Cardi B’s long-awaited sophomore album Am I the Drama? has officially made its debut—and while the numbers are strong, they’ve sparked mixed reactions across the industry. Released on September 19, the 23-track project is projected to move between 125,000 and 150,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. That figure places Cardi among the top first-week sellers of 2025, though it marks a notable drop from her 2018 debut Invasion of Privacy, which moved 255,000 units in its opening week.
Despite the lower projections, Am I the Drama? was certified RIAA Platinum on release day, thanks to the inclusion of mega-hits like “WAP” and “Up.” However, under current Billboard rules, those tracks do not count toward first-week sales since they were released outside the album’s launch window.
The album features a star-studded lineup including Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, Summer Walker, Kehlani, and Tyla. Tracks like “Magnet” and “Man of Your Word” have already stirred headlines, with Cardi taking aim at fellow artists and opening up about her personal life. Streaming performance has been a major driver of the album’s success, with over 100 million streams projected in its debut week.
While some fans expected higher numbers given Cardi’s cultural dominance, industry insiders note that the streaming-heavy landscape and lack of major pre-release singles may have tempered expectations. Still, Am I the Drama? is poised to be one of the most talked-about albums of the year, especially as Cardi gears up for her Little Miss Drama arena tour in early 2026.
