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Review & setlist: From flames to twerk-offs, Cardi B commands TD Garden
Cardi B performed her North American "Little Miss Drama" tour in front of a sold-out crowd at TD Garden.
From start to finish, Cardi B gave her Boston audience their money’s worth.
For the North American “Little Miss Drama” tour, which kicked off in February, the pop-rap superstar lit up TD Garden on Thursday night with electric lighting, fast-moving set pieces, and intricate pyrotechnics. Fog rolled across the stage, flames shot into the air, and bursts of sparks mimicked fireworks, creating a spectacle that rarely slowed down.
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The setlist featured 37 songs across roughly two hours and six acts, which were each defined by different costumes, staging, and mood. The “Little Miss Drama” tour has been a blockbuster: Midway through the run, reported ticket sales topped over 209,000, grossing more than $32 million.
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From the moment Cardi B stepped on stage, the crowd was hooked. All eyes — and phones — were fixed on her.
“Let’s have a tea party,” she told the Boston crowd, who she affectionately dubbed as “Dunkin’ Donuts-eating motherf***ers.”
– Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Live Nation
Before her entrance, DJ SpinKing warmed up the arena, turning the crowd into a full-blown karaoke party. His ability to get thousands on their feet was undeniable, though his rapid transitions between songs — often cutting before the chorus finished — sometimes disrupted the momentum.
DJ SpinKing announced that the show had sold out — one of several early wins for Cardi B’s “Little Miss Drama” tour. She had sold out her first five shows of the tour, making history as the first female rapper to sell out two nights at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, according to Live Nation.
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The night was defined by more than just music. Intricate choreography, multiple costume changes, and Cardi B’s larger-than-life personality kept the energy high. Latin American flags waved in the crowd and on stage as she shouted out her Latino fans.
One of the night’s most memorable moments came during a $2,000 “twerk-off.” While Cardi B changed outfits, DJ Ray G took over, scanning the crowd for contestants. Cameras zoomed in as women danced, laughed, and hyped each other up before three finalists made their way on stage. The “twerk-off” was chaotic, funny, and oddly communal — a reminder that the show was not just about watching Cardi B, but about participating in the energy she created.
Even with her father in the audience Thursday, as she told the crowd, Cardi B never dialed back her signature, unapologetic style.
The technical production was impressive, but it was the dancers who truly elevated the show. Matching Cardi B in costume changes, the backup dancers blended sharp hip-hop choreography with elements of contemporary for slower songs. Their theatricality added depth, turning each act into its own mini-production.
But the backup dancers weren’t the only ones grooving through the songs. Throughout the night, the crowd rarely stood still — some mimicking Cardi B’s choreography and others vibing according to the beat.
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At times, the crowd’s energy mirrored the backup dancers’ so closely that it was hard to tell where the performance ended and the audience began.
Songs like “Taki Taki” and “I Like It” had the arena moving in unison. Much like Cardi B’s dancers, fans in the crowd stood out with bold colors and patterns like cheetah print, preppy school-inspired looks, and other themed fits.
A standout moment came during “Pretty & Petty,” when Cardi B led a “mute challenge,” silencing the arena for 10 seconds. It was brief, yet powerful — showcasing the command she had over the space.
Cardi B also leaned into Boston’s favorite pastime: sports rivalry.
“I don’t like how y’all’s Celtics are beating my Knicks,” she said, drawing a mix of cheers and playful boos.
But if it makes you feel any better, she offered a peace treaty: “I’m a Red Sox fan,” said Cardi B, who shares a child with ex-boyfriend and ex-Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
Unsurprisingly, “WAP,” her 2020 hit with Megan Thee Stallion, was a crowd favorite. As dancers surrounded her in red outfits, throwing money into the air while she performed on the floor, the moment felt less like a song and more like a full-scale production.
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“And the party just keeps on going,” Cardi B declared at the end of the song.
The night closed with “Bodak Yellow,” the breakout hit that launched Cardi B into superstardom. Where earlier performances of the song carried the urgency of an artist proving herself, this extended 2026 outro felt like something else entirely: a victory lap, celebrating just how far she’s come.
Setlist for Cardi B at TD Garden, April 2, 2026:
Act I
- “Hello”
- “Magnet”
- “Salute”
- “Check Please”
- “Trophies”
- “Enough (Miami)”
- “Money”
- “Press”
Act II
- “Be Careful”
- “Ring”
- “Thru Your Phone”
- “Killing You Hoes”
- “On My Back”
- “Safe”
Act III
- “Taki Taki”
- “Bongos”
- “Bodega Baddie”
- “I Like It”
Act IV
- “Please Me”
- “Principal”
- “Pick It Up”
- “Nice Guy”
- “Better Than You”
- “Up”
Act V
- “ErrTime”
- “On Dat Money”
- “No Limit”
- “Thotiana”
- “Pretty & Petty”
- “WAP”
Act VI
- “Girls Like You”
- “Finesse”
- “Tomorrow 2”
- “Bartier Cardi”
- “Outside”
- “Bodak Yellow”
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