Today marks the Two Year Anniversary of the Migos collab song “Motorsport,” with Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. It was released on October 27, 2017, as the lead single from Migos’ third studio album Culture II. The song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Migos’ second top 10 in the country. It is also one of the many female collaborations to reach the Hot 100’s Top 10 of this decade:
“MotorSport” marks the first time Migos, Minaj, and Cardi B have worked together on a song; although Offset had already collaborated with Minaj on London on da Track’s “No Flag”, and with Cardi B on her own track “Lick”.
On October 25, 2017, radio station Hot 93.7 confirmed that a collaboration between Migos, Minaj, and Cardi B would be released two days later. On October 26, the night before its release, Migos previewed the track on Power 105.1’s music celebration, Powerhouse.
CONTROVERSY
Soon after it was released, Joe Budden from Everyday Struggle speculated that Kanye West was originally on the song and that he’s the one who actually pitched the idea of getting Minaj on it. It was also rumored that Minaj and Cardi B were dissing each other on the song, which both rappers denied.
Minaj commented on the rumors saying that the song was originally only a collaboration between her and Quavo, that she was “in full support of Cardi B’s ‘Motor Sport’ feature” and that “the conspiracy theorists are just so tired”, while Cardi B said that “people wouldn’t be satisfied even if [we] was making out” and “I don’t really have the time”
RECEPTION AND SUCCESS
Both Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s verses received positive reviews. Editors from Billboard noted Cardi B’s line “trap Selena” as an “ambitious statement.”
Cardi’s verse won Best Featured Verse at the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards.
MUSIC VIDEO
irected by Bradley & Pablo and Quavo, the music video was released on December 6, 2017 on Apple Music. It was made available on YouTube the next day.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cardi B verse follows and she’s fierce to say the least. From the jump, she’s sexed up, referencing the penis right out the gate. Definitely unapologetic.
All in all, “Motor Sport” is Migos being Migos, which is always a compelling experience. It’s well produced, while all five MCs involved drop captivating rhymes. There’s no glaring cons to be found, so indulge in the sport of it all.
Invasion of Bardi 