Cardi B Defends Place in Female Rap’s “Big Three” Ahead of Sophomore Album

Cardi B recently weighed in on the ongoing debate over female rap’s top tier, asserting her spot in what she calls the genre’s “big three” alongside Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion. The remark drew attention given longstanding tensions: Cardi and Nicki have a history of disputes, while Nicki and Megan have also been at odds.

In a new interview with Billboard, Cardi explained why she believes she still deserves the distinction. “I do my job well. I do my job well. Like, I do music very well, I take my time with music,” she said. “Clearly you can see I take my time with my music. It’s just something you got to ask the fans. Like, there’s so many that come, there’s so many that goes, and it’s just like, I’m still here.”

Cardi highlighted her recent hiatus, noting that she took time off during her pregnancy. “I was, like, two months pregnant with my daughter,” she said. “And my daughter’s about to be a year old. So it’s like, we just got to ask the fans. Like, ‘Why me? Why y’all love me so much? Why y’all love my music so much?’ Y’all could downplay it, y’all can downplay my accent. But I really put a lot of thought in my stuff. And I really put a lot of time in it, too. I don’t like to halfway anything. I don’t like to half-a** nothing. Nothing, nothing.”

Her comments come as anticipation builds for her upcoming sophomore album, Am I The Drama?, expected later this month. The album is likely to reflect the confidence and meticulous approach Cardi described in her interview.

Cardi’s recent legal victory has also added momentum to the album rollout, giving her a clear path to focus on music and promotion. Fans will be watching closely to see if her statement about the “big three” sparks any response from Nicki Minaj or Megan Thee Stallion.

Am I The Drama? could mark a defining moment in Cardi’s career, reinforcing her status in female rap while setting the tone for her next chapter.