American rapper Cardi B takes the cover story of Vogue Singapore Magazine‘s July August 2022 edition lensed by fashion photographer Lea Colombo. In charge of fashion direction was Desmond Lim, with styling from Law Roach, set design by Lauren Nikrooz, and casting direction by Jill Demling. Beauty is work of hair stylist Tokyo Stylez at Chris Aaron Management, and makeup artist Erika Roman.
There weren’t a lot of artists out there who had babies at the beginning of their career. I didn’t have an album out when I found out I was pregnant.Everybody was so nervous for my career and future, but I kept telling them, ‘It’s easy. Trust me, I’m going to have a nanny and she’s going to travel up and down with me. It’s not even going to be a hassle’. When the baby got here, I couldn’t even think about getting a nanny because I was afraid of anybody being around her besides my family. I’ve never had a nanny for Kulture.
Sometimes, I don’t know where I want to go because I tell myself I want to beat these records but then when I do beat them, I feel it’s just not enough. Just because I haven’t put out music in a year, people get online and say, ‘She’s over.’ They compare me to every female rap artist, new or old. I get downplayed despite everything I’ve accomplished and worked so hard for. I need to sit down and say to myself, ‘Girl, you did that’. People make you feel like everything that you have worked for and what you have done is not enough. Sometimes, I get aggravated by that, but sometimes it don’t matter. Whenever I get an offer for a show, I’m not getting little baby girl money. I’m getting big girl money. It lets me know that the real people in this business that know real numbers, they know. My worth is way more than what people want to make me feel like I am. – Cardi B
Photography © Lea Colombo for Vogue Singapore, read more at vogue.sg
