Cardi B is trading the studio for the subway, at least for a little while. The Bronx-born, Grammy-winning rapper is now the latest voice behind New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) public service announcements.
The MTA announced the collaboration on social media Tuesday, revealing that Cardi B recorded a series of on‑board audio messages designed to promote subway etiquette, safety reminders and general commuter courtesy. In her signature style, she peppers the announcements with Bronx flavor and humor while reminding New Yorkers to ride responsibly.
A Voice With Personality
The MTA’s announcement emphasized the local tie: “We teamed up with NYC’s own Cardi B on PSAs that will play in subway stations across our system.” Transit officials told amNewYork the partnership involved no monetary payment.
Cardi’s messages focus on typical transit reminders, paying the fare, staying out of stairways, and avoiding unsafe behaviors like subway surfing. But she delivers them with flair. One message warns, “Steps are for stepping, not sitting. Move it, Bucko!” Another cautions against riding on top of moving trains: “Stop subway surfing. Ride safe, keep it cute and keep it moving.”
In a promotional video shared by the MTA and circulated online, she walks through a subway station and records lines like “We’re walking here!” and “These trains don’t move without you, so make sure you pay that fare and keep it real.”
The announcements are slated to run through Dec. 31. The MTA has not publicly confirmed which lines or stations will play her voice first.
From Hustle to Hyperlocal Promotion
This MTA gig is part of Cardi B’s uproarious and hands-on promotion of her new album, Am I the Drama?, released Sept. 19. She turned heads by personally selling physical copies of the album in subway stations, walking through subway cars with her disc display, and leaning fully into a grassroots, citywide rollout.
The timing is bold, she is set to headline the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Sept. 27, replacing The Weeknd, and is also preparing for her upcoming Little Miss Drama Tour.
As expected with anything Cardi B touches, the response was a mix of fan excitement, playful commentary, and a dash of cynicism.
Even simple lines like “make sure you pay that fare” or “keep steps clear” may resonate differently when they come from Cardi B’s voice.
