Cardi B‘s long-awaited collaboration with Shakira, “Puntería,” is finally released as the 8th single from Shakira’s album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women Don’t Cry Anymore). The collaboration stemmed from a meeting at Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, fulfilling Cardi’s dream of working with the Colombian icon.
The music video for “Puntería” directed by Hannah Lux Davis, released in tandem with the album is set on an amazonian planet where women rule in a pink backdroped feminine aesthetic.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Cardi admitted to Billboard that she felt nervous, “When I first met Shakira, it was in Paris at the Fendi show, and I was very, very nervous,” she claimed, “because I wanted to get next to her, but I was like, ‘I’m not gonna get next to her until they call me.’ I manifested it, but I didn’t know when it was coming.”
Shakira reciprocated the admiration, praising Cardi’s work ethic and citing her hit song “Up” as a personal favorite. “I wanted to do something with Cardi. We were always discussing internally if it was a good idea to put someone on this song. I always pictured Cardi on this song. I reached out, and here we are,” she added. “It’s been so fun to work with you. It’s so easy, honestly. She’s like, ‘I’ll do everything.’ I’m like, ‘Are you ready to work long hours? Because I work long hours.’ She’s like, ‘I’ll be there from 6 to 6 a.m.’”
Despite any challenges, Cardi expressed her unwavering commitment to the project, emphasizing her eagerness to work with Shakira. She commended Shakira’s meticulous attention to detail in her music videos and expressed excitement about collaborating with someone she admires.
Shakira’s new album marks her first release since her 2017’s El Dorado, which spent 5 weeks at the top of the Billboard Latin Top Latin Albums.
The 16 track set includes 12 collaborations with other superstars Grupo Frontera, Tiësto and fellow Colombian singer from Medellin, Karol G.
The album reflects her personal journey, influenced by her relationship with retired football player Gerard Piqué. She revealed sacrificing her artistic career for their relationship but found solace in music after his infidelity. Titled “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (Women Don’t Cry Anymore), the album signifies empowerment and resilience, similar to Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry”.
Tracks like “Ultima” serve as messages to Piqué. Shakira’s diverse musical style, blending Latin pop with Middle Eastern rhythms, has made her the best-selling Colombian singer of all time. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with global music stars across various genres such as Wylcef, Rihanna, Beyonce and more.
