Cardi B Says ‘AH HA’ Music Video Cost More Than $1M, Claims She Was ‘Overcharged’ by NYPD for Permits: ‘They Was Doing Too Much’
Cardi B said filming the video for her 2026 single “AH HA” in New York City cost more than $1 million, far exceeding her expectation for a simple street-style production. She claimed that permit costs and NYPD requirements were inflated because of her celebrity status, highlighting the expense and logistical difficulty of filming high-profile projects in public spaces.
Speaking on X Spaces on 27 August, Cardi said she had hoped to film in the Bronx but was directed to several locations in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. She said around 40 NYPD officers were present, making filming difficult, and described feeling overwhelmed by the open set and large crowds; she said she would not shoot publicly accessible music videos again. “AH HA”, released on 31 July with its video following on 28 August, debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was at number 40 at the time of the article.
- Cardi B says “AH HA” cost over $1 million to film.
- She alleges permit and policing costs were excessive.
- She says public video shoots are too overwhelming.