Cardi B: NYPD Overcharged for Permits Claims ‘They Was Doing Too Much’
The Million-Dollar Mess: Cardi B Reveals the Chaotic Reality of Filming Her ‘AH HA‘ Video in NYC
When superstar Cardi B took her hit single, “AH HA,” to the streets of New York City for its music video, the experience quickly spiraled from artistic vision to logistical nightmare. What started as a street shoot turned into a high-stakes negotiation with city officials and an astronomical bill that left the rapper feeling both exhilarated and completely overwhelmed.
The vision for the video was simple: capture a gritty, street New York summer vibe. However, the reality proved far more complex. Cardi revealed that the total cost of shooting the visual shot soared past $1 million, a figure she admitted was far higher than she had anticipated for filming on the streets.
The production process itself was anything but smooth. Cardi described the frustrating ordeal of securing the necessary permits and coordinating with the NYPD. She expressed a sense of being overcharged, feeling that her A-list status inflated the cost and complication of the project.
She initially dreamed of capturing the shoot in her home borough of the Bronx, but circumstances led them to Sunset Park in Brooklyn. The permitting process proved to be the most contentious part of the entire endeavor. Cardi noted that the bureaucratic hurdles were staggering, feeling that the cost of obtaining permissions was disproportionate to the actual work involved.
The involvement of law enforcement added another layer of complexity. Cardi felt the interaction with the NYPD was excessive, contributing to the feeling that the process was needlessly complicated and expensive.
The environment itself proved to be intensely stimulating. Dealing with hundreds of onlookers on location left Cardi feeling overstimulated and, frankly, underwhelmed by the experience. This friction contributed to her decision that this experience would be her final foray into public setting filming.
“I didn’t understand how the f— this music video was expensive,” she shared, expressing her frustration with the high price tag. “I wanted this video to be simple, a street vibe, not a logistical headache.”
Despite the stressful production, the resulting song and visual were a major success. “AH HA” served as Cardi’s first single of 2026, arriving on July 31. The track debuted strong on the charts, peaking at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and currently holding a spot at No. 40.
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