Love is chaotic, euphoric, and delicious. Itās also messy and, at times, just as sour as it is sweet. Cardi B and Offset have openlyāby choice and sometimes notāshared nearly all aspects of that journey, and their next business move (which Cardi calls a āpersonalā one), just takes that docket a step further.
The rumors are true; on Super Bowl Sunday, the duo officially joined forces with Mcdonaldās to put their love on display in a 30-second ad that teases their upcoming Valentineās Day meal for two. The timing of the launch commemorates and beckons back toĀ the onset of their relationship, which began to sprout at the Super Bowl of 2017.
āEvery single time that the Super Bowl comes around, I get a little bit emotional,ā Cardi B reflects on a call. The two have a lot going on; they admit it isnāt always easy. āWe do have projects to put out this year, and our careers [are] very important to usā¦ and then balancing things out with our careers and our personal lives, you know what Iām saying? Our children and stuff. We just being grownups. ItāsĀ not easy being grownups.ā
Six years into their marriage, with two children under five, Cardi B and Offset have established a solid foundation forged through fire. But as friends and business partners, theyāre really and simply just having fun with it.
āI love working with my wife because we got a legacy to leave behind with our kids,ā Offset says. āHeās really my best friend. Weāre each otherās best friends,ā Cardi B beams.
The ad features Cardi B and Offset, along with eight other couples, sharing details about their partnerās order and the importance of knowing it, acknowledging food as a love language. āThere areĀ enough ads that focus on just celebs in the Super Bowl,ā says McDonaldās Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Tariq Hassan.
The spot was shot right before the holidays, and itās tied to several other moment-prolonging extensions including a Times Square kissing booth, merch, integrations on dating apps like Tinder, and more. Mcdonaldās has an extensive and nascent history of working closely with artistsāparticularly in rap. Hassan, who joined the company in 2021, is continuing that strike and has so far led collaborations with the likes of Cactus Plant Flea Market (a campaign Offset was also a part of), Mariah Carey, and Kid Cudi in his tenure.
āWeāve been spending a lot of time connecting in cultureā¦ and weāve made that our real focus to make this brand one that connects with our fans. You canāt have that conversation and not think about the universality of how music plays into that connectivity with them from a cultural perspective,ā he tells Complex.Ā āWe unlocked something with Travis Scott, BTS, and Saweetie, but at their hearts, those were [just] campaign. What weāve done since then is weāve unlocked a strategy [that] goes back to this idea of being [part of] an iconic culture.ā He says the companyās pillar of authenticity and awareness of musicās impact led them here. āWeāre in the 50-year celebration of rap, and I think that youāre seeing [its influence] not only in rap but even [in] whatās happening with an artist like Bad Bunny; the transcendence of culture and how it shows up in music.ā
And, speaking of music, Cardi B and Offset are just as expectant as you are for Rihannaās Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show. They tell us about that, why this partnership made sense to them, how they support and push one another to be better, what love means to them, and more below.
So this feels really full circle considering your first date was at the Super Bowl in 2017. Tell me about the moment you got the call to be part of this Super Bowl adāthe thoughts that came to mind and what this means to you.
Cardi B: I mean it almost makes me feel like, ādamn did McDonaldās plan this?ā They did their research on us or something because itās like, okay, if it was just to do a Valentineās Day meal thing, okay, we get it. But for them to actually air a commercial during the Super Bowl? The Super Bowl, to us it really means something. Can we say that itās a tradition? I guess the Super Bowl is a tradition for us now. Iām not really into football, but because the Super Bowl was our first date, every single time that the Super Bowl comes around I get a little bit emotionalā¦ and [now] we have this major amazing commercial with McDonaldās, itās like damn they probably know how we feel and [itās] just great, everythingās great.
Offset: I love football. Thatās my favorite sport. So I was super excited to work with McDonaldās and also I did a little thing with McDonaldās in New York. We Cactus Plant Flea market and I felt like I built a great relationship with them when I met them the first time. And for them to call back and then be able to work with them to do a big commercialā¦ this is a great opportunity, because I always loved McDonaldās growing up too.
Cardi B: Growing up? You like McDonaldās now [laughs].
Offset: I know.
Cardi B: Oh my god. He loves him some damn McDonaldās.
Similarly to you, Cardi, the Super Bowl becomes a concert of sorts for people who arenāt football fans; you guysā first date was Lady GagaāsĀ Halftime Show. This year, itās Rihannaās. Are you guys going? What are you most excited for from the halftime show?
Cardi B: Iām excited of course, to see my commercial, and Iām also excited to see Rihanna perform becauseā¦
Offset: Very big moment for hip hop.
Cardi B: Yep.
Offset: Just for our culture, not hip hop, sorry. Very big moment for our culture. For her to be the headliner of the Super Bowl. She deserve thatā¦ uplift the queen.
Cardi B: And for [this] to be a big comeback for her and [for us] to be able to witness it. Iām just so excited. Especially as fans; meeting her a couple of times, sheās the best. Sheās the sweetest, most nicest, humble person and we canāt wait to support her.
Love that. OK, so you guys seldom take interviews together. Youāre obviously married but youāve also referred to yourselves as business partners in the past. Iām curious about whether that statement still stands today. Do you two believe in keeping your professional and personal lives separate as a couple? Not only when it comes to you two, but also generally for the regular degular couples out there.Ā
Cardi B: I actually like it and Iām very happy because I feel like Offset saved my life from bad contracts [laughs]. Well everybody just says that Iām very nice and every single time I go to meetings Iām really nice and everybody just sometimes could think that they could get over you because youāre just a very nice person. And Offset is a nice person but he gets straight to the point. Heās very good at negotiating and heās just always there for meā¦
āWe got a legacy to leave behind.ā
Offset: For me, I love working with my wife because we got a legacy to leave behind with our kids. So [with] our business moves, I just want to make sure I protect the business for me and her because we got to make sure our kids are situated later on down the line. We canāt just be good right now and we think about the future instead of the present when it comes to business. So we make sure we putting ourselves and aligning ourselves up with brands that match our vibe.
Yes. And Iām sure you guys have been tapped a bunch, why was this, from that business mindset, a good opportunity for you guys?
Cardi B: I mean itās a personal connection. First things first, we actually really do eat McDonaldās. Thatās the thing. Everybody want to front now that they vegan and all that shit. [But], we really do eat McDonaldās. McDonaldās really do be having our fucking backs. Letās be serious. Every single time we travel to different states, every single time after one or two oāclock, whoās open? Who got your back? Who got your back? Yeah. McDonaldās, bitchā¦ Every single time you go out the countryā¦ Iām not a picky eater, but Offset, heās a very picky eater. And sometimes Iām a picky eater when Iām outside the country because goddamn it. And itās like whoās always there? Whoās there for you? Yeah, thatās right, motherf****rs. McDonaldās right there for you. Yeah, yeah. Ba da ba ba ba.
And I cannot wait because to your kids, youāre not as cool to them. Youāre just their parents to them. So Iām definitely taking my [children] to McDonaldās and when [they] see us there, [theyāre] going to be like, āOh my god, thatās my mom. Thatās my mom!ā
Beautiful.
Cardi B:
All our kids, theyāre going to be like, āYep, thatās our parents right there. Yeah, thatās right.ā
Speaking of kids, yāall are full adults now for real, husband and wife, parents to two children. How do you support each other? What does support look like in partnership?
Offset: First and foremost, we very hard on each other when it comes to music and our business. Iām glad I got her because sometimes I donāt want to say you get comfortable but you get used to doing the same things or might donāt want to go outside of things that you wouldnāt do. Especially with me with socials and her experience with socials always helps me with my career. Itās just always been supportive but not being supportive of everything. Sometimes we got toĀ hear [that] this record [is] not good or the idea is probably not the best idea, [and] you should do it like this. So we just always bouncing through each otherās energy and go off of what we think is possible. We always go through each other and ask questions about whatever it may be.
āWe are each otherās hardest critics.ā
CardiB: Yeah, I feel like we just support each other in every single way; we are each otherās hardest critics at that. We are going to keep it real with each other. Sometimes you might be stuck in your ways and we will tell each other different things. Sometimes I would give him criticism about something and he would give me criticism about something and itās like we just be like, āWhat? Whatever.ā But then itās like we actually take it as consideration and I donāt know, it always end up working out every single time that we criticize each other hard, we go and change it and itās a workout and we always have a good, I told you so moment.
Offset: For me itās outfits for her every time. Itās like, āWear this, wear that, wear this.ā āNo, I donāt want to wear that.ā But then she wears it everywhere and I think for her itās like me posting more often to keep my name in the talks. Because I go missing for eight days on Instagram, and sheāll be like, āYou need to go take pictures of your outfit and put it on there.ā And then I donāt want to do it. But then when I do it just be likeā¦
Cardi B: People love it.
Letās talk music. Cardi, youāve done such a great job of hopping on singles and supporting rising women rappers over the last few years. But your last full project was a while ago now; what are you working on with in terms of personal music?
Cardi B: Itās coming. We both coming.
Great. Offset, what are you looking forward to in terms of music youāre working on?
Offset: Iām just looking forward to the fans hearing this music Iāve been making because I [used] a lot of new producers, I did a lot of new sounds, there was some new artists. So Iām just excited for the new chapter.
āWe do have projects to put out this year and our careers [are] very important to us.ā
Cardi, is there anything else you want to say about your new chapter?
Cardi B: Iām excited for it. Iām coming hard.
Canāt wait. So, I want to know, since this is all about love, what does love mean to each of you? By definition as an act, as a practice.
Offset: Hard to explain that.
Cardi B: Yeah, itās kind of hard to explain that. Thereās just a lot of levels of love. First and first you have to be attractive to each other. You know what Iām saying? You have to feel like every single time that you see your man, you want to jump on him. Every single time that you see your girl, you want to grab her, you want to grab her, you want to kiss her. Thatās a real important part of love.Ā The connection, theā¦ I guess sexual connection, the attraction. And then of course itās likeā¦ I donāt know, I feel like me and Offset have this great friendship. Heās really my best friend. Weāre each otherās best friends. I feel, I really feel like my man will do anything for me and Iāll do anything too.
āI mean we could brag about a lot of things, but I mean if we could really just keep it simpleā¦ we set the trends.ā
Offset: Love is in the air [laughs]. Love to me is hearing me out as a man. You know what Iām saying? Hearing me out, letting me lead no matter the circumstances, and thinking about how I feel. Because my girl do think about how I feel. A lot of these women out here. Especially as a Black man...Ā we always feel like we need to be closed and caged and I feel like love is finding somebody that you can open up to as a man and showĀ a little bit of vulnerability and be able to speak to them about things you wonātĀ speak to the next man or [woman] about, and I get that from her. So love is accepting me for who I am and accepting the follow and allowing me to lead as the king, as I am.
The king who found his queen. Ok so, I typically start with this question, but itās been a crazy time and thereās no right or wrong way to have a conversation, so Iāll ask now ā how are you guys doing?
Cardi B: Us?
Yes.
Offset: We push through this day by day and [weāre] trying to just stay focused on end goals and keeping God first and believing in him, and we walking.
āWe push through day by day.ā
Cardi B: Yeah. I feel like lately we just been chasing down our goals and not letting anything distract us. Just balancing out our lives because we do have projects to put out this year and our careers [are] very important to us. And then balancing things out with our careers and our personal livesā¦Ā our children and stuff. So we just, being adults, we just adulting like everybody else.Ā Thatās what Iāve been telling people every day. Itās like we just being grownups, itās not easy being grownups.
At all.
Cardi B: Itās work.
Praying for you guys and glad to hear that youāre doing okay. Cardi, the other day you said that one of your biggest flaws is not bragging enough. Now, you have the opportunity to show your world the love on this platform and with this ad, whatās one thing youād brag about your relationship?
Offset: See me, as the man, Iād brag about the money I spend on my lady because I spend a chunky load of it baby. Make sure my babyās flourishing and shining and yeah, thatās how Iām going to come, thatās how Iām gonna flex. My bills I spent. You see all them, 55, 65 Birkins my lady got? Thatās me. The big chicken nugget. The big chicken nugget on the ring finger? Thatās me. Multiple cars? Thatās me. House in DR? Thatās me.Ā
Heard you.
Cardi B: Yeah. Yeah, thatās true. I mean we could brag about a lot of things, but I mean if we could really just keep it simpleā¦ we set the trends.
Okay, and lastly ā this is a tough, fun one, but I need to know from each of you, who do you think is the better rapper between you two?
Cardi B: I think Offset. Offset could really rap his ass off. Heās really like a freestyler. Oh man, he, wait, hold onā¦
I was going to sayā¦ thatās real love.
Cardi B: Wait, Kiari! [speaks to Offset]Ā They said who, from each other, who do you think is the better rapper? Me or you? I said Offset.
Offset: Got to be.
Cardi B: Wait, hold onā¦ We do be giving each other pointers though.
Offset: Bars.
Cardi B: We be giving each other bars.