Less than a week into 2018, Cardi B broke records and released an internet-shaking collab with Bruno Mars. The “Finesse” remix accumulated praise quickly with its ‘90s nostalgia and nod to TV show In Living Color. Riding that wave, the brilliant Bandcamp user Amorphous took the track, removed Bruno Mars’ verses, and put in iconic bars from some of the greatest women rappers of the past two decades. His “FINESSE - Female Rap Megamix” traverses time and space to bring us a five-minute mashup worth listening to.
The megamix opens up on a verse from Nicki Minaj’s “Hello Good Morning (Remix),” which smoothly transitions into Cardi B’s verse from the original track. Next, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (RIP) on “U Know What’s Up,” Lil Kim’s “Crush On You,” and Foxy Brown’s feature on “Touch Me, Tease Me” all make appearances before a rough transition into Missy Elliot’s iconic opening verse from “Get Your Freak On.” Lauryn Hill’s 1998 “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Queen Latifah’s “Black Hand Side” close out the track.
Even though it’s not organized in chronological order, the track provides a timeline of the most iconic queens of rap. Before Cardi B broke her record last year, Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” was the longest running No. 1 by a woman rapper. Without taking away from her achievements, this track highlights how many women helped pave the way for Cardi B’s groundbreaking success.
I haven’t heard a track with this many women rappers since Lil Kim, Angie Martinez, Left Eye, Da Brat, Queen Latifah, and Missy linked up IRL for the “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)” in 1997. Unfortunately this new "Finesse" remake is just a mashup, and not an actual collaboration, but we can dream can't we?
