Bongos (song)

"Bongos" is a song by American rapper Cardi B featuring fellow American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, released as the fourth single of Cardi's upcoming second studio album on September 8, 2023, through Atlantic Records.^[1] It is the pair's second collaboration after their 2020 hit song "WAP".^[2]

"Bongos"
Standard cover^[a]
Single by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
B-side	"WAP"
Released	September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Recorded	2023
Genre	Latin-rap · dirty-rap
Length	2:55
Label	Atlantic
Composer(s)	Breyan Isaac Carlos Londono Chaniah Kelley Donny Flores James D. Steed
Lyricist(s)	Belcalis Almánzar Megan Pete Jordan Thorpe
Producer(s)	We Good Breyan Isaac for the Thirties DJ SwanQo
Cardi B singles chronology
"Jealousy" (2023) "Bongos" (2023)
Megan Thee Stallion singles chronology
"Ungrateful" (2022) "Bongos" (2023) "Cobra" (2023)
Music video
"Bongos" on YouTube

Background

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion announced "Bongos" on September 4, sharing its cover artwork and release date on social media.^[3] Cardi B had announced to Vogue México y Latinoamérica in August 2023 that she was not going to release any more collaborations before her next solo single.^[3] It was not shared that "Bongos" would be included on her upcoming second studio album.^[4] Cardi B later explained that the song had been "part of a plan for a minute now" and called it "just one of those records where you need somebody", revealing that she "chopped" up the verses Megan Thee Stallion had sent her, also calling Megan her "work wife".^[5]

Reception

Variety's Thania Garcia remarked that the song has "Latin-infused beats" on which the pair "spit their verses over a twerk-worthy bassline".^[6]

Music video

The music video was released alongside the song on September 8, 2023.^[7] It was directed by Tanu Muino in Beverly Hill and Malibu, California with a budget of 2 million dollars.^[8] In a interview for iHeartRadio, Cardi B explained that her first intention was to film the video outside the United States, but the Atlantic hurricane season forced the project to be shot in Malibu.^[9][10]

The location is the Beverly Estate in Beverly Hills, previously featured Beyoncé's visual album, Black Is King.^[11] The video also presentes choreographies and references in costumes and filming to Beyoncé's film.^[12]

It shows Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion at a beach "wearing over-the-top accessories and custom fits".^[6] Cardi B called the video "intricate" and "beautiful" and felt it has a "whole complete different type of theme".^[13]

Live performances

On September 12, 2023, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion performed "Bongos" for the first time at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. The performance began with Cardi descending to the stage from atop a large disco ball, after which the duo performed a dance routine dressed in sparkly blue outfits surrounded by background dancers.^[14] Justin Curto of Vulture praised the performance as a highlight of the night,^[15] whereas Pitchfork's Madison Bloom described it as "boring" and less memorable than the pair's first collaboration "WAP".^[16]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Bongos"

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref(s)
2023	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Video	Pending	^[17]

Track listings

• Streaming/digital download^[18]
  1. "Bongos" – 2:55
  2. "WAP" – 3:07
• Streaming/digital download – Bongos: The Pack^[19]
  1. "Bongos" (explicit) – 2:55
  2. "Bongos" (clean) – 2:55
  3. "Bongos" (alternate mix) – 2:31
  4. "Bongos" (sped up) – 2:34
  5. "Bongos" (DJ edit) – 2:47
  6. "Bongos" (radio edit) – 2:31
  7. "Bongos" (instrumental) – 2:55
  8. "Bongos" (alternate mix instrumental) – 2:31
• Streaming/digital download – DJ SpinKing and DJ Taj Jersey club mix^[20]
  1. "Bongos" (DJ SpinKing and DJ Taj Jersey club mix) – 1:37

Charts

Chart performance for "Bongos"

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[21]	78
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)^[22]	16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[23]	43
Global 200 (Billboard)^[24]	26
Ireland (IRMA)^[25]	64
Lithuania (AGATA)^[26]	12
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[27]	6
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)^[28]	71
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)^[29]	15
UK Singles (OCC)^[30]	35
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[31]	16
US Billboard Hot 100^[32]	14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[33]	4
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)^[34]	5
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[35]	2

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Bongos"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	September 8, 2023	CD digital download streaming	Original	Atlantic	^[6]^[36]
Italy		Radio airplay		Warner	^[37]
Various	September 11, 2023	Digital download streaming	The Pack EP	Atlantic	^[38]
	September 14, 2023		Jersey club mix		^[39]

References

Footnotes

1. Physical CDs feature two alternative artwork.

Citations

1. Pointer, Flisadam (September 4, 2023). "Cardi B's Upcoming 'Bongos' Single Will Be A Voluptuous Rap Reunion Of Epic Portions". Uproxx. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
2. Corcoran, Nina (September 4, 2023). "Cardi B Announces New Song "Bongos" With Megan Thee Stallion". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
3. Iasimone, Ashley (September 4, 2023). "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Announce 'Bongos': Here's the Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
4. Caraan, Sophie (September 5, 2023). "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Share Release Date of New Collab "Bongos"". Hypebeast. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
5. Paul, Larisha (September 8, 2023). "Rap's Resident Work Wives Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Reunite With 'Bongos'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
6. Garcia, Thania (September 7, 2023). "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Lay Out By the Beach and Show Off Their 'Bongos' in New Video". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
7. Gonzales, Erica (September 8, 2023). "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Just Gave Us Another Raunchy Banger". Elle. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
8. Velasquez, Angelina (September 9, 2023). "Cardi B says "Bongos" video had a $2 million budget: "It was very expensive"". Revolt. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
9. Williams, Aaron (September 11, 2023). "Cardi B Explained Why The 'Bongos' Video Cost A Whopping $2 Million". UPROXX. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
10. Kaufman, Gil (September 8, 2023). "Life's a Candy-Colored Beach in Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's Eye-Popping 'Bongos' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
11. Pierre, Mekishana (September 8, 2023). "Work Wives Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Reunite for 'Bongos' Video". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
12. Brow, Jason (September 8, 2023). "Does Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's New Video Give Love to Beyonce?". US Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
13. Brodsky, Rachel (September 8, 2023). "Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion – 'Bongos'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
14. Garcia, Thania (September 12, 2023). "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Give 'Bongos' Its Live Debut at VMAs". Variety. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
15. Curto, Justin (September 13, 2023). "The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2023 VMAs". Vulture. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
16. Bloom, Madison; Herrera, Isabelia; Pierre, Alphonse (September 13, 2023). "The Best and Worst of the 2023 MTV VMAs". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
17. Seemayer, Zach. "2023 MTV EMAs Nominations: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA and More!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
18. "Bongos (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)". Spotify. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
19. "Bongos: The Pack". Spotify. September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
20. "Bongos (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) [DJ SpinKing & DJ Taj Jersey Club Mix]". Spotify. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
21. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 September 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1750. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2023. p. 4.
22. "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
23. "Cardi B Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
24. "Cardi B Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
25. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Cardi B". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
26. "2023 39-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
27. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
28. "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: October 6th, 2023 - October 12th, 2023". TurnTable. from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
29. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 37". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
31. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
32. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
33. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
34. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
35. "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
36. ""Bongos" (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) Limited Edition CD Single". Cardi B Store. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
37. Mompellio, Gabriel (September 8, 2023). "Cardi B - Bongos (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) (Radio Date: 08-09-2023)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved September 8, 2023.
38. @iamcardib (September 11, 2023). "#BONGOS: THE PACK – OUT NOW cardib.lnk.to/BongosThePack" (Tweet). Retrieved September 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
39. @iamcardib (September 14, 2023). "Release party for Bongos (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) [Jersey Club Mix]" (Tweet). Retrieved September 14, 2023 – via Twitter.