‘It’s worth it all, baby!’: Cardi B’s meet-and-greet defies Long Beach heat

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It was a particularly busy Thursday morning for the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach.

This neighborhood is filled with unique, locally-owned shops and restaurants, each with its own distinct appearance. Hundreds of excited fans began gathering there as early as 8 a.m.

A large crowd gathered around Fingerprints Music, a record store that had just moved to Bixby Knolls in April after being located in downtown Long Beach for about fifteen years. People walking by and those living nearby were curious about the growing crowd and the security presence around the well-known vinyl shop.

It was simple: Cardi B.

Cardi B held a surprise meet-and-greet at Fingerprints Music to celebrate the recent release of her new album, “Am I the Drama?” Tickets became available online on September 9th and sold out almost instantly.

Gerardo Torres of Gardena explained that he saw the video announcement on Instagram immediately because he has notifications turned on for all her platforms. He quickly went to the website and purchased a ticket, saying he was likely among the first five people to do so, securing his within minutes of the announcement.

Torres was near the front of the line, having joined it around 10:30 a.m. Standing next to him was Arlene Heaton, who had driven three hours from Rosamond to be there. They met while waiting and quickly became friends – Arlene wore a sparkly outfit, and Torres had a flag with Cardi B on it draped over his shoulders.

“If she would’ve been three hours away, I would have been there as well!” Torres added.

According to Heaton, the items sold out in roughly 10 minutes. She expressed her enthusiasm for the album, explaining she felt compelled to buy the CD and support the artist. She even traveled from Rosamond to witness the event, calling it a historic moment.

The event was supposed to begin at 2 p.m., but Cardi didn’t arrive until 2:30. As soon as she did, some excited fans came out from behind the store, happy to have caught a glimpse of her.

Just a few moments later, security created a line to protect the store’s entrance, and Cardi B came out with a megaphone. Her words were lost in the loud cheers of fans who rushed towards her, challenging her team to keep them back.

Curshawn Watts, who calls herself the “Queen of Compton,” is a musician herself, but she rarely enjoys listening to other artists. However, she was incredibly excited about this particular performer. “I woke up super early – my alarm was set for 6:30, but I was up by 8!” she explained. “I had to be here, no matter how early it took!”

She had been waiting since 10 a.m., but wasn’t bothered by the heat, excitedly saying, “It’s all worth it!”

When fans entered the store, they were welcomed by the sounds of Cardi B’s new album. Shelves were stocked with copies of her album, “Am I the Drama?” on vinyl and CD, and portraits of the artist adorned the walls.

Seated behind a black curtain was the visibly pregnant woman, wearing brown snakeskin heels, denim shorts, and several bold gold accessories. She had recently told CBS News that she and NFL player Stefon Diggs are expecting a baby.

Music

Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper, and NFL player Stefon Diggs are going to have a baby together. They publicly confirmed they were dating earlier in 2024.

Around 1,200 fans showed up on a very hot day in Long Beach, but only 800 were able to get on the guest list to see the 32-year-old hip-hop artist. The remaining fans gathered nearby, hoping to catch a glimpse of her or maybe even get a chance to meet her.

Fingerprints Music and Cardi B allowed an extra 200 to 300 people into the event, even though they weren’t on the guest list. The event continued past 5 p.m.

The busy energy of the afternoon meet-and-greet had started to fade. The street vendors had packed up, artists were finishing up their displays, and the temperature was dropping.

I was really struck by what Rand Foster, the owner of Fingerprints Music, told me. He admitted they don’t normally allow things like that, but the atmosphere was so relaxed that day. What really got to me, though, was how genuinely open and down-to-earth this incredibly talented artist was – it was such a refreshing change of pace!

Cardi B went above and beyond, staying late to personally sign a special edition of her album. This version features four photos taken during her August court appearance as its cover art.

I was at the event yesterday, and it felt huge – definitely the biggest one the store has done since they moved! The owner, Foster, seemed really pleased with how it went, and he was saying it reminded him of when they had Ozzy Osbourne visit the old downtown location. That event drew around 2,300 people, so that gives you an idea of how successful this one was too.

The store in Bixby Knolls is still getting to know the local community. Foster mentioned the event increased business for other shops and, importantly, he didn’t receive any complaints from residents.

Cardi B surprised and delighted many fans by choosing Long Beach as her filming location, as she could have easily filmed closer to central Los Angeles, like at Amoeba Music.

A man named Mr. Boug’e, recognizable by his distinctive curled beard, simply said Long Beach was “cool.”

He playfully nicknamed it ‘Strong Beach.’ He meant that no matter where she was – whether it was a rough place like an alley or somewhere remote like Alaska – people would adore her.

According to Foster, who runs a shop with a history of working with people in the Hollywood music scene at Amoeba, Cardi B’s team likely chose Long Beach for her meet-and-greet because it was the most practical location.

He explained that anyone organizing an event meant to last needs to consider the impact on local residents. He noted that their event’s line stretched for about six blocks, which could be disruptive on Hollywood Boulevard.

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2025-09-27 03:31