"Bickenhead"
Song by Cardi B
from the album Invasion of Privacy
GenreBounce
Length3:01
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Bickenhead" is a song by American rapper Cardi B from her debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018). It was written by Cardi B and Pardison Fontaine alongside producers by Ayo, Keyz and Nes. It samples Project Pat's song "Chickenhead", written by Juicy J, DJ Paul and Todd Shaw, which itself samples DJ Jimi's "Bitches (Reply)", written by Derrick Ordogne and Dion Norman;[1] therefore they are all credited among the composers. It debuted at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week following the album's release.[2]

Background and production

An explicit song that expresses sexual liberation, "Bickenhead" builds on Cardi B's affinities with Southern rap, while serving as a response to Project Pat's "Chickenhead."[3][4] Chickenhead is a derogatory term popularized in 1990s hip hop music that refers to a woman that performs oral sex indiscriminately. Changing the message, in the lyrics of "Bickenhead", reviewers noted Cardi B "takes ownership of her sexuality".[5]

Dion Norman, who co-wrote the sampled song "Bitches (Reply)", stated about "Bickenhead":

"I was really amazed that it would be Cardi B that would do the record, especially her being from the Bronx. I thought that that spoke volumes of how far New Orleans music has traveled, but I also thought that it was appropriate because she's been under scrutiny and somewhat of an underdog that has actually persevered to a level of success [...] When I heard the record, I told [the contact person], 'Man, Cardi B needs to put that on her album.'"[1]

Critical reception

In Complex, Kiana Fitzgerald said, "the beat itself is faithful to the first, with slight variations that make it sound like 2018 while still invoking the feel of the early '00s. It sounds like the song Cardi's been waiting her whole career to make, and she swan dived right into the depths of pearl-clutching crassness that we've come to love her for. (Half the song is dedicated to advice about pussy popping.) Above all else, 'Bickenhead' is a reminder to women everywhere that there's nothing wrong with alternating being a bird with being about your paper...".[6] Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung felt Cardi B gets "filthy" on the "explicit" track, that "it could make Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown blush."[7]

Antisemitism accusations

A lyric in the first verse of the song, "Lawyer is a Jew, he gon' chew up all the charges", was received poorly by some audiences and multiple Jewish publications accused Cardi B of playing into antisemetic sterotypes of lawyers being overwhelmingly Jewish or that Jewish lawyers wield disproportionate legal power.[8][9][10] Some perceived her lyric as a reference to her legal defense team containing multiple Jewish attorneys, but still considered the lyric to be inappropriate.[11][12]

Live performances

Cardi B performed "Bickenhead" and "She Bad" at the 36th AVN Awards on January 26, 2019.[13][14][15]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 76
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 43
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 25

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Setaro, Shawn (April 12, 2018). "New Orleans Rap Pioneer Devious on Being Sampled by Cardi B and Drake Going Bounce". Complex. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ Trust, Gary (March 16, 2018). "Cardi B Bests Beyonce for the Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Hits Among Women". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ Lowers, Erin (April 9, 2018). "Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (April 6, 2018). "Review: Cardi B's Debut, 'Invasion of Privacy,' Is Personal and Undeniable". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ Mench, Chris (April 6, 2018). "Cardi B's Project Pat Sample On "Bickenhead" Has Deep Southern Rap Roots". Genius. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Best Songs of 2018 (So Far)". Complex. June 22, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  7. ↑ Yeung, Neil Z. "Invasion of Privacy AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Burack, Emily (2018-04-11). "Rapping About Jewish Lawyers: A History". Hey Alma. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  9. ↑ Cramer, Philissa (2023-08-04). "Rapper Cardi B tweets, then deletes, picture of Orthodox Jews after legal triumph". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  10. ↑ Wilensky, David A. M. (2023-08-08). "OPINION: Cardi B's post did a lot of work with just one word and two Jews". J. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  11. ↑ Cramer, Philissa. "Rapper Cardi B tweets, deletes picture appearing to fete Jewish lawyers". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  12. ↑ Algemeiner, The (2023-08-04). "Cardi B Stirs Controversy Tweeting Photo of Hasidic Jews After Battery Charges Dropped - Algemeiner.com Cardi B Stirs Controversy Tweeting Photo of Hassidic Jews After Battery Charges Dropped". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  13. ↑ Kaplan, Ilana (January 27, 2019). "See Cardi B Make History as AVN Awards' First Female Performer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  14. ↑ Young, Alex (January 27, 2019). "Cardi B performs at the AVN Awards, a.k.a. 'the Oscars of Porn'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  15. ↑ Minsker, Evan (January 27, 2019). "Watch Cardi B's 2019 AVN Awards Performance". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Cardi B Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  19. ↑ "American single certifications – Cardi B – Bickenhead". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
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