As we all know, the Selena fandom is protective of La Reina del Tejano. When Cardi B crowned herself the “trap Selena” on “Motor Sport,” her recent collaboration with Migos and Nicki Minaj, superfans weren’t happy, to say the least; a cursory scroll through Twitter or any comment thread about the song will reveal hundreds of critiques about the comparison. Many argued that Cardi’s career is still emerging, but others couched their critiques in classist language, demonizing the Bronx rapper for her past as a stripper.
On Wednesday, Cardi took to Twitter to give a little more context on the line from “Motor Sport.” She wrote, “I said Trap Selena because who didn’t want to be Selena? She is an alter ego that everybody would want to be and I want the world to know how much I love her.”
In early November, Selena’s sister Suzette Quintanilla seemed to agree that the shoutout was a sign of respect for la reina. During an appearance on Power 106’s The Cruz Show, Suzette commented, “I think it’s an honor because it just shows that Selena is a legend and she’s being recognized – not just in the Latino community or in Latin music, she’s worldwide.”
Whatever you believe, Cardi’s Selena reference is a reminder that la reina continues to be a cultural touchstone across the music world, regardless of genre.