The rap world has always thrived on competition, on rivalries that push artists to outdo each other lyrically, creatively, and commercially. But every now and then, a feud transcends the music itself and becomes something of a cultural phenomenon, a storyline that plays out across social media, live performances, award shows, and the tabloids. One of the most infamous examples of that in the last decade has been the ongoing clash between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. What began as industry whispers about tension between two of the biggest female rappers in the game has evolved into an all-out war of words that refuses to die down. Instead of fading with time, the animosity seems to resurface with new energy every few months, a reminder that in hip-hop, some wounds don’t just heal—they linger, fester, and fuel the fire.
The most recent chapter in their feud reignited shortly after Cardi B released her long-awaited album, Am I the Drama?, on September 19. The album, filled with Cardi’s signature mix of brash lyricism, humor, and braggadocio, quickly made noise with fans who had been clamoring for new music. But its release also opened the door to fresh criticism from Nicki Minaj, who, according to reports from outlets like Complex and E! News, took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock the album’s sales performance. Though the posts have since been deleted, screenshots circulated widely, showing Minaj once again zeroing in on Cardi’s career.
In her typical cutting style, Minaj allegedly accused Cardi of inflating sales figures and then laced her criticism with mock rhymes aimed not just at Cardi’s music but also her personal life. One post reportedly read: “Fallin off the charts wit a big bellyyyy / RUNNING TRAINS. Barefoot, still smellyyyyy / Still. You. Could. Not. outsell. meeeeee.” It was the kind of personal jab that has characterized much of Minaj’s beefs, blurring the line between playful diss and outright insult. She even took aim at a lyric from Cardi’s new track Magnet, where Cardi had rapped, “A-B-C-D-E-F-G / these [expletive] can’t [expletive] with me.” Minaj mocked it with her own parody: “Abcdefgeeeeeeee. SUR GER REE TO LOOK LIKE MEEEEE,” insinuating that Cardi had undergone surgery to resemble her.
Cardi B, never one to let a slight go unanswered, fired back with a series of posts of her own. In one, she wrote: “Nothing more annoying than a bored [expletive]. You must’ve missed me, huh crazy?? Now kiss my feet.” In another, she questioned why Minaj was so fixated on her work, remarking: “You been in the game like 16 years.. you need to compare yourself to YOUR peers that started around YOUR time. Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake. Those are the numbers you need to be competing wit and you can’t cuz you doing lower than all of them.” For Cardi, the point was clear: Nicki’s obsession with tearing her down was both misplaced and revealing. To her, Minaj should be more concerned with how she stacks up against the megastars who debuted around the same time, rather than chasing after the success of someone a decade younger.
The tension between these two superstars isn’t new. Their history is long, dramatic, and well-documented. Fans still remember 2018, during New York Fashion Week, when their feud spilled from online subtweets into the physical world. That night, Cardi was seen trying to confront Minaj at a Harper’s Bazaar party. Cameras captured Cardi lunging toward the area where Minaj stood before being restrained by security. In the chaos, Cardi emerged with a noticeable knot on her forehead, reportedly from being elbowed, and the moment instantly went viral. Social media lit up with memes, debates, and speculation, cementing their rivalry as one of the defining celebrity conflicts of the era. Though both artists attempted to play down the incident afterward, the images of Cardi being escorted out barefoot, still seething with anger, became an indelible part of their story.
Since then, the back-and-forth has never truly gone away. Sometimes it simmers in the background, other times it explodes in public spats like this one. What makes their feud particularly captivating is that both women occupy such massive space in the culture. Nicki Minaj, who rose to prominence in the late 2000s, has long positioned herself as the reigning queen of rap, breaking records, crafting alter egos, and pioneering a theatrical, larger-than-life style. Cardi B, by contrast, burst onto the scene in the mid-2010s as a former reality star turned chart-topping rapper, whose raw personality and undeniable charisma propelled her from Love & Hip Hop: New York to Grammy-winning stardom. Their trajectories were different, but both carved out huge audiences, leaving many to wonder whether the industry had pitted them against each other from the start.
For Minaj, this isn’t her only high-profile feud. She’s clashed with a variety of artists over the years, often taking grievances public in ways that draw headlines. Earlier this summer, she sparred with SZA, the Grammy-winning R&B star. Minaj criticized SZA’s decision to release LANA, a deluxe continuation of her blockbuster SOS album, claiming it was an insecure move to manipulate chart success. “Like what in the insecure lack of morals & integrity you doing?” Minaj posted. SZA, in turn, responded calmly but firmly, suggesting Minaj’s comments were less about industry strategy and more about personal issues. “Nicki. You absolutely know my music and what I contribute cause you’ve asked for features twice to no response,” she wrote, adding: “Lol ur having a moment ..im not sure why but be blessed.” The exchange highlighted how Minaj’s confrontational style often leaves little room for nuance, escalating disagreements into full-fledged spats.
Then there was her bitter clash with Megan Thee Stallion, which may be one of the most controversial feuds in recent rap history. Megan’s 2024 diss track Hiss included pointed references many interpreted as shots at Minaj and her husband Kenneth Petty, invoking the sex offender law “Megan’s Law” in a biting lyric. Nicki retaliated with Big Foot, a scathing track that crossed boundaries for many listeners. In it, she allegedly referenced the tragic passing of Megan’s mother and mocked Megan’s injuries from the infamous Tory Lanez shooting in 2020, in which Megan was shot in the feet. The backlash was swift, with many critics accusing Minaj of taking things too far and weaponizing deeply personal traumas for the sake of a rap beef.
This pattern of conflict suggests that Nicki Minaj sees herself as a gladiator in hip-hop, unwilling to let any perceived slight go unchallenged. But it also raises questions about how this constant sparring affects her legacy. Once celebrated primarily for her bars, flow, and artistic reinvention, Minaj is increasingly in the headlines for her disputes rather than her music. For Cardi B, these dust-ups with Nicki represent both a distraction and an opportunity. On the one hand, they risk overshadowing her accomplishments—like the release of her long-awaited album—but on the other hand, they keep her name at the center of cultural conversation, something Cardi has always excelled at maintaining.
Adding another layer to all of this is Cardi’s personal life, which has always been intertwined with her public persona. The rapper is currently expecting her fourth child, this time with her boyfriend Stefon Diggs, the NFL wide receiver. She already shares three children with her ex-husband Offset: Kulture, who is eight, Wave, who is three, and Blossom, who just turned one. Cardi has been candid about her journey as a mother, often sharing glimpses into the chaos and joy of raising a big family while juggling superstardom. Her openness contrasts with Minaj’s more guarded approach, further fueling the sense that these two artists represent different archetypes within rap: one polished and calculated, the other raw and unfiltered.
For fans, the Cardi vs. Nicki feud is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. Every insult, every subtweet, every lyric with a possible hidden jab becomes fodder for analysis. On platforms like TikTok and Twitter, users dissect their posts, create fan edits, and debate who “won” each round. For some, the drama detracts from the music itself, perpetuating the stereotype that women in hip-hop can’t coexist without being pitted against each other. For others, it’s simply part of the tradition of rap battles—a continuation of the culture’s emphasis on lyrical sparring and dominance.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Rivalries in hip-hop have always driven attention and innovation, from Tupac and Biggie to Jay-Z and Nas. But the Cardi-Nicki saga feels unique because it’s happening in the age of social media, where every barb is amplified in real time and millions of fans can participate in the drama. Instead of diss tracks alone, the feud plays out in memes, screenshots, and livestreams, making it as much a digital spectacle as a musical one.
And yet, beyond the insults and the headlines, there’s an undeniable undercurrent: both Cardi B and Nicki Minaj are groundbreaking artists whose successes have helped reshape the landscape for women in hip-hop. Minaj broke barriers during a time when few female rappers were dominating the mainstream, and her flamboyant style and sharp wordplay made her a global icon. Cardi, in turn, brought a new wave of unapologetic energy, showing that someone from reality television could not only break into rap but reach its highest levels. Together, they’ve expanded the possibilities for what women in the genre can achieve, even as their rivalry often overshadows those contributions.
Whether this feud will ever find closure remains doubtful. Neither artist seems willing to back down, and their fanbases are just as invested in the conflict as they are. It may continue to flare up whenever one of them releases new music or posts a cryptic message online. But perhaps that’s the point. In the world of rap, conflict is currency, and both Cardi B and Nicki Minaj know how to spend it. Their feud, as messy as it is, keeps them in the spotlight, ensures constant conversation, and maintains the sense that hip-hop is as much about personalities as it is about beats and bars.
As Cardi continues to celebrate her album release and prepare for the arrival of her new baby, and as Nicki navigates her own career moves, fans will no doubt be watching closely for the next twist in their saga. Maybe it will be another round of diss tracks, maybe an awkward red-carpet encounter, maybe yet another explosive social media meltdown. Whatever form it takes, one thing is certain: in the rap world, grudges don’t just linger—they evolve, and the story of Cardi B versus Nicki Minaj is far from finished.
