Twelve days ago, Cardi B released her long-awaited debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, earning 255,000 equivalent sales (per Nielsen Music), the 2nd largest release week of the year. Now, she's taking on veteran songwriters, with all but 1 song from the new album charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cardi's ascension is no real surprise. Born Belcalis Almanzar, she received some notoriety on Instagram, where she blatantly discussed her career as a stripper. In 2015, this fame carried Almanzar to MTV's Love & Hip Hop: New York, signing with Atlantic Records in 2017.
The Bronx rapper first appeared on our Hot Hitmakers chart in July following the success of "Bodak Yellow." With this release, Almanzar has returned, and becomes only the 2nd female rapper to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 solo (Lauryn Hill was the first in 1998). Though "Bodak Yellow" is no longer charting, the rest of her debut album is, thanks in large part to heavy streaming & collaborations with 21 Savage (another returning Hitmaker) & Migos (of which her fiancé Kiari Cephus AKA Offset is part).
Hot Hitmakers
Recognizing the songwriters behind the biggest hits of the week