Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? Expected to Slip on Billboard Hot 200 Amid Strong Competition

Cardi B’s highly anticipated sophomore album, AM I THE DRAMA?, is projected to drop from its current position on the Billboard Hot 200 next week. According to HITS Daily Double, the South Bronx rapper’s double platinum LP is expected to fall to number three, with first-week sales around 80,000 units, including 7,500 from pure sales.

This decline puts Cardi behind Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem and the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, which are projected to sell 87,000 and 105,000 units, respectively. Both albums are older releases, with Wallen’s record dropping in mid-May and the Netflix soundtrack released in late June, making Cardi’s slippage notable.

While it is common for albums to lose chart positioning in subsequent weeks, the decline is surprising given the anticipation surrounding Cardi’s return. She released AM I THE DRAMA? seven years after her Grammy-winning debut, Invasion of Privacy. During that period, her personal life and public persona were highly visible, including high-profile feuds and her divorce from Offset, all of which could have bolstered sales.

Cardi B’s album originally exceeded projections, hitting around 200,000 units compared to the expected 125,000–150,000. Despite the drop, there remains potential for the album to regain momentum, though historically, sales trends tend to follow early projections.

The chart shift could also fuel ongoing tensions with Nicki Minaj. Since Cardi’s return, their feud has escalated, with Minaj making personal attacks on social media. Most recently, she targeted Cardi’s children, writing, “Kulture u a roach & a monkey. Like your sister. Kulture vulture you ugly too.” Fans criticized Minaj for involving children in the dispute, calling the remarks inappropriate and excessive.

The projected decline of AM I THE DRAMA? highlights the competitive nature of the current music landscape, where streaming hits, older releases, and global soundtracks continue to influence chart positions. Cardi B’s fans will be watching closely to see if she can regain the top spot in the coming weeks.