Queens at War: Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj—From Harper’s Bazaar to Billboard Stats

By Boss Global Radio—October 2025

The Roots of a Rivalry

The feud between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj has defined female rap for nearly a decade. It began in 2017, when Nicki appeared to “like” a social media comment that shaded Cardi’s bars. At the time, Cardi was exploding with “Bodak Yellow,” and Nicki was still uncontested as rap’s reigning queen.

From then on, fans and blogs pushed comparisons. Subtle jabs in interviews and songs fueled speculation. What might have stayed competitive became something bigger: a cultural rivalry.

Cardi B performing during her breakout “Bodak Yellow” era. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images — Fair Use for news reporting & commentary

2018: Harper’s Bazaar Icons Party—The Explosion

Everything boiled over at New York Fashion Week, Sept. 8, 2018. At the Harper’s Bazaar Icons party, Cardi confronted Nicki, reportedly threw a shoe, and was photographed leaving with a visible bump above her eye. That public clash cemented their feud in history.

Cardi B and Nicki Minaj photographed during the 2018 Harper’s Bazaar Icons party at New York Fashion Week. (Jackson Lee/Getty Images —Fair Use for news reporting & documentation

From that night forward, every lyric, every tweet, and every charting stat became a battlefield.

2019–2021: Cooling on the Surface

After the party, things slowed down. Cardi focused on family life and select singles, while Nicki stayed visible through features and her own projects. But peace never came. Both fanbases—Bardi Gang and the Barbz—kept the rivalry alive, making sure it stayed part of hip-hop’s conversation.

Nicki’s Big Return: Pink Friday 2

In December 2023, Nicki released her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 228,000 units (per Luminate), her strongest opening in years.

 Image of Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday 2” album cover—Fair Use: album artwork for review/analysis

The album proved Nicki still had massive pulling power. It also set a bar for female rap projects that Cardi’s next album would inevitably be measured against.

Cardi’s Comeback: Am I the Drama?

On Sept. 19, 2025, Cardi B released her long-awaited sophomore album, Am I the Drama?—her first since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy.

• Debuted at #1 on Billboard 200 with ~200,000 units.

• Tracklist included “WAP” and “Up,” meaning their streams counted toward first-week totals.

• Promo highlight: Cardi set a Guinness World Record by delivering 176 signed CDs via drone in one hour with Walmart/Wing.

Image of Cardi B’s “Am I the Drama?” album cover—Fair Use: album artwork for review/analysis

Watch: Cardi B sets a Guinness World Record with Walmart & Wing for most drone-delivered albums in one hour (176 CDs).

Courtesy of Walmart / Instagram:Cardi B sets a Guinness World Record with Wing for most drone-delivered albums in one hour (176 CDs).

The bold rollout reignited the rivalry. Critics and fans immediately compared Cardi’s ~200K debut to Nicki’s 228K, sparking accusations and counter-accusations.

October 1, 2025: The Personal War

As fans debated stats, Cardi went further—dropping a public letter on X aimed at “Onika Tanya Maraj.” In it, she accused Nicki of unhealed trauma, alleged drug use, and enabling by her husband. She closed with: “YOU NEED TO GET HELP… I’ll see you when I see you.”

Courtesy of Cardi B / X: Open letter addressed to Nicki Minaj, October 1, 2025.

This wasn’t music shade. It was deeply personal—a reminder that the feud has always been more than lyrics.

Stat Face-Off: The Numbers They Fight Over

Cardi vs. Nicki side-by-side stats—Original Boss Global Radio graphic creation

Why It Won’t Die

• Numbers = Power. First-week units and RIAA plaques decide bragging rights.

• Generational Clash. Nicki represents the 2010s blueprint; Cardi leads the 2020s wave.

• Fandom Wars. Barbz vs. Bardi Gang amplifies every move.

• Pride. Neither will step back.

Conclusion

The Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj feud began as whispers of shade, exploded into a shoe fight, and now lives on through stats, albums, and viral posts. Both women sit at the top of the rap game—but neither will share the throne.

As of October 2025, this isn’t just a rap beef. It’s one of hip-hop’s longest-running rivalries, fought in music, numbers, and headlines.

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