Cardi B is riding high this week as her long-awaited sophomore album Am I the Drama?, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The Bronx rapper’s second album earned a massive first-week total – about 205,000 equivalent album units – powered by huge streaming numbers (roughly 146 million streams across 23 tracks) and strong physical sales of CDs and vinyl. In doing so, Cardi became the first female rapper ever to have her first two albums bow at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Industry watchers noted that her opening week dwarfs initial projections (some had expected 125,000–150,000 units), cementing her place at the top of the pop and hip-hop world.
Fans and critics have been buzzing about the album after Cardi teased it on social media and during surprise performances. On Saturday she even took over for The Weeknd at the Global Citizen Festival, showing off her baby bump and celebrating this new milestone. Now, with Am I the Drama?, officially a chart-topper, Cardi can focus on preparing for her first-ever headlining arena tour (set to kick off in February 2026) and, of course, enjoying the victory of a career-defining week. Industry insiders say this chart success proves Cardi’s staying power – and her reign looks far from over.
