Be Careful (Cardi B song)

"Be Careful"
"Be Careful"
Single by Cardi B
from the album Invasion of Privacy
Released	March 29, 2018
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:30
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Belcalis Almanzar; Matthew Samuels; Anderson Hernandez; Adam Feeney; Jordan Thorpe; Marilyn Bergman; Alan Bergman; Robert Diggs; Lauryn Hill; Clifford Smith; Lamont Hawkins; Dennis Coles; Gary Grice; Jason Hunter; Russell Jones; Corey Woods; Marvin Hamlisch; Cassius Bilbro;
Producer(s)	Boi-1da; Frank Dukes; Vinylz;
Cardi B singles chronology
Music video
	"Be Careful" on YouTube

"Be Careful" is a song recorded by American rapper Cardi B. It was released on March 29, 2018, as the third single from her debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018). The song was written by Cardi B, Jordan Thorpe, and produced by Boi-1da, Vinylz, and Frank Dukes. It contains an interpolation from "Ex-Factor", written and performed by Lauryn Hill, which itself samples "Can It Be All So Simple", written and performed by Wu-Tang Clan. The latter song also samples "The Way We Were". Therefore, Hill, the eight members of Wu-Tang Clan, and Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman are credited among the composers.

"Be Careful" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topped the Rhythmic Songs chart. Internationally it reached the top 40 in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The song was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. On April 7, 2018, Cardi B performed the song on Saturday Night Live, where she revealed the pregnancy of her first child.

Background and release

A demo of some lines for "Be Careful" was first recorded by Pardison Fontaine, the stage name of Jordan Thorpe. Later, Cardi B added the hook and wrote the rest of the song, with production completed with the help of producers Frank Dukes, Boi-1da and Vinylz. Cardi was motivated to write the song when she was in New York City finishing her debut album, Invasion of Privacy (2018). Annoyed about her past romantic relationships and the unfaithfulness in them, she found herself tense and upset – prioritising work, with too many bad thoughts. Initially some listeners believed the song was addressed to Cardi's fiancé, rapper Offset, however she denied this. The song was released a week after its recording with "Drip" in February 2018.

Composition

Cardi B performs the hook using a softly sung vocal style over a "laidback" beat. The song also comprises "flickering" hi-hats and "slick" synths. Lyrically, "Be Careful" is a song about infidelity, where the performer warns her cheating partner and asks him to treat her better. During an interview, Cardi B expressed she drew inspiration from past relationships, while denying that the song was directed at her fiancé Offset.

Chart performance

"Be Careful" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 16 on April 14, 2018, before rising and peaking at 11 the next week after the release of Invasion of Privacy. The song spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

Directed by Jora Frantzis, the song's music video premiered on May 21, 2018. The clip opens with a wedding in a church filled with Jesus statues and crucifixes located in the middle of the dessert. Cardi B walks down the aisle in a wedding dress. The clip shifts to a darker hue as the rapper returns to the church, this time for her husband's funeral. The music video was filmed at the Sanctuary Adventist Church in Lancaster, California.

Live performances

On April 7, 2018, Cardi B performed "Be Careful" on Saturday Night Live. During the performance she revealed her pregnancy.

Awards and nominations

Year	Ceremony	Category	Result
2019	Grammy Awards	Best Rap Performance	Nominated
	ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards	Winning Songs	Won
	BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards	Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	Won

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	65
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)	19
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	24
France (SNEP)	154
Greece (IFPI)	37
Ireland (IRMA)	25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	39
Portugal (AFP)	75
Scotland (OCC)	79
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)	6
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)	13
UK Singles (OCC)	24
US Billboard Hot 100	11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	8
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)	4
US Rhythmic (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100	59
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	32
US Rhythmic (Billboard)	21

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	40,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)	4× Platinum	4,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	March 29, 2018	Digital download	Atlantic
Australia	March 30, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Atlantic
United States	April 24, 2018	Urban contemporary	KSR Atlantic