Cardi B Spotlights Soca Star Lady Lava in New Playlist
When Cardi B curates a playlist, the ripple effect can be immediate. The Grammy-winning rapper’s newly released Summertime Sounds Apple Music collection is no exception, featuring heavy-hitters like Beyoncé, SZA and Latto — and, notably, a single Caribbean artist: Trinidad and Tobago’s Lady Lava.
Lady Lava’s track Ring Finger, released nearly a year ago, has been steadily building an audience across streaming platforms, buoyed by the artist’s distinctive “Queen of Steam” performance style and high-energy soca rhythms. Cardi’s endorsement exposes Lava’s work to millions of listeners, underscoring the playlist’s role as a soft-power marketing tool for emerging acts.
For Caribbean artists, such global nods are more than a personal win — they’re a case study in how digital discovery can bypass traditional gatekeepers. “When I first saw Ring Finger was featured on Cardi’s list, I was blown away,” said Lady Lava. “I appreciate the love and am humbled to be included on a list with so many musical giants.”
The inclusion also illustrates how streaming platforms’ editorial spaces — whether algorithmic or celebrity-curated — have become key drivers of cross-cultural music flows. For the Caribbean music industry, this kind of visibility can translate into touring opportunities, festival bookings, and brand collaborations that go far beyond regional borders.
With soca increasingly finding space in mainstream playlists, Lady Lava’s placement is both a personal milestone and a reminder that in today’s attention economy, one playlist slot can be a launchpad to new markets.