Like What (Freestyle) Explained

Like What (Freestyle)
Cover:Cardi B - Like What (Freestyle).jpg
Type:promo
Artist:Cardi B
Released:March 1, 2024
Genre:Hip hop
Length:2:16
Label:Atlantic

"Like What (Freestyle)" is a song by American rapper Cardi B, released on March 1, 2024 through Atlantic Records with an accompanying music video. It is a freestyle of "She's a Bitch" by Missy Elliott.

Composition

Over the instrumental of "She's a Bitch", Cardi B targets her detractors and enemies[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] and reminds them of her status in the rap music industry.

Critical reception

Zachary Horvath of HotNewHipHop wrote of the song, "Lyrically, Cardi is delivering some solid rhymes and lines".[6] Alex Gonzalez of Uproxx commented that Cardi B "arrives with the same eccentric and charismatic energy Missy did 25 years ago" and "She delivers some of the most scorching bars of her career, as she reminds us all how quickly she can switch it up."[7]

Music video

The official music video was directed by Offset. Set in a hillside, glass-covered mansion,[8] [9] it begins with Cardi B strutting around the halls in an outfit that pays homage to Lil' Kim in her video for "Came Back for You": a black bikini under a floor-length fur coat,[10] [11] [12] in addition to a jeweled choker with matching earrings and crystal-encrusted eyebrows (a tribute to Missy Elliott). In one scene, she is shown with pink eyelashes and in another she lounges on a red sofa by a pool as she eats sushi out of a Yves Saint Laurent bag. Cardi B later wears a diamond-encrusted bikini and chaps, posing for a photo shoot. The visual ends with a message reading, "This is just the beginning...stay tuned".

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 8
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[14] 58

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Espinoza . Joshua . Cardi B Samples Missy Elliott for "Like What" Freestyle and Offset-Directed Video . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  2. Web site: Kaplan . Ilana . Cardi B Strips Down in Offset-Directed Video for 'Like What (Freestyle)' — Watch! . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  3. Web site: Powell . Jon . Fans react to Cardi B's "Like What Freestyle" visual on social media . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  4. Web site: Pierre . Mekishana . Cardi B Drops Offset-Directed Music Video for 'Like What (Freestyle)' With Iconic Missy Elliot Sample . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  5. Web site: Cummings-Grady . Mackenzie . Cardi B Returns With 'Like What (Freestyle)' Song and Video . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  6. Web site: Horvath . Zachary . Cardi B Finally Returns With Highly-Anticipated "Like What (Freestyle)" . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  7. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . Cardi B Serves Look After Look In Her Lavish New 'Like What (Freestyle)' Video . . 9 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  8. News: Mendez . Chris Malone . Cardi B Samples A Missy Elliott Classic On 'Like What' Freestyle . 10 March 2024 . . March 1, 2024.
  9. Web site: Kearns . Sarah . Cardi B Shares Offset-Directed Music Video for "Like What" Freestyle . . 10 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  10. Web site: Grant . Shawn . Cardi B Drops New Video "Like What (Freestyle)" Directed by Offset . . 10 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  11. Betancourt . Bianca . Cardi B Pays Homage to Hip-Hop Legends in Her "Like What" Music Video . . 10 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  12. Web site: Inman . Demicia . Cardi B Returns With "Like What (Freestyle)" Music Video . . 10 March 2024 . March 1, 2024.
  13. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. March 11, 2024. March 10, 2024.
  14. TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: March 8th, 2024 - March 14th, 2024. TurnTable. March 21, 2024. March 21, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240321084956/https://www.turntablecharts.com/Charts/Top50. live.