Be Careful (Cardi B song)

"Be Careful" is a song recorded by American rapper Cardi B. It was released on March 29, 2018, as the third single from her debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018). The song was written by Cardi B, Jordan Thorpe, and produced by Boi-1da, Vinylz, and Frank Dukes. It contains an interpolation from "Ex-Factor", written and performed by Lauryn Hill, which itself samples "Can It Be All So Simple", written and performed by Wu-Tang Clan. The latter song also samples "The Way We Were". Therefore, Hill, the eight members of Wu-Tang Clan, and Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman are credited among the composers.[1][2]

"Be Careful"
Single by Cardi B
from the album Invasion of Privacy
ReleasedMarch 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)
GenreHip hop
Length3:30
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cardi B singles chronology
"Finesse (Remix)"
(2018)		 "Be Careful"
(2018)		 "Girls"
(2018)
Music video
"Be Careful" on YouTube

"Be Careful" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topped the Rhythmic Songs chart. Internationally it reached the top 40 in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The song was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[3] On April 7, 2018, Cardi B performed the song on Saturday Night Live, where she revealed the pregnancy of her first child.[4]

Background and release

A demo of some lines for "Be Careful" was first recorded by Pardison Fontaine, the stage name of Jordan Thorpe.[5] Later, Cardi B added the hook and wrote the rest of the song, with production completed with the help of producers Frank Dukes, Boi-1da and Vinylz.[6] Cardi was motivated to write the song when she was in New York City finishing her debut album, Invasion of Privacy (2018). Annoyed about her past romantic relationships and the unfaithfulness in them, she found herself tense and upset – prioritising work, with too many bad thoughts.[7] Initially some listeners believed the song was addressed to Cardi's fiancé, rapper Offset, however she denied this.[8] The song was released a week after its recording with "Drip" in February 2018.[9][10][11]

Composition

Cardi B performs the hook using a softly sung vocal style over a "laidback" beat. The song also comprises "flickering" hi-hats and "slick" synths.[12] Lyrically, "Be Careful" is a song about infidelity, where the performer warns her cheating partner and asks him to treat her better.[13][14] During an interview, Cardi B expressed she drew inspiration from past relationships, while denying that the song was directed at her fiancé Offset.[15]

Chart performance

"Be Careful" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 16 on April 14, 2018, before rising and peaking at 11 the next week after the release of Invasion of Privacy. The song spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.[16]

Music video

Directed by Jora Frantzis, the song's music video premiered on May 21, 2018. The clip opens with a wedding in a church filled with Jesus statues and crucifixes located in the middle of the dessert. Cardi B walks down the aisle in a wedding dress. The clip shifts to a darker hue as the rapper returns to the church, this time for her husband's funeral.[17][18] The music video was filmed at the Sanctuary Adventist Church in Lancaster, California.[19]

Live performances

On April 7, 2018, Cardi B performed "Be Careful" on Saturday Night Live. During the performance she revealed her pregnancy.[20]

Awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 Grammy Awards Best Rap Performance Nominated [3]
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Winning Songs Won [21]
BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won [22]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[44] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various March 29, 2018 Digital download Atlantic [45]
Australia March 30, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [46]
United States April 24, 2018 Urban contemporary
  • KSR
  • Atlantic
 [47]

References
  1. Tardio, Andres (April 3, 2018). "5 Takeaways From Cardi B's New Single 'Be Careful'". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  2. Peters, Mitchell (April 7, 2018). "The 'Ex-Factor': How Drake, Cardi B & More Sampled Lauryn Hill's 'Miseducation' Single". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  3. "2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominations List". The Recording Academy. December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  4. "Cardi B's "Be Careful" SNL Performance Was Captivating". Spin. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  5. Espinoza, Joshua (March 30, 2018). "Debunking the Rumor That Cardi B Stole "Be Careful"". Complex. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  6. "Cardi B Talks Pregnancy, Coachella, & Rumored Beyoncé Collaboration on 'The Breakfast Club' - Rap-Up - Rap-Up". www.rap-up.com.
  7. "Cardi B Talks About Her New Song "Be Careful"". nocumentary. YouTube. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  8. Minsker, Evan (5 April 2018). "Cardi B Says "Be Careful" Isn't About Offset". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. Dandridge, Ben (April 4, 2018). "Listen to Cardi B's new songs "Be Careful" and "Drip"". The Fader. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  10. Gore, Sydney (April 4, 2018). "Cardi B Releases "Be Careful" & "Drip"". MTV News. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  11. Hughes, Hilary (April 10, 2018). "Here's Why 'Be Careful' Almost Didn't Make It Onto Cardi B's Album". MTV News. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  12. Reed, Ryan (March 30, 2018). "Cardi B Sings About Infidelity on New Song 'Be Careful'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  13. "Cardi B Drops a Warning to Cheating Fiance in New Single, 'Be Careful' (Listen)". Variety. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  14. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (April 6, 2018). "Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy review – Bronx Cinderella grinds her heel into hip-hop sexism". The Guardian. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. Saponara, Michael (April 6, 2018). "Ranking the Top 7 Songs From Cardi B's 'Invasion of Privacy': Critic's Pick". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  16. "Be Careful". 16 April 2018.
  17. Reed, Ryan (May 21, 2018). "Watch Cardi B as a Heartbroken Bride in New Video for 'Be Careful'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  18. Chuba, Kirsten (May 21, 2018). "Cardi B's Romance Goes Wrong in New Video for 'Be Careful'". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  19. "A Brief History of Kill Bill–Inspired Music Videos, from Beyoncé to Cardi B".
  20. DiMeglio, Mary J. (April 8, 2018). "Cardi B Reveals Pregnancy in 'SNL' Performance". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  21. "2019 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards". ASCAP. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  22. "2019 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". BMI. August 30, 2019.
  23. "ARIA Chart Watch #468". auspOp. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  24. "Cardi B – Be Careful" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  25. "Cardi B Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  26. "Cardi B – Be Careful" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  27. "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 16/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  28. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  29. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  30. "Cardi B – Be Careful". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  32. "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 16, 20 april 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  33. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  34. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  35. Trust, Gary (April 16, 2018). "Cardi B Bests Beyonce for the Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Hits Among Women". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  36. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  37. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  38. "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
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  40. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  41. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  42. "Canadian single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". Music Canada. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  43. "British single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  44. "American single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  45. "Be Careful - Single". iTunes (CA).
  46. "Singles To Radio - The Music Network". themusicnetwork.com.
  47. "Urban/UAC > Future Releases". AllAccess. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018.
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