Cardi B just shut the entire music industry down. Her second album, AM I THE DRAMA?, entered the Billboard 200 and claimed the No. 1 position with 200,000 units, including a staggering 88,000 pure sales. That ain’t just a win for Cardi, that’s a win for every woman rapper who’ve ever been told they could never top the charts without a man’s stamp of approval.
This makes Cardi the first female rapper in history to see her first two albums debut at No. 1. Sis did that with Invasion of Privacy, and seven years later, she did it again. That’s called consistency, longevity, and straight-up domination.
AM I THE DRAMA didn’t just debut at No.1, it also registered the biggest first-week U.S. sales ever for any woman rap album in the year 2025. Cardi is no longer included in the dialogue, she defines the dialogue.
Cardi’s Appreciation and Glow-Up
In true Cardi fashion, the star celebrated the milestone this weekend, being the ultimate humblebrag. On X (previously Twitter), she posted:
“Thank you sooo much everybody that supported my album!! Two weeks ago the album was projected to do 115k off of Outside and Imaginary Players.. I didn’t know what the outcome was gonna be I didn’t put out a album in 7 years and haven’t put out as much music in the last year but we just surpassed all that expectation… Thank you to everyone who gave the album a listen, did a video to the songs and everything!! You don’t know the confidence and boost you gave me in my music to keep pushing.. I can’t wait to see you guys on tour. Tonight we celebrate!!! I can’t pop no champagne… but maybe I can open up some cranberry juice or something!”
And that is why Cardi is still winning. She is a superstar who doesn’t flinch from the nerves, the uncertainty, the gratitude. Hip-hop is based on truth, and Cardi has never stopped delivering hers.
The Queens of No. 1
Now, let us put this feat into perspective. Woman rappers who’ve achieved the most Billboard 200 No. 1 albums:
- Nicki Minaj: 3
- Cardi B: 2
- Foxy Brown: 2* (both entered No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, but only one did on the Billboard 200)
- Eve: 1
- Lauryn Hill: 1
Cardi now comfortably ranks second behind Nicki Minaj, and the two Bronx natives collectively have redefined the story of what female rap is capable of commercially. They’ve shown there’s no limit, no barrier, no other outcomes than bars, bops, and fanbases that are worth billions.
