Cardi B Says 'AH HA' Video Cost Over $1M and Claims NYPD Overcharged Her for Permits
Cardi B says her 'AH HA' music video cost more than $1 million and claims NYPD overcharged her for shoot permits. Here's what's confirmed and what's still
Cardi B said her "AH HA" music video cost more than $1 million and that she believes the NYPD overcharged her for the permits required to shoot it, according to Billboard and Complex. Both outlets attribute the claims to comments Cardi B made during an X Spaces session on Aug. 27, 2026, ahead of the video's release.
What Cardi B Actually Said
According to the reporting, Cardi B told listeners on X Spaces that production on "AH HA" ran past the $1 million mark, and that she felt the fees charged for NYPD permits tied to the shoot were excessive. Complex's coverage describes her recounting that getting the permits was expensive and that roughly 40 NYPD officers were involved, which she said made shooting difficult. These details come directly from Cardi B's own description as relayed in the Complex piece — they are her characterization of the experience, not figures confirmed by NYPD or by any released invoice.
Complex also reports the video was shot in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, on 58th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. That location detail is presented as reporting rather than something verified through an official production filing in the available sources.
What's Confirmed vs. What's Still Unverified
It's confirmed, in the sense that Billboard and Complex both report it, that Cardi B made these statements publicly on X Spaces. What isn't confirmed by the sources reviewed is the actual production budget breakdown, the specific permit fees charged, or any official NYPD response to the overcharging claim. No NYPD statement, fee schedule, or receipt appears in the available reporting. That means the $1 million-plus cost and the overcharge claim should be read as Cardi B's own account of her experience — a claim, not an audited figure or a police-confirmed billing dispute.
This distinction matters because permit costs for large-scale video shoots in New York City can involve multiple city agencies and officer staffing, but the sources here don't include a documented fee structure to compare against what Cardi B says she paid. Without that paperwork, there's no way to independently confirm whether the charges were standard or unusual.
Why This Is Getting Attention Now
The comments are tied to the promotional window around "AH HA," with Cardi B raising the cost and permit issues in the days just before the video's release. That timing is why outlets picked up the remarks quickly — it's a fresh, quotable complaint from a high-profile artist about a familiar frustration among New York City filmmakers and video producers: the cost of securing NYPD-coordinated permits for street shoots.
As of this reporting, there's no indication that NYPD or another city agency has issued a public response to Cardi B's characterization. Readers curious about follow-up should watch for any official comment from NYPD, or documentation from Cardi B's team, that would move this from a reported claim to a verified account of what was actually charged and why.