in the motherfucking line.

I love that. If that's not an endorsement, I don't know what is. And I have like this wig removal, this wig removal that we like, When we first started working on, I was like, yeah, I don't like it. I am not afraid to be like, I don't fucking like it. So what did you do with it? We redid it again and we keep remaking it again. And I compare it with, all right, so like I will take off my wig using alcohol and makeup wipes.

It's like, okay, what makes me take off my wig faster? Like, I'm not playing with this shit because motherfucker's got to buy the second time. You gotta be a... 100%. That is so important. People are gonna always support you the first time. Because I was, it's Cardi. I love her.

You gotta buy it again. No one comes back a second time if the product ain't. And what song best captures this like chapter of your life? Hello. It's me. I'm back. When it's saying, I'm back. That's what I feel like, I'm back.

I'm back. What is a book that's changed your life? Ooh. the coldest winter ever. That book changed my, and I still go by it. I still go by it. Especially like the last, like the last page. Oh my God, you got to read the coldest bitch,

the coldest winter ever. Like, she gave you some, like, some type of confident. Like, it's like the way that she be talking, when you read that book, you feel like you heard. Like, it's like, yeah, I got the baddest pussy on the motherfucking Brooklyn, bitch. I'm the baddest bitch. The bitch used to talk like she was the baddest bitch. You ever read the coldest winter?

First of all, I've never read it. I've never heard of it. I will buy it the minute I leave this room. You have to read the coldest winter ever. I mean, I read that book when I was 13 years old. I would never forget it. Do you ever think about yourself as having a superpower? Do you know what your superpower is?

My superpower is just being me and myself. Because me and my sister, like our whole life, I can't even tell you. Like, it's like, people always used to tell me or used to tell her, like, it's like, you're going to be famous. Like, even my grandma, like, my grandma got so many grandkids, but she used to tell me like, it's like, you're going to be somebody one day. I even had, like, teachers, like, crying to me. Like, I wasn't the best student. I was, like, actually the worst student. And then it was like, you're so special.

You know that? And you know when people would be like, oh, my teachers used to hate me? None of my teachers used to hate me, no matter how bad I was. Like, they always used to be like, you're so special. there was just always just to tell me like, because I'm going to be somebody but I used to be like, like what? Because I used to go to a school

for like for music. But then when I got to that school, I was like, wow, I'm really not the best singer. I'm actually the worst singer at this fucking whole goddamn fucking school. What is my fucking talent? You know what I'm saying? I even used to do songs and stuff like that I used to write songs

and then it's like then you walk in the hallway and there's some bitch singing a great song that she's right. I'm like, what is my tent? Like, what, what, what is the light of me? I think, like, my, my superpower is just me being myself. Like, it's just me. Your superpower from sitting with you for a couple of hours is your authenticity.

I meet a lot of people. I don't know that I ever met somebody who's so unashamedly, unabashedly, themselves. And that says a lot in this day and age. no one is just them. No apologies, no nothing, just, this is me. You're not like anyone else I've ever met.

Yeah. That's what my man said. He said that. He told me to say that. He said like, because I never met him, I didn't know. Last question is, where can we buy the products, Cardi? The product is available. First week of April on grow good, that here.

That's where we'll be. If you're loving this podcast, be sure to click follow on your favorite listening platform. While you're there, give us a review and a five-star rating and share an episode you loved with a friend. You'll be so grateful. Aspire with Em Agreed is presented by Odyssey. I'm your host, Emma Greed. Executive producer Ashley McShan, Derek Brown and me. Our executive producers from Odyssey, Leah Reese Dennis, Asha Saluja, Lauren Lagrosso.

Producer KK Sublime. Stephen Key is our senior producer. Sound Design and Engineering by Bill Shorts. Angela Paluso is our Booker, original music by Charles Black. Video production by Evan Cox, Kurt Courtney, Andrew Steele,

and Carlos Delgado, social media by Olivia Holman, Catherine Bale. Special thanks to Brittany Smith, Sydney Ford, my team's at the lead company and WME. Mora Karen, Josephina Francis,

Hillary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Hutchinson Rose, Tim Miko, Sean Cherry, and Lauren Vieira. If you have questions for me, you can DM me at Aspire with Emma Greed. Greed is spelled G-R-E-D-E.

That's Aspire, A-S-P-I-R-E with Emma Greed. Or you can submit a question to me on my website, emigreed.combe. Ambition comes in all shapes and sizes. At First Citizens Bank, we roll with your goals because we're built for what you're building. Fit for your ambition for Citizens Bank.