Cardi B’s PSA might just be one of the best things to happen to the New York City subway.
This past week, I was back home in NYC — which means, inevitably, I ended up on the subway. It’s the quintessential New York experience: sprinting to make it before the doors close, the love-hate relationship with the “Showtime!” performers, and that unspoken bond we all share as we move from borough to borough.
But this time, there was something new.
Over the station speakers, I heard Cardi B’s voice echo through the platform — part of a new MTA campaign using celebrity PSAs to discourage fare evasion and subway surfing. Hearing Cardi B on the loudspeakers was surreal… and surprisingly smart.
Here’s what’s been on my mind since:
The MTA is evolving. Partnering with cultural icons like Cardi feels like a fresh, creative move to reach younger riders.
They’re leaning into the “NYC brand.” For once, the MTA isn’t just a transit system — it’s becoming part of the culture New Yorkers meme, love, and complain about daily. It’s almost… trendy?
Not everyone’s a fan. Some think it’s gimmicky or tone-deaf — which, to be fair, is very on-brand for New York opinions.
It does make me wonder: how does the MTA even measure success for a campaign like this?
What do you think — should Cardi stay on the loudspeakers, or stick to the studio?