Following the success of their raunchy quarantine hit “WAP,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have teamed up again for their newly released hot girl anthem “Bongos.” The song might have come out on Sept. 8, but I’m declaring it the song of the summer. Its upbeat rhythm is matched by a colorful beachside music video that features some of the most gorgeous swimwear captured on film. Cardi’s striped bodysuit? It’s giving sexy alien caterpillar. Megan’s yellow one-piece? She looks like a real-life princess. And those giant feather hats? Stylish and practical.
The star-studded music video for “WAP” doubled as a fashion show, but “Bongos” takes the cake for paying homage to Cardi’s background through its looks and Latin flair. Cardi may have made the “Bongos” music video on an A-list budget, but she always sticks to her roots — just look at her shoes.Cardi serves ‘90s realness in a purple one-piece, curly red wig, oversized earrings, and platform heels at least 12 inches tall. The heels make a statement on their own, but they also pay a subtle nod to the rapper who inspired them: Lil’ Kim.
X user @bardislawyer noticed that Cardi’s “Bongos” heels look like the platforms Lil’ Kim wore in the June/July 2000 issue of Vibe Magazine. Cardi cut down Lil’ Kim’s heels to half their size, but if she ever wanted to “jump off” them, I’d bet she’d break her ankle.
Cardi B and Lil’ Kim are huge fans of each other. According to People, Cardi defended Lil’ Kim on Twitter in December 2021, calling her “sweet, supportive, and a REAL F*CKIN LEGEND.” Lil’ Kim shared on the show Rap City in 2022 that she and Cardi are close in real life. “Cardi is like the love of my life, y’all don’t even know. We talk a lot. People have no idea,” Kim said. “She’s my little sister but she’s really my big little sister. It’s facts.”
Cardi told Hot 97 in June 2022 that she’s eager to collaborate with Lil’ Kim on her next album in a way that gives Kim the spotlight. “I want it to be a super great comeback. I just don’t want to put her on my album on a song and it’s like, ‘Cool, yeah, she had a Lil’ Kim feature.’ I want this to be her moment,” Cardi said. The rappers have yet to collaborate with each other on a song, but they were spotted in a recording studio together in September 2022. It looks like they got sidetracked with shoe shopping. Take me with you next time, ladies!