Every Visual Influence on Cardi B’s ‘Invasion of Privacy’ Album Cover

A picture’s worth a thousand wordsand a few words of those can be about standom.

In case you haven’t heard, Cardi B will release her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, on April 6. On Monday night, the Bronx rapper announced her debut album and released the cover on Twitter.

My album “INVASION OF PRIVACY” will be out APRIL 6!👌🏽👌🏽Thanks for the love❤️ pic.twitter.com/RVfqWHA7sX

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 27, 2018

Cardi B ruled 2017 with her hit song “Bodak Yellow,” and her follow up, “Bartier Cardi,” both of which went into heavy rotation on radio and in people’s heads. While we waited around for her debut album, Cardi chose to stress quality over rushing out a McAlbum.

With the release of Cardi’s album cover, it’s also clear that she’s paying homage to some of her biggest influences. In the past, Cardi has said that she counts Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, Madonna, and Lady Gaga among her influences.

Here’s where each of her favs play into the visual influences for Invasion of Privacy.

Missy Elliott

Starting from the very top of the album cover (and the very top of Cardi’s head), it’s clear that the Colonel Sanders-esque plastic locks harken back to the legendary “Sock It 2 Me” video from G.O.A.T. rapper Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott.

Cardi’s also serving some afro-futuristic “Supa Dupa Fly” vibes.

Lil’ Kim

If there’s a female rapper repping a bold hairstyle, look no further than Lil’ Kim, whose technicolor “Crush on You” is the reference point for an array of looks and hairstyles still being done today.

Madonna

It’s quite ballsy of Cardi to choose a throne for her first album cover and that take-no-prisoners attitude is something she has no doubt inherited from her idol, Madonna.

Plus, the whole thing is early-1990s Breathless Mahoney-meets-hip hop.

Lady Gaga

The yellow-as-corn look Cardi sports looks like it was sampled, Microsoft Paint eye dropper style, from Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” video. And the black-and-white look also resembles Gaga’s outfit during the opening prison scene.

Now, this is not all to say that Cardi B is derivative or unimaginative. Every artist has influences, and using them so well and blending them so seamlessly is what makes Cardi iconic. The point is, she’s serving ~ lewks ~ and the cover deserves to be among these other names.