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💡 TLDR
Cardi B’s "AH HA" video costs ballooned from $250k to over a million dollars because she feels the NYPD totally overcharged her for permits. Between the massive bill and 40 officers on set, she’s officially done with filming in public!
The way this is so stressful for her is actually insane. Cardi B just went on Spaces to vent about the absolute chaos behind her new “AH HA” music video, and let’s just say it wasn’t all glitz and glamour. While the visual looks fire, the actual production left our girl feeling totally drained.
The Million Dollar Permit Problem
Cardi really wanted a simple, gritty New York summer vibe for this project, but things spiraled fast. She originally planned to shoot on a small block in the Bronx, but ended up being steered toward Sunset Park in Brooklyn instead. What was supposed to be a $250,000 street-style video somehow ballooned into a massive expense exceeding one million dollars. Because I’m Cardi B, I be getting overcharged. She feels like being a superstar turned a straightforward shoot into an expensive mess when it came to dealing with city permits.
💫 Because I’m Cardi B, I be getting overcharged.
Too Much Police And Not Enough Chill
It wasn’t just the money draining her energy; it was the sheer amount of people on set making everything feel impossible. According to Cardi, she had around 40 NYPD officers involved, which made filming a complete disaster. Dealing with that much security while trying to maintain a specific aesthetic felt like way too much. Between the high costs and the overwhelming presence of law enforcement, she admitted the whole experience left her feeling overstimulated and underwhelmed.
The DJ SqanQo-produced hit “AH HA” arrived on July 31, followed by the music video release on August 28. The track already debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, but the behind-the-scenes reality was pure chaos. The rapper is officially done with public sets because the lack of control is just not it. After dealing with hundreds of onlookers watching from the sidelines, she’s swearing off music videos in open settings where she can’t manage the crowd. It turns out being a superstar comes with some seriously expensive headaches.
Do you think celebrities should stick to closed sets to avoid all this drama?
❓ People Also Ask
Why did the production costs for Cardi B's AH HA music video increase so significantly?
The production costs for the AH HA music video ballooned to over one million dollars due to unexpected permit expenses and location changes. While Cardi B originally planned a street-style shoot in the Bronx with a budget of approximately $250,000, the project was steered toward Sunset Park in Brooklyn instead. This transition, combined with what she describes as being overcharged for city permits, turned a straightforward production into an extremely expensive and stressful financial undertaking for her team.
How many NYPD officers were present during the filming of the AH HA music video?
There were approximately 40 NYPD officers involved in the production of the AH HA music video. This massive security presence contributed to Cardi B feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed throughout the filming process. Instead of maintaining a specific gritty aesthetic, the sheer amount of law enforcement on set made managing the environment feel nearly impossible. The heavy police involvement was one of the primary factors that turned the creative shoot into a chaotic and draining experience for the rapper.
What caused Cardi B to decide against performing music videos in open public settings?
Cardi B decided to avoid music videos in open settings because she struggled to manage the lack of control over large crowds. During the production of her latest video, hundreds of onlookers watched from the sidelines, which added to the overall chaos and stress of the shoot. This difficulty in managing the environment and the overwhelming presence of both people and security led her to swear off filming in public locations where she cannot maintain proper control.
When were the song and music video for AH HA released?
The DJ SqanQo-produced hit AH HA was released on July 31, followed by the official music video release on August 28. Despite the chaotic behind-the-scenes production issues and the high costs associated with filming in New York, the track saw immediate success on the charts. It debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its arrival, proving that the song resonated with listeners even while the visual production remained a stressful ordeal for Cardi B.
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📰 Source: Billboard