Cardi B reveals ‘WAP’ music video cost $1 million to make

In comparison, the video for ‘Bodak Yellow’ cost just $15,000

The music video for Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s hit single “WAP” cost $1m (£732,000) to produce, according to its star.

Released in August 2020, the video sees the two stars traipsing through a colourful mansion, and features several live animals, including leopards. 

Cardi B, real name Belcalis Almánzar, revealed the staggering cost of the video on Twitter.

She also said that the video for her 2017 major label debut single, “Bodak Yellow”, cost just $15,000. 

“Fun fact : ‘Bodak Yellow’ music video cost me 15 thousand dollars,” she wrote. “I was in Dubai and I said ....I gotta fly picture (videographer) out here ...BOOM BOOM BANG ! Ya know the rest.”

After a fan responded by saying, “girl that’s a lot”, Cardi compared it to other more recent efforts.

“Naaaa honey,” she replied. “‘Money’ cost 400K, ‘Please Me’ cost 900K, ‘WAP’ Cost a M!”

The music video for “WAP” caused some controversy around the time of its release, with some conservative commentators criticising that the song’s overtly sexual lyrics.

On Australian radio show The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Cardi rejected these claims, saying: “The people that the song bothers are usually conservatives or really religious people, but my thing is I grew up listening to this type of music.

“Other people might think it’s strange and vulgar, but to me it’s almost like really normal.”