After years of anticipation and countless teasers, Cardi B has officially announced her second studio album, Am I the Drama?, set for release on September 19, 2025. The reveal marks a major moment in her career, arriving seven years after her chart-topping, Grammy-winning debut Invasion of Privacy.
The Bronx-born rap icon made the announcement with striking new cover art and a powerful Instagram video. The album’s artwork features Cardi in a dramatic red dress, flanked by two ominous crows — a symbolic image that hints at rebirth, transformation, and unapologetic dominance.
In the Instagram clip, Cardi reflects on her seven-year journey with intensity and vulnerability. “Seven years and the time has come. Seven years of love, light and loss. Seven years I gave them grace, but now I give them hell,” she says. “I learned power’s not giving, it’s taking… I’m not back, I’m beyond. I’m not your villain, I’m your karma. The time is here. The time is now.”
Cardi B has been candid about the delays surrounding the album. Speaking on X Spaces earlier this year, she opened up about waiting on several key features to complete the project. “I really need these fucking features,” she admitted. “I’m not really trying to press or go crazy on these artists because I love them down. But it’s like come on now! I need that! I need that right now!” She added with characteristic humor and urgency: “Helloooo! Y’all don’t want to miss this opportunity. I’ll sing this s–t myself! But I really need y’all and I need y’all to hurry up and I love y’all.”
To kick off the album rollout, Cardi dropped Outside last Friday — a fiery track that wastes no time in addressing her turbulent split from estranged husband Offset. On the explosive record, she raps: “Good-for-nothing, low-down dirty dogs, I’m convinced / Next time you see your mama, tell her how she raised a bitch.” She goes on to assert her independence: “I been cuffed up too long, let me remind n-ggas.” And in a pointed nod to her rumored relationship with NFL star Stefon Diggs, Cardi spits: “Favorite player from your favorite team, he in my DM, uh / I’m so small and tiny, he so big and tall / Might let him dunk this pussy like he dunk the ball.”
While Offset has not publicly responded to the track, he recently released Bodies featuring JID — a song that steers clear of any mention of Cardi or their divorce.
With Am I the Drama?, Cardi B seems ready to step into a new chapter — creatively and personally. The title alone suggests a reflective, confrontational project that leans into the controversy, headlines, and heartbreak that have surrounded her in recent years. From the bold visuals to the biting lyrics of Outside, it’s clear Cardi is no longer asking permission — she’s commanding attention. And come September, all eyes will be on her as she reclaims the spotlight on her own terms.
