Cardi B made her NPR Tiny Desk Concert debut on October 19, delivering a roughly 19-minute performance that traded arena-sized production for live instrumentation, sharp personality and a more intimate look at her catalogue. Backed by a full band, the rapper moved between club-ready anthems and more vulnerable material, reminding viewers that her stage presence extends well beyond the spectacle of her biggest shows.
Cardi brought her trademark humor to the NPR Music office, where a large crowd gathered for the performance. Rather than relying on prerecorded production, she reworked familiar songs with a live arrangement directed by Adam Blackstone, who handled bass and keys. The ensemble also featured DJ Ray G, Eugene Roberts on keys, Clayton Sears on guitar, Cedric Thompson on drums, Kenneth Whalum on saxophone, Melvin Jones on trumpet, and background vocalists Tiffany Stevens and Ebony Franklin.
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The set opened with “Hello,” whose confident delivery and synth-driven energy established the mood before Cardi moved into a reimagined version of “ErrTime.”
She then shifted into more personal territory with “Man of Your Word” and “Be Careful.” For the closing stretch, Cardi reached back to one of the biggest records in her catalogue. She performed “Bodak Yellow,” the breakout hit that established her as a major force in rap.
The appearance arrives shortly after her surprise release of “Don’t Chart,” recorded for Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album. The song arrived on October 9 after cryptic social media activity sparked speculation about her involvement in the soundtrack, adding another moment to an eventful month for the rapper.
Scroll down to see the full setlist from Cardi B’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
• UP
Am I the Drama? (2025)
• AH HA
(2026)
• HELLO
Am I the Drama? (2025)
• I LIKE IT
Invasion of Privacy (2018)
• ERRTIME
Am I the Drama? (2025)
• BE CAREFUL
Invasion of Privacy (2018)
• BODAK YELLOW
Invasion of Privacy (2018)
• MAN OF YOUR WORD
Am I the Drama? (2025)
Watch Cardi B’s full performance below:
Photo: NPR Music / YouTube
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