Cardi Hits Billion Stream Milestone
Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify — the first female rap song (non-pop/R&B) to reach that milestone. Meanwhile, her new album "Am I the Drama?" is getting critical attention for pushing sonic boundaries while addressing controversy head-on.
"Bodak Yellow," released on June 16, 2017, was Cardi B's major-label debut single. The track's title and flow are a nod to Florida rapper Kodak Black's song "No Flockin". It quickly became a cultural phenomenon, dominating airwaves and streaming platforms throughout the summer of 2017. The song's ascent was historic; it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, making Cardi B the first solo female rapper to achieve a number-one hit since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998. By March 2021, "Bodak Yellow" was certified Diamond by the RIAA, making her the first female rapper to accomplish this feat. This breakout success set the stage for her critically and commercially successful debut album, "Invasion of Privacy," released in April 2018. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and eventually became the first album by a female artist to have every track certified platinum or higher. For this album, Cardi B won the Grammy for Best Rap Album, becoming the first solo female rapper to do so. Her new album, "Am I the Drama?," released on September 19, 2025, also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking her second consecutive chart-topping album. The 23-track project features a wide range of collaborators, including Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, and Megan Thee Stallion.
