Salute – English Lyrics

• By: Cardi B
• Album: AM I THE DRAMA?

Lyrics & Translation

Cardi B's "Salute" is a masterclass in modern, unapologetic rap flow and braggadocio, making it perfect for studying powerful language and cultural references in contemporary Hip Hop. Users can learn a vocabulary centered on confidence, success, and female empowerment. What makes it special is the backstory: it's a brilliant 'flip' of an unreleased 2 Chainz track, proving Cardi's ability to take a concept, own it, and inject it with her signature Bronx flavor and feminist perspective.

[English]

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah, yeah

You mean to tell me you'd die over nothin'?

Ho, everybody fuckin', that's the end of discussion (end of discussion)

Bitch like me that came out the mud

Might help somebody out 'cause I came up from nothin' (came up from nothin')

Big Bardi in a big-body Benz

With a big-body kit, put the lane over somethin' (yeah)

He getting mad, won't give him my number

Cup in the middle got me feelin' December (whoo)

Put in lotta work, I'm gonna kill it this summer (kill it this summer)

Been on a yacht, no ceilin' this summer (summer)

Bitch been bad, so it make you curious

Never switched up, so you can't be serious (yeah)

Disrespect me, yeah, you can't be serious (huh)

I'm in a Lam', it can't be yours

I'm in a Urus, my world premature

When I look around, I have children on childrens (ah, haha)

Killin' the game, my heart the purest

I need my flaws, now call the verse

I plant the seeds, it's time to flourish

Don't turn on that street, it's not for tourists (skrrt)

You know I'm livin' it up when I'm liftin' it up

Let a nigga know I came to stunt (yeah)

Then we gon' park in the front, wasn't sittin' in the front

Let a nigga know I came to front (whoo)

This shit is bigger than us, let you know that it's bigger than us

'Cause they pickin' it up (yeah)

Takin' the lingo, the fashion, the foreign cars

Man, bitches is eatin' it up (eatin' it up)

I am the reference, yeah, I am the vision board

I put that shit on these bitches, they can't ignore

Hustle too hard to ever be unemployed

Just like a Honda, got things in accord

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

High off a molly, my breasts are like Dolly

I'm ridin' my nigga just like a Ducati (just like a Ducati)

Choppin' the top off the car like karate

Eliantte put a bracelet up on me

Shorty tried stealin' my style, but I caught her

Send me a picture of drip, and I bought it (ice)

Bardi an icon and this is iconic

Made a few millions off talkin' Ebonics

I am too blessed to be talkin' demonic (talkin' demonic)

I specialize in getting the money

Rub on the thighs and kiss on the stomach

My watch is sick, it's makin' 'em vomit (bleh)

My throat as long as a trumpet (trumpet)

If my bitches say fuck it, then fuck it (fuck it)

Hold your partner up just like some crutches (yeah)

Got her pussy wet just like a bucket, fuck it (whoo)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

Salute the real bitches

Salute the real bitches (salute)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hustle /ˈhʌsəl/ B2	verb - to work hard, especially in order to achieve success noun - energetic activity or a business venture driven by ambition
money /ˈmʌni/ A2	noun - currency used for exchange; cash
fashion /ˈfæʃən/ B1	noun - a popular style of clothing or behavior
iconic /aɪˈkɒnɪk/ C1	adjective - widely recognized and symbolic
drip /drɪp/ B2	noun - a small drop of liquid noun - stylish clothing or accessories (slang)
yacht /jɒt/ B1	noun - a luxurious boat for recreation
Benz /bɛnz/ B1	noun - a Mercedes‑Benz automobile
Ducati /duˈkɑːti/ B2	noun - an Italian motorcycle brand
molly /ˈmɒli/ B2	noun - slang for the drug MDMA (ecstasy)
bracelet /ˈbreɪslɪt/ A2	noun - an ornamental band worn around the wrist
salute /səˈluːt/ B2	verb - to greet or honor someone
kill /kɪl/ A2	verb - to cause the death of someone or something
flourish /ˈflʌrɪʃ/ C1	verb - to grow or develop in a healthy, vigorous way
premature /ˈpreməˌtʃʊr/ C1	adjective - occurring before the usual or proper time
pure /pjʊər/ B1	adjective - free from any contamination or impurity
Ebonics /ɪˈbɒnɪks/ C1	noun - African American Vernacular English
lane /leɪn/ A2	noun - a division of a road for a single line of traffic

Key Grammar Structures

• You mean to tell me you'd die over nothin'?

  ➔ Reported question with modal in conditional

  ➔ This is a reported question using a conditional form. The word "would" expresses a hypothetical situation.

• Bitch like me that came out the mud

  ➔ Relative clause

  ➔ This uses a relative clause to describe "bitch like me". The word "that" introduces the clause modifying "me".

• Might help somebody out 'cause I came up from nothin'

  ➔ Modal verb and causal conjunction

  ➔ The word "might" expresses possibility. The conjunction "'cause" (because) introduces the reason for the action.

• I'm gonna kill it this summer

  ➔ Future construction with 'gonna'

  ➔ This uses the informal contraction "gonna" (going to) to express future intention. The structure is subject + gonna + base verb.

• Been on a yacht, no ceilin' this summer

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ This shows an action that started in the past and continues now. "Been" is the auxiliary, followed by "on a yacht" as the continuous form.

• Never switched up, so you can't be serious

  ➔ Modal of deduction

  ➔ The modal "can't" expresses logical deduction or impossibility, meaning "it is not possible" based on previous information.

• I plant the seeds, it's time to flourish

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ This uses "to flourish" as an infinitive phrase to express the purpose or result after "time".

• Salute the real bitches

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ This is a command directed at the listener. The imperative form is the base verb without a subject implied.