Cardi B is on the cusp of releasing her long-awaited second album, and the second carries uncommon weight. Two weeks faraway from a victory in a civil assault case, the Bronx-born rapper is reemerging within the public eye, navigating the intersection of non-public upheaval {and professional} momentum. Offset, her estranged husband, has mentioned he hopes to “move on in peace,” however Cardi reveals little signal of slowing down.

Speaking with music/rb-hip-hop/cardi-b-billboard-cover-story-2025-rb-hip-hop-power-players-1236056447/”>Billboard, she described the steadiness between motherhood and music, a juggling act she carries largely on her personal. Raising three youngsters—Kulture, seven; Wave, 4; and Blossom, who not too long ago turned one—she has taken pleasure in stepping totally into the function of supplier. “I do everything for my kids. I’m the only provider, and you know what? There’s no complaining about it. I love them so much, and they keep me grounded,” she mentioned.

Her strategy to parenting, she added, is formed by her personal upbringing. “My mother worked incredibly hard to support us, and I want my children to understand that I made sure they had everything they wanted,” she defined. That willpower has turn out to be central to her id, reinforcing her perception that household anchors her, even when the highlight calls for in any other case.

A New Chapter with AM I THE DRAMA?

In July 2024, Cardi filed for divorce from Offset for the second time, a rupture that has unfolded in full view of her viewers. The separation has performed out throughout social media, whereas studies hyperlink her to NFL large receiver Stefon Diggs—an evolution which will affect her artistic work.

Her new album, AM I THE DRAMA?, arrives September 19. It options the singles “Outside” and “Imaginary Playerz,” alongside chart staples like “Up” and “WAP.” Seven years within the making, the venture displays a interval marked by each household milestones and authorized battles. Still, she insists on precision. “I always knew I would release a second album; I just didn’t have a project that was well organized,” she mentioned. “I’m very selective about my music and need to make sure everything fits perfectly before I put it out.”