BIA Disputes Cardi B’s Claims of Ghostwriting “WHOLE LOTTA MONEY“
Rapper BIA is pushing back against allegations that her 2021 hit “WHOLE LOTTA MONEY” was ghostwritten and initially intended for Cardi B. The dispute, sparked by claims reported by Rap-Up, centers on the extent of BIA’s lyrical contribution to the track, which became a viral sensation and launched her into the mainstream.
The back-and-forth highlights the ongoing conversation surrounding songwriting credits and creative ownership in the music industry, particularly within the competitive landscape of hip-hop. While collaboration with songwriters is commonplace, the question of authenticity and individual artistic input remains a sensitive topic for many artists. This exchange follows Cardi B’s recent diss track,”pretty & Petty,” and raises the possibility of a continued public feud.
In a recent interview with billboard on October 20, BIA clarified that while a reference track existed, the final version of “WHOLE LOTTA MONEY” is undeniably her own. She conceded that the initial idea for the song’s signature line, “It’s a whole lot of money,” and possibly a verse, originated elsewhere. However, BIA asserted she penned the first verse and the now-iconic hook line, “I put on my jewelry just to go to the bodega.”
“There would be no ‘WHOLE LOTTA MONEY’ if there was no, ‘I put on my jewelry just to go to the bodega.’ That’s facts, and there would be no ‘WHOLE LOTTA MONEY’ if there was no ‘I [can’t] wear[thes[thes[thes[thest]you bches wear becuase it’s cheap to me,’ which is also what I wrote,” BIA stated. She emphasized that she personally contributes to the lyrical content of every song on her recently released album, BIANCA, either through original writing or by adding her own “spin” to pre-written material.
BIA acknowledged that artists frequently collaborate with songwriters,stating,”everybody uses writers,” but differentiated between a writer and a co-writer. Despite not responding to Cardi B’s “Pretty & Petty” with a diss track on BIANCA – a decision she described as a “disservice” to her album – BIA left the door open for a future response, suggesting it could arrive “six months from now, two weeks from now [or] a year from now.”
Cardi B responded to the situation by posting an Instagram video set to her song “AM I THE DRAMA?” on October 19.
