Summer Jam 2019
Photo Credit: Mel D. Cole for Hot 97
Photo Credit: Mel D. Cole for Hot 97
Cardi B headlined Hot 97's Summer Jam 2019. Will Lil Nas X' be headlining Summer 2021?
The first time Cardi Bhit the Summer Jam stage was a blip. In 2017, Fat Joe and Remy Ma brought her out, briefly, alongside Lil Kim, Young M.A and Queen Latifah. Cardi B performed her biggest hit at the time — "Foreva."
"Kodak Yellow" hadn't dropped yet.
On Sunday, June 2nd, Cardi B stepped on Hot 97's Summer Jam stage for the second time — this time as the biggest rapper in the world and the festival's headliner.
Cardi B has a reputation for being a spotty performer. (In particular, her performance at Power 105.1's Powerhouse 2018 was brutal.) But, in front of a crowd that wanted to love her, she was energetic and charismatic. Her set — which was about 30 minutes — consisted mostly of songs post-Invasion of Privacy. She performed "Press," her melodramatic latest single; "Money;" "Backin' It Up," with Pardison Fontaine; and "Clout," featuring her husband Offset. (Interestingly enough, she didn't perform "Please Me," her snoozer with Bruno Mars.)
Photo Credit: Aviva Klein for Hot 97
Then the song of the summer came on. Midway through her set, Cardi B put on a cowboy hat and introduced a "legend" to the stage: Lil Nas X came out and performed his now seven times platinum hit "Old Town Road." The real shocker: Joining him in the back was Billy Ray Cyrus who performed his verse despite struggling with mic issues.
Cardi B was in the middle of her star moment. And just like that, she passed it over.
Despite some rain issues, Summer Jam 2019 ran smoothly, and relatively efficiently. (If you've been to Summer Jam in the past you know what kind of accomplishment this is.)
Highlights included Megan Thee Stallion, who had a brief but memorable set; A Boogie, who, inexplicably, performed while the sun was still out, despite being one of the biggest rappers from New York City; Meek Mill, who has made a career out of crafting stadium-ready anthems; and Yung Miami, who spiced up a torturous Migos set with her "Act Up" verse.
Check out more pictures from the night below.
Photo Credit: Aviva Klein for Hot 97
Photo Credit: Jill Chami for Hot 97
Photo Credit: Mel D. Cole for Hot 97
Photo Credit: Mel D. Cole for Hot 97
Photo Credit: Mel D. Cole for Hot 97
