Be Careful (Cardi B song)

Last updated

"Be Careful"
Be Careful (Official Single Cover) by Cardi B.png
Single by Cardi B
from the album Invasion of Privacy
ReleasedMarch 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
Genre Hip hop
Length3:30
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cardi B singles chronology
"Finesse (Remix)"
(2018)		"Be Careful"
(2018)		"Girls"
(2018)
Music video
"Be Careful" on YouTube

"Be Careful" is a song by American rapper Cardi B from her debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018). It was released on March 30, 2018, as the third single from the album. 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]

Contents

"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. 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] The song has been certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

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

YearCeremonyCategoryResultRef.
2019 Grammy Awards Best Rap Performance Nominated [3]
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Winning SongsWon [21]
BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop SongsWon [22]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [42] 2× Platinum140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [43] 2× Platinum160,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [44] Platinum30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [45] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [46] 5× Platinum5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousMarch 29, 2018 Digital download Atlantic [47]
AustraliaMarch 30, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [48]
United StatesApril 24, 2018 Urban contemporary
  • KSR
  • Atlantic
 [49]

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. 1 2 "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. April 9, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  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 (April 5, 2018). "Cardi B Says "Be Careful" Isn't About Offset". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  9. ↑ Dandridge, Ben (April 4, 2018). "Listen to Cardi B's new songs "Be Careful" and "Drip"". The Fader . Retrieved April 10, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ Gore, Sydney (April 4, 2018). "Cardi B Releases "Be Careful" & "Drip"". MTV News . Retrieved April 10, 2018.[ dead link ]
  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.[ dead link ]
  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". April 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Reed, Ryan (May 21, 2018). "Watch Cardi B as a Heartbroken Bride in New Video for 'Be Careful'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. 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". May 22, 2018.
  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). Le classement de singles. 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 (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  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. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". Music Canada . Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  44. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". Radioscope. Retrieved June 27, 2025.Type Be Careful in the "Search:" field.
  45. ↑ "British single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  46. ↑ "American single certifications – Cardi B – Be Careful". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Be Careful - Single". iTunes (CA).
  48. ↑ "Singles To Radio - The Music Network". themusicnetwork.com .
  49. ↑ "Urban/UAC > Future Releases". AllAccess. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018.
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