Jennifer Lopez has been around the “block” a few times: She’s an actress, a dancer, a singer, a songwriter and a reality TV judge. And at 48 years old, she’s not quite done taking the stage.
J Lo’s new single, “Dinero,” Spanish for money, features contributions one of the hottest female artists on the scene today, Cardi B, as well as the musical touch of DJ Khalid. This pop track comes from J Lo’s rumored forthcoming Spanish album, Por Primera Vez, her first in ten years, and is laced with infatuation for all that money can buy.
“Dinero” is aptly titled: Lopez, Cardi B and Khaled have no problem telling their audience that money—and all the luxury that comes with it—is the only thing that matters in life.
The video’s opening finds J Lo bowling in an elaborate mansion … with a bowling ball covered in diamonds. She sings, “Me and Benjamín Franco stay at the banco/Getting checks like Nike, everywhere that I go.” Because if you’re not making money (as Lopez obviously is), what are you doing with your life? Well, she’s stacking her bills up “like Legos.”
Lopez wears a revealing one-piece suit—one of several outrageous outfits that emphasize her curves and skin. She’s adorned by a reported $4.5 million in diamonds in one scene, and she has so much cash that she can use it to roast marshmallows. (Yes, she does this.) But still she wants more: “Yo quiero, yo quiero dinero, ay/I just want the green, want the money, want the cash flow.”
Khalid joins J Lo, puffing on a cigar and they sing, “In love with the money, so no need to mingle (let’s ride)/ … You ain’t got that, you can’t sit with us, yeah.”
Then Cardi B shows up. We see her and Lopez in bed together, wearing skimpy lingerie. They also sprawl out over expensive cars wearing in next to nothing, dancing provocatively in front of the camera. Each repeats the same sentiment: “I just want my money, chips, guac and queso.”
Cardi throws in some violent references to pointing a gun at someone’s head (“Put it to your head like, ‘Give me what you got,'”) profanely threatens her haters (“I’ll backhand a b–ch like Serena”) as well as referencing her past as a stripper and rapping explicitly about her female anatomy. As the video progresses, we also see women in bikinis and men in briefs gambling with J Lo.
As the video continues, the three musicians make it obvious that you can do whatever you want if you have the money to spend. You can walk an ostrich on a diamond chain. You can luxuriate in a hot tub while a unicorn (!) stands next to you. You can grill a hunk of meat in lingerie. You can play croquet on lawn drenched with diamonds and dollas.
Whatever you want, you can have.
I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive that Jennifer Lopez is still taking the stage so boldly after nearly two decades in the public eye. This time, she’s teamed up with two much younger artists, concocting a recipe that pulsates with infectious Latin rhythms, inviting fans to dance along.
Too bad her undeniably catchy song is all flash and no substance. Instead of reflecting on what matters most in life, Lopez’s latest caters to the empty idea that materialism is all that matters. Explicit content—both verbal and visual—joins to several profanities in the song and video, making “Dinero” something you don’t want to spend your time or money on.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
