The longstanding tension between rap icons Cardi B and Nicki Minaj erupted once again over the weekend after Billboard announced that Cardi B’s latest album, Am I The Drama?, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 200,000 units in combined streams and sales.
Nicki Minaj, whose own album Pink Friday 2 topped the chart in December 2023 with 228,000 units, reacted by reposting multiple messages on X (formerly Twitter) from fans claiming Minaj still holds the record for the “biggest first-week for a female rap album this decade.” Other posts appeared to dispute Cardi B’s reported album sales, reigniting speculation about competition between the two rappers.
Minaj also posted and then deleted several tweets on Monday, including one that read simply “4.99,” which outlets interpreted as a veiled reference to Cardi B allegedly selling her album at a discounted price.
Cardi B responded publicly, taking to X to post: “You must’ve missed me, huh crazy?? Now kiss my feet.” She followed up with additional posts that fans interpreted as digs at Minaj, including: “Nothing more annoying than a bored btch,” and “Cocaine Barbie,” referencing Minaj’s long-standing “Barbie” persona.
Cardi B and Nicki Minaj Feud Reignites After Album Release Sparks Social Media Clash
The online exchange escalated when Minaj posted and deleted a series of faux rap verses that appeared to be directed at Cardi B. These included lines such as: “Abcdefgeeeeeeee / SUR GER REE TO LOOK LIKE MEEEEEE / tell the rat & tell J ZEEEEEE / Rico Fraud & PERJURY,” and “Abcdefgeeeeeeee / Fallin off the charts wit a big bellyyyy,” widely interpreted as a reference to Cardi B’s recently announced fourth pregnancy.
Cardi B responded with her own rap, tweeting: “A B C D E F G / Your man have to snatch P-SSY / P-ssy taste like honey comb / Your bro be touching 12 year olds.” The last line appeared to reference Minaj’s brother, who was sentenced to prison in 2020 for child rape. Cardi B later posted an edited image of Minaj’s brother’s mugshot, adding a pink wig — a pointed public insult.
Later Monday, Cardi B addressed the feud directly: “Why you keep bringing up my album?? It’s not the gag that you think it is,” she tweeted. She suggested that Minaj should compare herself to peers like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, while also stating that Minaj’s sales were “lower than all of them.”
The roots of the Cardi B–Nicki Minaj feud date back years, though their rivalry has gone through phases of public silence and renewed conflict. Fans and media analysts point to tensions beginning in 2017, when Cardi B rose to fame with her breakout single Bodak Yellow. That year, Cardi B joined rapper Remy Ma — who had a feud with Minaj — onstage at the Hot 97 Summer Jam festival, an incident that some fans believe sowed the seeds of discord.
Further friction followed Minaj’s mention of Cardi B’s then-partner, Offset, in a song, as well as her verse on London on da Track’s 2017 track No Flag, in which she rapped: “I heard these labels are trying to make another me / Everything you’re getting little hoe is because of me.” Fans interpreted this as a direct shot at Cardi B.
The feud intensified later that year over Cardi B and Minaj’s collaboration on the Migos track Motorsport. Cardi B claimed Minaj’s verse had been altered without her knowledge, a claim Minaj later confirmed caused her deep hurt.
Their animosity boiled over in September 2018 when Cardi B allegedly attempted to physically attack Minaj at a New York Fashion Week event. Video footage showed Cardi B throwing her shoe in Minaj’s direction before being escorted away by security. Cardi B later accused Minaj of insulting her parenting, a claim Minaj denied.
The exchange over the weekend marks one of the most intense flare-ups between the two artists since 2018, bringing the feud back into the spotlight after years of relative quiet. Both rappers have cultivated passionate fan bases who quickly engaged in the online back-and-forth, amplifying the feud across social media.
Analysts note that this latest clash comes at a time when both artists are promoting major projects, with Cardi B celebrating her chart-topping album and Minaj working to maintain her dominance in the female rap scene. This latest incident underscores how personal rivalry and commercial competition can intertwine in the music industry, especially in high-profile celebrity culture.
As the social media war between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj continues to unfold, fans and industry observers alike are watching closely to see whether this marks the start of another chapter in one of modern hip-hop’s most notorious rivalries — or if it will fade again into the background until the next spark ignites.
Source- Forbes
