Released: 2020 • Features: Megan Thee Stallion
“WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion is a bold and unapologetic anthem of sexual empowerment and female desire. The song has struck chords of controversy, conversation, and celebration across cultural lines, primarily due to its explicit content and the assertive expression of women’s sexual autonomy.
The song opens with the repetitive phrase, “whores in this house,” a sample from Frank Ski’s 1993 Baltimore club classic. Although the term “whore” is often used negatively to demean women, Cardi B and Megan subvert this rhetoric to reclaim the term as an assertion of their control over their own sexuality.
Cardi B introduces herself as a “certified freak” that men can’t resist, highlighting the power she wields through her sexual allure. When she raps about her “wet ass pussy,” she’s taking control of the narrative surrounding female sexuality. The phrase “make that pullout game weak” is a reference to the ‘pullout’ method of birth control, again showcasing her irresistible appeal.
In the chorus, the bucket and mop imagery signify just how sexually aroused she is. This is a stark, unabashed departure from more sanitized depictions of female sexuality in much of mainstream music and media.
Throughout the verses, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion use explicit imagery to detail their sexual preferences. From Cardi’s call to “beat it up” and “catch a charge” to Megan’s demand for a “hard hitter” and a “deep stroke,” they leave no room for ambiguity about their desire for satisfying sex. When Megan declares, “He got some money, then that’s where I’m headed…He got a beard, well, I’m tryna wet it,” she’s signaling her preference for a wealthy partner and alluding to oral sex, again placing her wants and satisfaction at the forefront.
The line “I don’t cook, I don’t clean, but let me tell you, I got this ring” is a potent critique of traditional gender roles. Cardi, already known for her assertive and unapologetic personality, communicates that she didn’t snag her husband by adhering to restrictive expectations of womanhood, but rather by being true to herself.
“WAP” closes with an assertive refrain of the explicit chorus, punctuated by the same sampled “whores in this house” echoing throughout, a defiant celebration of womanhood, sexuality, and autonomy signaling that they are not ashamed, but proud, to express their sexual desires openly and without fear of judgment.
