Cardi B is making headlines once again. She’s got new ventures coming up, she’s active on Spaces, and she’s diving into Twitter debates. Nothing too unusual—just more of what we’ve come to expect. But this time, things are getting interesting because she has seemingly hinted that she will outsell Nicki Minaj and reclaim her spot at the top of female rap.

Now, before y’all start saying, “She didn’t say Nicki’s name,” let’s be real. She may not have explicitly mentioned Nicki Minaj, but anybody with common sense knows exactly who she was referring to. If you’re still unsure, sit tight—I’ll play the audio and break it all down.

The Backstory

Before we get into the details, let’s set the stage. Cardi B recently announced a new joint venture with the Revolve Group, a California-based fashion and lifestyle retailer. This marks her first-ever personally owned apparel and beauty brand, as well as Revolve’s expansion into beauty. And they’re aiming high—they want this to be a billion-dollar fashion and lifestyle empire.

During an interview, Cardi B stated: “People have been expecting both from me—my beauty line, people have been expecting that like an album.” Now, I don’t recall a massive demand for a Cardi B beauty line on the same level as an album, but maybe it’s a conversation happening in her circles. Either way, she’s making big moves beyond music, focusing on generational wealth for her family.

The Controversy

Naturally, Twitter had a lot to say. While business moves are great, fans have been vocal about wanting new music first. Cardi often gets frustrated when people label her as an influencer rather than an artist, and the ongoing delay of her album fuels that perception. Her fans want more than business deals—they want something to brag about musically. The criticism is that she appears more invested in entrepreneurship than in her music career.

So, here’s where things get heated. Cardi B was on Twitter Spaces discussing her Caribbean heritage when a user named Javvante, a known troll, started clowning her about her long-awaited album. This got under Cardi’s skin. She checked his page and noticed he had Barb (Nicki Minaj fan) emojis in his bio, which set her off. She responded by throwing insults and clapping back.

Then, in the middle of it all, she said something that raised eyebrows:

“Y’all are crying because I’m going to outsell. Y’all don’t even want me to drop that album. Y’all are crying because I’m happy and on top. That’s a fact. Be careful what you wish for because when I drop, y’all are going to be mad. Y’all know it’s not going to flop.”

Now, let’s dissect that.

The Implication

Cardi B was clearly addressing Nicki Minaj’s fanbase. She even acknowledged the Barb emoji on Javvante’s page, saying, “Of course you have that emoji.” That unicorn emoji is synonymous with Nicki Minaj’s fanbase, so we all know exactly who she was talking about.

She essentially said, “Y’all don’t really want me to drop this album because when I do, I’m going to outsell your fave, and you’re going to be mad.”

And let’s be honest—who else could she have been referring to? The last female rapper to put up significant numbers was Nicki Minaj with Pink Friday 2, which sold 228K first week. No other female rapper in recent years has come close to that, so Cardi saying she’ll outsell “whoever is on top” can only mean one person—Nicki.

The Sales Battle

Nicki Minaj currently holds the top-selling female rap album in recent years, which means for Cardi to be “back on top,” she’d need to do at least 230K first week. The question now is: can she pull those numbers?

Historically, Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy outsold Nicki’s Queen (which did 185K first week), but Pink Friday 2 outperformed anything Cardi has done so far. This means her upcoming album needs to do more than 228K for her to truly claim dominance again.

Final Thoughts

Cardi B is strategic. She knows exactly what she’s doing. This wasn’t an accidental statement—it was a direct challenge. She’s saying, “When I drop, I’m going to outsell Nicki and reclaim my throne.” And honestly? I’m here for it. The rap game has been dry lately, and some competition might actually make things interesting again.

Now, the real question is: Can she deliver? The pressure is on. If she flops, the Barbz will have a field day. But if she pulls the numbers, it’s going to be a major moment in female rap.