“I Like It” by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin is a vibrant, fun, and incredibly confident party anthem that serves as a massive celebration of success, luxury, and Latino pride. At its heart, the song is a joyful and boastful list of all the amazing things the three global superstars “like” about their rich and famous lives. From diamonds and deals to luxury cars and their cultural roots, the track is an unapologetic expression of enjoying the rewards of hard work. In this article, we explore the meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions.
Released in 2018, this mega-collaboration became the song of the summer and a worldwide number-one hit. It brilliantly fuses American hip-hop with Latin trap and reggaeton, creating an infectious sound that honors its cultural roots while being a powerful statement on the global stage. It is a song about being on top of the world and loving every single minute of it.
Of course, this celebration of success didn’t come out of nowhere. Just a year earlier, Cardi had already shaken the industry with “Bodak Yellow”, a fiery anthem that marked her arrival as a force to be reckoned with. While I Like It dances in luxury, Bodak Yellow lays the groundwork—boldly announcing that Cardi was here to stay.
Cardi B’s Love for Luxury and Power
Cardi B kicks off the song by laying out her personal list of things she likes, and it’s all about wealth and dominance. “Now I like dollars, I like diamonds / I like stuntin’, I like shinin’,” she begins. This sets the tone immediately. She is not shy about her love for money and the flashy lifestyle that comes with it. She likes making “million dollar deals” and wearing expensive “Balenciagas.” Her love for luxury is a symbol of her success; she has earned the right to enjoy these things.
But her verse is not just about material goods; it’s also about power. “I like texts from my exes when they want a second chance / I like proving niggas wrong, I do what they say I can’t,” she raps. This shows that she gets a deep satisfaction from her success on a personal level. She enjoys the feeling of seeing her exes regret losing her and proving all her doubters wrong.
She ends her verse by cementing her status as a “spicy mami” and a powerful force in the music industry. The clever line, “I run this shit like cardio,” shows her confidence. She is saying that she dominates the rap game with the kind of stamina and ease that someone has when doing a long workout.
Bad Bunny’s Celebration of “Latino Gang”
Bad Bunny, a superstar from Puerto Rico, takes the second verse and fills it with Spanish-language boasts and a deep sense of cultural pride. He immediately establishes his high status by rapping, “Tú compras to’a las Jordan, bo, a mí me las regalan,” which means, “You buy all the Jordans, dude, they give them to me for free.” He contrasts himself with regular people, showing he is on another level.
His verse is a proud declaration of the power of Latin music and culture. He calls it “the new religion bang in Latino gang, gang, ¡yeh!” This is a powerful statement that their cultural movement is so influential it is like a new faith that people all over the world are following.
He also takes a moment to celebrate Latina women, shouting out those from Puerto Rico (“boricuas”), Cuba (“cubanas”), Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. It’s a joyful celebration of the diversity and beauty within the Latino community. His verse is a confident mix of personal boasts and pride in his roots.
J Balvin’s Declaration of Global Stardom
The third verse is delivered by the Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin, who continues the theme of celebrating success on a global scale. He starts by comparing himself to the legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz, using her famous catchphrase “¡Azúca’!” (Sugar!) to show he has that same special flavor and star quality.
J Balvin’s verse is all about his worldwide fame. He raps, “en cover de Billboard tú has visto mi cara” (“you’ve seen my face on the cover of Billboard”) and reminds everyone that wherever you go in the world, “has escuchado ‘Mi Gente'” (“you have heard ‘Mi Gente'”), his massive global hit. He insists that his fame is not temporary “hype,” but that he is a classic, like a “Testarossa” (a famous Ferrari model).
He ends with a confident and playful boast: “El que mira sufre y el que toca goza,” which translates to, “He who watches suffers, and he who touches enjoys.” This is his way of saying that people who just watch him from the sidelines are suffering with envy, while the people who are part of his world get to enjoy the amazing life he lives.
The Story Behind The Song
“I Like It” was released as the fourth single from Cardi B’s groundbreaking 2018 debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and it went on to become her second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s infectious, joyful sound is built on a brilliant sample of the 1967 Latin boogaloo classic, “I Like It Like That” by Pete Rodriguez. This sample immediately gives the track an authentic, retro, and irresistibly danceable Latin flavor.
The song was a landmark cultural moment because it brought together three of the biggest stars in the world, each representing a different part of the Latin music diaspora: Cardi B, a Dominican-American hip-hop artist from the Bronx; Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican Latin trap pioneer; and J Balvin, a Colombian reggaeton global ambassador. The collaboration was a powerful statement on the growing dominance of Latin-influenced music on the global charts. It proved that a multilingual song, rich with cultural references, could become the biggest song of the summer and a worldwide phenomenon. “I Like It” is remembered not just as a great party song, but as a celebration of unity, pride, and the new global power of Latino artists.
Metaphors in the Song
While “I Like It” is a very direct and boastful song, it uses some clever phrases and ideas that work as metaphors for its themes of success and pride.
- I Like It Like That: The song’s hook is more than just a phrase; it’s a metaphor for a philosophy of life. It represents a joyful, confident, and unapologetic embrace of all the pleasures that come with success—the money, the fame, the luxury, and the fun. It’s a statement of pure enjoyment.
- Latino Gang as the “New Religion”: Bad Bunny uses this powerful metaphor to describe the incredible influence and passionate following of the global Latin music movement. He is saying that their cultural impact is so strong and unified that it is like a new faith that people all over the world are enthusiastically joining.
- Sugar (Azúcar): When J Balvin references Celia Cruz’s famous catchphrase “¡Azúcar!” (Sugar!), he is using it as a metaphor. “Sugar” here means having flavor, charisma, a special energy, and the “sweetness” that comes with being a beloved and successful star.
- Running a Marathon (Cardio): Cardi B’s line, “I run this shit like cardio,” is a clever metaphor for her dominance in the music industry. She is saying that she controls the rap game (“run this shit”) with the kind of ease and long-lasting endurance that a person has when doing a cardio workout. It implies she has the stamina to stay on top for a long time.
FAQs
Question 1: Why was the collaboration between these three artists so significant?
Answer: The collaboration was significant because it united three of the biggest Latin music stars from different backgrounds (Dominican-American, Puerto Rican, Colombian) on one massive track. It was a powerful display of unity and a landmark moment for the crossover success of Latin music in the mainstream global market.
Question 2: How does the song celebrate Latino culture?
Answer: The song celebrates Latino culture by sampling a classic boogaloo song, by featuring verses in both Spanish and English, and through Bad Bunny’s and J Balvin’s lyrics, which shout out different Latin American countries and reference cultural icons like Celia Cruz and Bobby Valentín.
Question 3: What is the song’s main message?
Answer: The main message is a joyful and unapologetic celebration of success, wealth, and Latino culture. It’s about being on top of the world and enjoying every single reward that comes from your hard work.
Question 4: What classic song does “I Like It” sample?
Answer: The song is built around a famous sample from the 1967 Latin boogaloo hit “I Like It Like That” by Pete Rodriguez.
Question 5: What are “Balenciagas that look like socks”?
Answer: This is a reference to a very popular and expensive high-fashion sneaker made by the brand Balenciaga, called the “Speed Trainer,” which is known for its sock-like design.
Question 6: What does Cardi B mean by “I run this shit like cardio”?
Answer: This is a clever play on her name (Cardi B / Cardio). It’s a metaphor saying she dominates the music industry (“run this shit”) with the ease and endurance of someone doing a cardio workout.
Question 7: What is the “Diamond district in the chain”?
Answer: The Diamond District is a famous area in New York City known for its many jewelry and diamond stores. Cardi is saying that her chain is so filled with high-quality diamonds it’s like she has the whole district on her neck.
Question 8: What does “Drop the top and blow the brains” mean?
Answer: “Drop the top” refers to putting the roof down on a convertible car. “Blow the brains” is a slang way of saying she is having the interior of the car customized, or it can be a more explicit reference. Given the fun tone, it’s likely about luxury customization.
Question 9: What does Bad Bunny mean when he says they give him Jordans for free?
Answer: He is boasting about his high level of fame. He is so famous that the brand Jordan just gives him their expensive sneakers for free for promotion, while normal people have to buy them.
Question 10: What does Bad Bunny mean by “en el closet tengo mucha grasa”?
Answer: This is a Spanish slang metaphor. “Grasa” literally means “fat,” but in this context, it is slang for money or wealth. He is saying he has a lot of cash stashed away.
Question 11: What is Bad Bunny referencing with “Bobby Valentín”?
Answer: Bobby Valentín is a legendary Puerto Rican salsa bandleader and musician. Bad Bunny is shouting him out to show his connection to his musical roots and to ask for a heavy bassline (“que retumbe el bajo”).
Question 12: Who is Charytín?
Answer: Charytín Goyco is a famous Dominican singer, television host, and actress. Bad Bunny mentions her as another icon.
Question 13: What does J Balvin mean when he says “Tu jeva me vio y se fue de pecho como Jimmy Snuka”?
Answer: This translates to “Your girl saw me and went chest-first like Jimmy Snuka.” Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka was a famous wrestler known for his “Superfly Splash” finishing move where he would dive chest-first onto his opponents. J Balvin is humorously saying that your girlfriend fell for him instantly and dramatically.
Question 14: Why does J Balvin mention Lady Gaga?
Answer: He says “Paparazzi like I’m Lady Gaga” to compare his level of fame to that of another global superstar who is constantly followed by photographers.
Question 15: What is “Mi Gente”?
Answer: “Mi Gente” is the name of J Balvin’s massive global hit song from 2017, which was one of the biggest Spanish-language songs in the world. He mentions it to remind everyone of his international success.
Question 16: What is a “Testarossa”?
Answer: The Ferrari Testarossa is an iconic and classic luxury sports car from the 1980s. J Balvin compares himself to it to say that he is not just a temporary trend (“hype”), but a timeless classic with enduring value.
Question 17: What does the line “El que mira sufre y el que toca goza” mean?
Answer: It translates to “He who watches suffers and he who touches enjoys.” This is a boastful line saying that people who can only watch his successful life from a distance are suffering with envy, while those who are a part of his world get to enjoy all the benefits.
Question 18: What does “stuntin'” and “shinin'” mean?
Answer: These are slang terms for showing off your wealth and success. “Stuntin'” means to perform impressive, flashy feats, and “shinin'” refers to wearing expensive jewelry (like diamonds) that shines.
Question 19: What does it mean to “Beat it up like piñatas”?
Answer: This is a sexually suggestive line. A piñata is beaten with a stick until it breaks open. Cardi is using this as a metaphor, telling her partner to have rough and energetic sex with her.
**20. What is the overall message about money in the song?
Answer: The overall message is that money is something to be enjoyed. The artists see their wealth as a reward for their hard work and a symbol of their success, and they are not afraid to celebrate it and show it off.