Pretty & Petty Lyrics – Cardi B

Pretty & Petty Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
Quick hype-up energy, setting the vibe.

[Chorus]
Here Cardi is showing off her mix of beauty and attitude. She calls herself pretty but also admits she’s petty, meaning she doesn’t let things slide and isn’t afraid to clap back. She’s saying other women try to compete with her but they aren’t really ready for the level she brings. She even points out that when she confronts someone, she makes it look stylish and powerful, proving her confidence and her ability to dominate while still looking good.

[Verse 1]
In this part, Cardi takes direct shots at her rival, mocking their lack of success compared to hers. She brags about her achievements, her money, and her position while reminding the other person that they can’t compete. She says she would never want to look like them and makes fun of their lack of awards and recognition. Her words are sharp, like a warning, showing she’s not intimidated. Instead, she flips the situation to highlight her strength and the weakness of anyone who tries to challenge her.

[Chorus]
Cardi repeats her point but shorter and sharper here. She insists she’s both beautiful and unapologetically petty. She calls out other women who think they can match her but says they’re not on her level. It’s a quick reminder that she’s confident, fearless, and ready to shut down anyone who steps up.

[Verse 2]
This section is a long drag on her opponent. Cardi goes after everything from looks, family background, and personal life to career struggles. She calls the rival fake, accuses them of lying online, and mocks them for being around famous people without real success of their own. She brings up rumors, insults hygiene, and even pokes fun at their body and age. Cardi contrasts her own luxury and realness with the other person’s supposed struggles, saying she has fame, money, and recognition while the rival is fading. She brags about her daughter’s watch being worth more than the rival’s deals, pointing to her wealth and success. She closes this section by placing herself as an icon and calling the other woman average at best. This whole part feels like a roast, where Cardi tears down her rival from every angle to prove she’s untouchable.

[Chorus]
Here Cardi circles back to her main message again with more energy. She repeats that she’s both gorgeous and ruthless, proud of owning both sides. She’s not afraid to call herself petty because it means she’ll always defend herself. When she says other women think they’re ready but aren’t, she’s claiming that no one can match her. Even when she puts someone in their place, she makes it look bold and attractive, almost like it’s entertainment for her.

[Outro]
In the closing, Cardi turns up the confidence even more. She throws jabs at someone’s looks, mocks their family resemblance, and dismisses rumors of people looking for her by saying she’s unbothered and easy to find. She hypes up real “bad girls” by asking them to clap and celebrate themselves, almost like she’s leading a chant. Then she comes back to her main rival, calling herself the “Grim Reaper” to show she’s here to finish them off lyrically. She makes it clear she responds on her own terms, not when others expect her to. Finally, she sets a firm boundary by warning them not to mention her kids, showing there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. It ends with her declaring victory, saying her opponent failed to defeat her.