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Every artist has that one record that hits different ? the one that defines a chapter, both personally and musically. For Cardi B, ?Better Than You? is that record.


Before it lit up our New Money Trap playlist, Cardi B was already navigating one of the most defining stretches of her career. From public ups and downs with Offset, to balancing motherhood, to whispers about a new relationship with a pro NFL wide receiver ? her personal life was a headline carousel. But through all the noise, one thing remained consistent: Her ability to turn every moment, good or bad, into music that moves the culture.


Then came two major moments that reminded everyone exactly who they were dealing with. First, the long-brewing BIA feud flared back up ? a lyrical sparring match that spilled into the booth when BIA?s diss track ?SUE MEEE?? took aim, even brushing close to mentioning Cardi?s kids. That was all it took. Cardi clapped back with ?Pretty & Petty,? a firestorm of a record that reminded the game that lyrical warfare is still alive and well when it?s done right.







Then, in a different arena entirely, Cardi walked out of a Los Angeles courtroom vindicated ? cleared of all wrongdoing in a 2025 civil case that accused her of assaulting a security guard back in 2018. The jury?s swift ?not liable? decision wasn?t just a legal win ? it was a public one. It signaled that Cardi B?s resilience isn?t just a talking point ? it?s the through-line of her entire career.


So when ?Better Than You? (featuring Cash Cobain, and produced by Vinylz and FnZ) dropped, it wasn?t just another banger ? it was a declaration. The timing, the tone, the title ? everything about it said: ?I?ve been through it all, and I?m still better.?


That?s what caught our attention here at New Money Trap. The first time it hit our inbox, it wasn?t just the beat ? it was the energy. The sound of someone who fought battles, both personal and public, and came out shining harder. It fit the exact energy our flagship playlist 'New Money Trap (Hip-Hop and RnB??)' stood for: ambition, luxury, success, and the art of turning adversity into assets.



According To Billboard:

"If the Jay-Z-sampling ?Imaginary Playerz? is Cardi nodding to the storied past of New York hip-hop, then ?Better Than You? is her wink at the region?s present and near future."




Beneath the personality, the attitude, and modern trap polish, lies something deeper ? a heartbeat from another era. A piece of 1978 Philly Funk soul that gives ?Better Than You? its unexpected warmth and musical gravity.


That?s where this story truly begins ? with the sample that transforms Cardi?s comeback anthem into a cultural bridge connecting two golden ages of sound.







'The Analog Heart of A Digital Hit' ~ NMT


Cardi B doesn?t just make hits ? she curates them.

Her latest anthem, ?Better Than You,? is already climbing the charts, showcasing that signature Cardi blend of grit, wit, and lyrical dominance. But for those tuned into real music history, the true flex lies beneath the surface ? in a rare 1978 funk deep-cut titled ?Listen Dear? by Sassafras.


This isn?t just sampling ? it?s storytelling across generations. Cardi bridges four decades of sound, connecting the raw analog pulse of 70s Philly Funk with the sharp, modern production of 2024?s trap era. The result? A record that proves timeless music doesn?t age ? it evolves.

Cardi B: The Curator, Not Just the Chart Dominator


The Ultimate Throwback: How Cardi B?s ?Better Than You? Found Its Soul in a 1978 Philly Funk Classic


In an era obsessed with virality, Cardi B?s musical instincts remain rooted in quality and authenticity. She doesn?t chase trends ? she selects history.







By building ?Better Than You? around the heart of ?Listen Dear,? Cardi and her producers achieved something rare: a trap anthem with depth and soul. The horns, the swing, the rhythm ? all echo the legacy of Philadelphia?s funk pioneers, giving the track emotional weight and cultural resonance.



?By flipping ?Listen Dear,? Cardi didn?t just sample the past ? she honored it.?



Sassafras: The Architects of Philly Funk

For the uninitiated, Sassafras was an extension of the legendary Ingram Family ? musical architects behind much of the Philadelphia Soul sound.


Members Barbara, Butch, William, John, and James Ingram brought the same melodic mastery that defined the 70s funk era. ?Listen Dear? never topped the charts, but its craftsmanship and groove made it a cult favorite among crate diggers and soul collectors for decades.

Today, thanks to Cardi?s team, it?s reaching millions of new ears ? proof that real artistry never disappears.










The Creative Alchemy


The genius of ?Better Than You? lies in contrast ? analog soul meets digital swagger.



Together, these layers turn the track into more than a hit ? it?s a cultural handshake between eras.


The Takeaway: Catalog Value Is King


?Better Than You? is more than just another chart win for Cardi ? it?s a masterclass in the economics of catalog music.


When a modern icon licenses a deep-cut like ?Listen Dear,? that record?s value skyrockets overnight. For producers, writers, and rights holders, the message is simple: the history you own is currency.







Great music doesn?t fade. It waits for rediscovery ? and when visionaries like Cardi bring it back, they don?t just make hits. They make history.


Editor?s Note

At New Money Trap, we believe the bridge between classic and contemporary is where innovation thrives. ?Better Than You? is a case study in that philosophy ? proof that the past and future of Black music are always in conversation.