Cardi B and Latto both performed at Essence Fest in the midst of their beef and Cardi omitted Latto’s name from her “ErrTime” performance [VIDEO]
Rapper alters “ErrTime” line from “look like Latto” to “look like Bardi” after Latto’s set on same night
Cardi B changed a lyric in her song “ErrTime” during her Essence Festival performance on July 3, altering the line from “look like Latto” to “look like Bardi” and later adding “look like Henny.” The move came after Latto performed on the same stage earlier in the night, fueling speculation about the ongoing tension between the two rappers.
The lyric change has drawn a lot of attention on social media, with fans interpreting it as a deliberate response to Latto’s set. Both artists performed on the opening night of the Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, marking their first shared major event since their public falling out.
Latto’s Set Features Pink Cheetah Visuals, Cardi Performs Later
Latto performed earlier in the evening in a pink fringed dress with high boots on a stage configured with pink cheetah-print risers. Large LED screens displayed animated glowing blue and purple cheetah graphics throughout her set, matching the video’s aesthetic. She moved across the stage, using standard rap performance gestures including mic work and arm extensions.
Hours later, Cardi B took the same stage for her Essence Festival debut. During her performance of “ErrTime,” the original version of which includes the lyric “Bad yellow […], look like Latto in this […],” Cardi changed the line to “Bad yellow […], look like Bardi in this […].” She added a follow-up variation: “Bad brown […], look like Henny in this […].”
The alteration removed Latto’s name entirely from the song, replacing it with references to herself and Henny, a nickname for sister, Hennessy Carolina. The move was widely interpreted as a deliberate snub given the history between the two artists.
A History of Collaboration and Tension Between Cardi B and Latto
The two rappers previously collaborated on the 2023 remix of Latto’s “Put It on da Floor Again,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20. The collaboration appeared to signal a strong working relationship between the artists, who had publicly supported each other.
Subsequent tensions developed into a publicized falling out. A leaked phone call where Cardi insulted Latto surfaced during her Am I The Drama? promo rollout. Since then, Cardi B issued multiple public and private apologies to Latto. Latto publicly stated openness to conversation at points but did not fully reconcile according to various accounts. After that, Latto threw shade back to Cardi, including have choice words for her during a recent “Breakfast Club” interview.
Both artists have appeared at shared events including prior BET Awards and now Essence, with ongoing perceptions of subtle shade or subs from one or both sides. The July 3 performances occurred against this backdrop, with both on the same bill for the first major shared event since their falling out.
X Interprets Lyric Change as Shade
The post from @HTXAngel8 framing Cardi’s move as “okay, watch this” has drawn significant attention. Replies are divided between those who see the lyric change as a deliberate response to Latto and those who view it as overblown.
Some users criticized Latto’s performance energy and stage presence, describing it as lacking dynamism. “No stage presence lol,” one user commented, while another wrote “melatonin raps.” Others expressed fatigue with the ongoing discourse, with one stating “It’s just stupid at this point.”
Defensive replies pushed back on interpretations of shade, with one user writing “I was at the show last night and there was nothing shady going on with her set! No one around me even mentioned Cardi during Latto’s performance.” Another added “this is click bait and yall are too invested.”
Eyewitnesses Contradict Shade Narrative
Some attendees pushed back against the narrative that Latto’s set contained shade toward Cardi, which follows Latto dissing Cardi on “Gimme Dat.” “All the performers were good,” one user wrote, while another stated “she’s performing HER song, not doing anything extra just having stage presence yall so fucking AGGRAVATING.”
The video of Latto’s set shows a standard performance with large-scale LED visuals and coordinated lighting. No explicit diss gestures, specific lyric captions, or interactions with other artists are visible in the footage itself. The style aligns with a headlining rap performance at a major festival.
On-site accounts explicitly state no observable shade toward Cardi during Latto’s performance and describe normal festival energy. The interpretation of shade appears to stem primarily from the context of the ongoing beef rather than anything visible in the performance itself.
Cardi’s Lyric Change Draws Focus
Cardi’s alteration of the “ErrTime” lyric has become the central focus of the discussion. The original line, which referenced Latto, had been a point of connection between the two artists. Removing it suggests a deliberate distancing.
The follow-up line “look like Henny” added another layer, with some interpreting it as Cardi asserting her independence from the Latto connection. Hennessy, who Cardi’s younger sister, represents a different dynamic than the previous Latto reference.
The timing of the change, coming after Latto’s performance on the same night, has fueled speculation about whether it was planned or a spontaneous response. The absence of an official explanation from Cardi leaves the interpretation open.
Fans Divided Over Beef and Performances
The ongoing tension between Cardi and Latto continues to divide fans. Some express exhaustion with the drama, with one user writing “how it feels to not gaf abt the latto and cardi beef and enjoy both of their music.” Others remain invested in the narrative, analyzing every public interaction for signs of conflict.
References to prior Nicki Minaj-related contexts, seeing how Cardi and Latto both had beef with Nicki, and general industry dynamics appear in the discussion, with some assigning aggressor roles differently. “Cardi made several apologies publicly and latto still chose not to accept,” one user wrote, while counterpoints argue Latto was justified or that Cardi initiated the conflict.
Fan alignments vary, with some defending Latto’s right to distance herself and others supporting Cardi’s position. The Essence performances have become another chapter in an ongoing story that shows no signs of resolution.
A Night of Festival Performances With Underlying Drama
The Essence Festival of Culture, an annual event celebrating Black culture and music, provided the stage for both performances. The opening night lineup also included Kehlani and SZN4, with the festival continuing through July 5.
The focus on the Cardi-Latto dynamic has overshadowed other aspects of the performances. Both artists delivered sets consistent with their established styles, with Latto’s pink cheetah visuals and Cardi’s high-energy delivery reflecting their respective approaches.
The ongoing beef between the two rappers continues to generate attention with each shared event. Whether the lyric change represents a significant escalation or a minor moment remains a matter of interpretation, but it has added another layer to a relationship marked by collaboration followed by distance.