Before she takes the stage at the Essence Festival of Culture on Friday night, rapper Cardi B shared her excitement for New Orleans after performing at Michael Rubin’s White Party in The Hamptons this week.
“I just finished rehearsal at the, at the — what’s the stadium called? — at the Superdome,” she posted on an Instagram Story around 10 p.m. Thursday. “It is huge, it’s a little bit intimidating.”
The concert will be her first in New Orleans, and a return to the big stage after she wrapped her Little Miss Drama Tour in April in Atlanta. Cardi did visit Bourbon Street during the 2025 Super Bowl to promote her vodka-infused whipped cream Whipshots.
“… Make sure y’all bring y’all drinks because this is a Cardi party,” the rapper said of her Essence show Friday night. “… You’re gonna have a time. There’s a party baby, we in N’awlins.”
The New York City native quickly discovered the Crescent City’s food scene with two posts from Morrow’s, one with the restaurant’s signature gumbo ramen and one with chargrilled oysters.
“It’s not fair, why you guys are not in New York?” she said.
Also spotted in her Stories was someone in her crew sporting a Cafe Du Monde hat.
It’s a packed week for Cardi B, who performed at one of the biggest celebrity events of the summer on Wednesday night — Taylor and Travis’s wedding notwithstanding. Billionaire and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin posted a video of Cardi performing at his star-studded party that draws A-list athletes, musicians and actors. Also seen with a mic in hand were Louisiana natives 50 Cent and Lil Wayne.
And no surprise, LSU alums Livvy Dunne, Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. were in attendance.
Cardi also posted a photo from the party with pop singer and dancer Tate McRae, wishing her a happy birthday.
Last month, Cardi’s cousin GloRilla performed at the Smoothie King Center as part of local rapper Rob49’s annual Vulture Island Experience.
Cardi B is set to take the Superdome stage sometime after Michelle Obama’s live podcast taping that starts at 8 p.m. Cardi also is scheduled to host an official after party at Empire, an event venue at 2222 Poydras Street in the Tulane-Gravier area.
