Released: 2019
Features: Bruno Mars
Torchbearers of pop and hip-hop, Cardi B and Bruno Mars join forces to deliver the seductive, playful, and undeniably catchy “Please Me”. The song’s theme orbits around romantic and sensual game-play, with both artists expressing their desires for physical and emotional satisfaction through an unapologetic use of suggestive language.
The chorus “Please me, baby / Turn around and just tease me…” serves as an insistent plea for their partners to cater to their sensual needs. The repeated phrase “You know what I want and what I need” establishes a level of self-assuredness; they aren’t just asking, but expecting to have their desires met.
Cardi B’s lines “Lollipoppin’ (poppin’), twerkin’ in some J’s…” reference indulging in sensual behaviors (“Lollipoppin'” is a euphemism for oral sex) and dancing in Jordan sneakers (‘J’s’). The line “Don’t want no young dumb shit / Better fuck me like we listenin’ to Jodeci” is her voicing her preference for mature, experienced lovers who can keep up with her, likening her sexual preference to the slow, sultry vibe of 90’s R&B group Jodeci.
When Cardi says “If you can’t sweat the weave out, you shouldn’t even be out,” she’s throwing shade at potential partners who can’t perform to her expectations. The ‘weave’ here serves as an indirect measurement of rigorous physical intimacy, meaning if they aren’t thorough enough to make her “sweat the weave out,” they shouldn’t even attempt to please her.
The lyrics “Booty so round (round), booty so soft (soft)” by Bruno Mars, meanwhile, have him admiring a woman’s physical attributes. His line “Hit it one time, make it levitate” is playful slang for a sexual encounter delivering mind-blowing results.
Cardi B’s bold self-assuredness is captured in “Your pussy basura (basura) / My pussy horchata (oh).” She brags about her own prowess in bed, calling others ‘basura’ – trash in Spanish, while likening herself to ‘horchata’ – a sweet, creamy Mexican drink, implying she’s superior.
Finally, Cardi’s line “Do my back like I do these records, break that shit” showcases her humorous, but clear expression of her expectations to be satisfied, using an analogy from her successful music career to craft a perfect climax to this roller-coaster ride.
Rich in double entendres, “Please Me” is a decadent blend of Cardi’s raw hip-hop wordplay and Bruno’s silk-smooth vocals, articulating their sensual desires in an utterly unapologetic fashion.
