In leather pants and a power blazer, Cardi B brings a humble and humorous spirit to the Desk as she runs through a set packed with hits.
NPR | By Alanté Serene
Published October 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
It's rare that we have to turn people away, but when word got out that Cardi B would be at the NPR Music office, we drew one of the biggest crowds I've ever seen here. People from all walks of life lined up to watch one of rap's most unfiltered stars take over the Desk. In leather pants and a power blazer, Cardi brings a humble and humorous spirit as she runs through a set packed with hits.
The haunting synths and outright confidence of "Hello" sets the tone right away. Cardi rides that energy into a reimagined "ErrTime." Then she shifts gears for the vulnerable "Man of Your Word" and "Be Careful," keeping her humor intact through some of her most personal material. "Change the vibes, change the vibes," she jokes before bringing the Cardi Party back with "Up," which slides straight into "AH HA." To close, the rap superstar plays two pivotal songs from her catalog: "Bodak Yellow," the breakout that started it all, and the boogaloo-heavy "I Like It." By the end, Cardi is swinging her hips with the crowd and she leaves beaming with gratitude, handing out hugs to a few lucky audience members.
SET LIST
MUSICIANS
TINY DESK TEAM
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