Cardi B is once again on the verge of chart history. Her long-awaited sophomore album AM I THE DRAMA? is projected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to early estimates from HITSDD. The set is pacing for 200,000 album-equivalent units in its opening week (ending September 25, 2025), fueled by heavy streaming and strong digital sales. If projections hold, Cardi will become the first female rapper in history to earn back-to-back No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
The Grammy winner already has a commanding lead out of the gate. On release day, the album racked up 14.7 million Spotify streams, one of the biggest female rap debuts ever. It also shot to No. 1 on U.S. iTunes within hours of release and has dominated the platform’s singles chart as multiple tracks surged into the top spots. In addition, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed that the album was certified platinum on release day, boosted by the inclusion of her blockbuster hits “WAP” and “Up.”
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The 23-track project arrives seven years after her record-breaking debut Invasion of Privacy (2018), which opened with 255,000 units and won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. That record made Cardi only the fifth female rapper ever to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, following Lauryn Hill, Foxy Brown, Eve, and Nicki Minaj.
Commercial momentum is supported by a star-studded tracklist. Features include Janet Jackson, Selena Gomez, Lizzo, Kehlani, Tyla, and Megan Thee Stallion. The album also carries the strength of its lead singles: “Outside” climbed into the Hot 100 top 10, “Imaginary Playerz” generated buzz ahead of release, and “Safe” featuring Kehlani arrived with a cinematic music video.
Cardi’s career-defining debut remains a benchmark. Invasion of Privacy produced multiple Hot 100 hits, including “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin. It also spent more than 22 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
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