By Michael Saponara
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Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have a complicated history dating back to about 2017.
Fans began to speculate about whether or the not the two New York City rappers liked each other as they clamored for them to collaborate and show solidarity for the sake of the five boroughs after the Bronx rapper bursted on the scene with her smash record “Bodak Yellow.”
The two would finally link up, albeit unknowingly, on the Culture II single “MotorSport” alongside the Migos — which was well received at first, but then was quickly mired in controversy after Cardi suggested on London’s Capital Xtra radio show that Minaj may’ve edited her verse.
“Well, you know, when I heard the track, her verse wasn’t finished,” Cardi B said. “Or it’s not the verse that it’s on right now. And Quavo told me that to get on the song, and I just felt like it’s a perfect opportunity for me to be on a track that’s big like them. Cause those are two big people, and I just started in the game. And I just know if I get on this record, it’s gonna be crazy. Like, who doesn’t want it?”
However, Nicki felt like the Migos should’ve cleared the air, because it made it look like she changed her verse after hearing Cardi’s verse. “The only thing with Cardi that really, really, really hurt my feelings was the first interview she did after ‘MotorSport’ came out,” Minaj told Zane Lowe. “With ‘MotorSport,’ I kinda felt ambushed. The first thing that came out of her mouth about a Nicki Minaj feature was ‘she changed the verse’ … and when it was time to clear the air about that, no one did that. All of them allowed me to look like I lied.”
Tensions then boiled over during NYFW in 2018, which produced the viral image of Cardi walking out of a Harper’s Bazaar party with a knot above her left eye after a supposed altercation with Nicki — and now we are here.
After years of sneak-dissing and not-so-sneak-dissing, the two went back and forth on social media this week, with things getting extremely personal and honestly, a bit weird.
Check out the timeline of their rocky relationship below.
May 2017: Nicki name-drops Offset in “Swish Swish”
Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj used their latest team-up “Swish Swish” to address their respective beefs. The internet speculated Perry took aim at her rift with Taylor Swift, while Nicki continued to target Remy Ma following Rem’s scatching “Shether” diss track and Nicki’s response “No Frauds.” But on “Swish Swish,” Nicki rapped, “Silly rap beefs just get me more checks” and followed up with a line where she called out Cardi’s then-boyfriend and now-fiancé Offset.
“My life is a movie, I’m never off set/ Me and my amigos (no, not Offset),” she said. Nicki even promoted the single on her Instagram, and wrote the same Offset lyric for the caption — leading many to believe she intended to ruffle a few feathers with her “Swish Swish” verse.
May 2017: Cardi B Vents About “Idols Becoming Rivals”
Cardi may have caught wind of Nicki name-dropping Offset in “Swish Swish,” because shortly after the single was released, the Bronx rapper went on Instagram live to vent about how “fake” people in the industry are, and how she was much happier in the Bronx where she could address her detractors head-on.
“I hate this s–t, I really, really do. A b–ch like me, I was happier when I was macking in the hood. This s–t right here is so fake,” she said during her live stream. “When I used to be a regular b–ch from the Bronx — a hood b–ch — when somebody used to be fake to me it was cool because I could approach a b–ch and punch her right in her closure… Now that I’m in the industry, you don’t work like that, just have to watch s–t go, watch s–t go. You gotta see people play you and just say nothing like a d–k. That s–t is so wack, my n—a, like that s–t be breaking my heart — because the people, your idols, become rivals.”
July 2017: Nicki Dances to “Bodak Yellow”
During an appearance at a Miami nightclub, Nicki Minaj was seen dancing along to Cardi’s infectious summer hit “Bodak Yellow.” In the fan-shot video, Nicki didn’t recite any of the words, but it was a subtle way of showing the budding rapper support.
August 2017: Nicki sends possible shots at Cardi on “No Flag”
Nicki, Offset and 21 Savage teamed up on the London on da Track’s latest “No Flag.” Speaking to XXL, London said that he encouraged Nicki to address her enemies on the track. He said that “No Flags” would be “perfect for you to be able to explain what you’re going through. If you want to go at someone or talk about somebody, this the perfect song to do it on.’ She said I was right.”
The Queens rapper wasted no time on her verse, and opened it with the lines, “Lil’ b–ch, I heard these labels tryna make another me/ Everything you getting little hoe is cause of me.” Her “No Flag” feature came just months after Cardi inked her deal with Atlantic Records, but Nicki denied that she was targeting Cardi.
August 2017: Cardi Addresses Mystery Woman Mid-Performance
Cardi B hit the stage at the MoMa PS1 Warm Up event in August with A$AP Ferg, Kelela and more to perform her smash hit. At one point in her set, the rapper took a moment to call out an unnamed woman who Cardi felt was acting a bit fake to her. “You know this b–ch,” Cardi said in the video, over loud screams from the crowd. “She never f—king liked me, and now, all of a sudden, she wants to be friends with me. No, b—h. I still don’t like you b—h.”
September 2017: Cardi B Addresses “No Limit” Verse
Following her verse on “No Limit,” Cardi couldn’t seem to escape all the Nicki Minaj rivalry questions. During a visit to Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club show, the hosts questioned Cardi about who she was addressing on her verse, but she insisted it wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular. Cardi said she and Nicki did speak before, and the verse was more directed at females from her old neighborhood.
September 2017: Nicki congratulates Cardi for “Bodak Yellow” going No. 1
Cardi earned her first-ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Bodak Yellow,” a feat that made her the first female rapper since Lauryn Hill to top the chart without any other credited artists. Minaj congratulated her fellow New Yorker in a tweet saying, “Congratulations to a fellow NEW YAWKA on a RECORD BREAKING achievement. Bardi, this is the only thing that matters!!! Enjoy it.” Cardi responded, telling the “No Frauds” rapper that “This means sooo much coming from you!!”
October 2017: Nicki and Cardi B unknowingly join forces for Migos’ “MotorSport”
Migos were gearing up for their upcoming album, Culture 2, and released “Motor Sport” as the first single off the project. To spark some controversy, however, the Atlanta trio brought together two of the hottest female (and most-talked-about) rappers on wax, as Cardi compared herself to the late Selena and Nicki shouted out action star Jackie Chan.
Unsurprisingly, the internet did its best to decode the lyrics and determine if the two rappers were once again throwing barbs, but Minaj hopped on Twitter to shut down the rumors.
April 2018: Nicki Addresses Cardi Drama & “MotorSport” Fallout
After releasing new music on April 12, Nicki Minaj stopped by Zane Lowe for an interview and clarified that — despite rumors — her new songs were not directed at Cardi B. She did, however, say some of the “Motorsport” drama bothered her: “Y’all all still jumped around that just to paint Nicki as the bad person so that you could play the victim. That really, really hurt me. I really, fully supported her and up until this recent interview I did, I had never seen her show me genuine love in an interview and I can imagine how many girls wish they could’ve been on a song with Nicki Minaj.”
September 2018: Tension Boils Over at NYFW
Cardi B and Nicki Minaj reportedly exchanged barbed words at a Harper’s Bazaar event at New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7, but that’s not all — Cardi got into a physical altercation and threw a shoe at Rah Ali, a member of Minaj’s entourage and one of Cardi’s Love and Hip-Hop co-stars. The “I Like It” rapper aired her grievances with the offender in question on Instagram following the incident. According to Cardi, the last straw came when comments were made about baby Kulture and her motherly love, and that’s what prompted the Instagram post.
“I let you talk big s–t about me!!,” she wrote. “I addressed you once in person, I addressed you a second time in person, and every time you copped the plea!! But when you mention my child, you choose to like comments about me as a mother, make comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter is when all bets are f–kin off!! I’ve worked to hard and come too far to let anybody f–k with my success!!!! Bitches talk all that s–t in they raps but in real life they p—y!! This s–t really is for entertainment!!”
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September 2018: Nicki Addresses NYFW Altercation
Nicki hopped on an episode of Queen Radio to address the altercation with Cardi at a New York Fashion Week event, where she also dispelled any notion she ever spoke down on Cardi’s daughter, Kulture.
“I, Onika Tanya Maraj, would never speak ill on anyone’s child,” she said. “You knew when that footage came out, you was about to look f—king dumb. So, your publicist, also looking f–king dumb, they hurried and put out a statement.”
September 2023: Cardi & Nicki attend MTV VMAs
Nicki Minaj and Cardi B were in the same venue once again when the pair of rap titans attended the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, where Minaj actually played host for the night. Footage emerged of Minaj frustrated with something backstage, but Cardi was nowhere to be found. However, fans tied a Cardi B tweet saying “I ain’t even flinch” to her beef with Minaj.
I ain’t even flinch 🥱
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 13, 2023
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September 2023: The Husbands Get Involved
A weekend following the VMAs, Minaj’s husband, Kenneth “Zoo” Petty, posted a video to social media that appeared to show Petty and his crew searching for Offset at the hotel where he was reportedly staying. “Plan that vacation, you gonna be planning your funeral p—y,” Petty said in the video.
Offset didn’t take the threats too seriously, as the Migos rapper responded with a video of his own, laughing at Petty and his crew. The move backfired on Petty, as he was ordered to serve 120 days of home detention for violating his probation.
Minaj even appeared to chime in on the drama surrounding Offset and her husband. “Can’t call the cops every time you flop. Just saying,” she wrote to her IG Story.
September 2025: Nicki Disses Cardi on X
Nicki Minaj announced plans for her sixth studio album last week, which is slated to arrive on March 27. With Minaj back active on social media, she swiped at Cardi with a since-deleted jab on X at her “$4.99” price for the digital version of her Am I the Drama? album (Cardi’s Am I the Drama? debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 200,000 total album units earned in the first week).
Minaj used Cardi’s rhyme scheme from her “Magnet” diss track, which took shots at JT and Ice Spice, to mock the Bronx native, whom she nicknamed “Barney Dangerous.”
“Abcdefgeeeeeeee. SUR GER REE TO LOOK LIKE MEEEEEE/ tell the rat & tell J ZEEEEEE/ Rico Fraud & PERJURY,” she wrote to X. “Abcdefgeeeeeeee/ Fallin off the charts wit a big bellyyyy/ RUNNING TRAINS/ Barefoot, still smellyyyyy/ Still. You. Could. Not. outsell. meeeeee.”
She also posted an AI-generated photo of Cardi in a Barney costume.
September 2025: Cardi Returns Fire at Nicki: ‘Cocaine Barbie’
Cardi B claims she was cheffing up dinner in the kitchen when she got wind of Nicki Minaj’s subliminal jabs, which caused her to go scorched earth. “Naaaa cuz I was really baking ribs and making blondie brownies and here come this btch bothering me on a damn Monday,” she wrote.
Cardi continued to fire away on X: “You must’ve missed me, huh crazy?? Now kiss my feet. Nothing more annoying than a bored btch. The power I have.. make these btches come out of rehab everytime. Go to your fcking room. Cocaine Barbie.”
The Bronx native went on to allege that Minaj’s prescription drug abuse caused her fertility issues. “Like you wasn’t going to different fertility doctors cuz you couldn’t reproduce from all them percs scrambling your eggs,” she wrote. “NOT ALLEGEDLY. Lord protect my babies.”
Cardi also posted a photo of Minaj’s brother, who was convicted on child rape charges and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, with a pink wig Photoshopped on him. Next, Cardi addressed the comparisons and explained that she doesn’t view Minaj as her peer, as they entered the rap game during different eras, nearly a decade apart.
“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,” she added. “Those are the numbers you need to be competing wit and you can’t cuz you doing lower than all of them. I was in high school when you came out wtf is you comparing yourself to me for???”
A B C D E F G
Your man have to snatch PUSSY
Pussy taste like honey comb
Your bro be touching 12 year olds
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 30, 2025
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Cocaine Barbie
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 30, 2025
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Why you keep bringing up my album?? It’s not the gag that you think it is..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…
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 30, 2025
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Damn she was streaming Magnet hard as hell huh?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 30, 2025
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— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 30, 2025
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September 2025: The Social Media Back-and-Forth Continues
The Twitter fingers didn’t stop pulling triggers on Sept. 30. Nicki continued to poke at Cardi with Photoshops of her as Barney, and claimed she had seizures following their 2018 Fashion Week scrum. She then baited Cardi to do something, letting her know she’s in New York while also claiming that her Am I the Drama? album flopped, and dissed Cardi’s daughter, Kulture’s, looks.
“Album flopped. P—y flopped. Never won a fight. Outrank u in your own gang. Stfu come fight. Sympathy baby couldn’t pull 228K. Abort. Abort mission.”
Minaj continued: “Cokey B PLS DONT SNIFF COKE WITH BABY #4/5. Word to Carlos!”
Barney b tell them how u been getting seizures from the knot. Oh btch tmrw pic.twitter.com/SzNPd0tZ4Q
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 1, 2025
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Do something. We in NEW YORK.
HEAVY ON IT
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 1, 2025
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Album flopped. Pussy flopped. Never won a fight. Outrank u in your own gang. Stfu come fight. Sympathy baby couldn’t pull 228K. Abort. Abort mission.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 1, 2025
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Cokey B PLS DONT SNIFF COKE WITH BABY #4/5. Word to Carlos
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 1, 2025
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Barney dangerous ??? Bodega Barney? WHADDDDUP. Your sister can get that chest caved in if u pregnant with another monkey or roach RIGHT NOW. Ijs. For entertainment purposes only. 😀
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 1, 2025
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Cardi B fired back, wondering how Minaj had time to tweet about her business when it’s allegedly her son, Papa Bear’s, birthday. She denied claims of having seizures and threatened to take their feud to the next level if Minaj continues to mention family members like her father and daughter, Kulture.
“Like damn how you pressed over an album you ain’t got hit in or mentioned in… b—h feelings hurt cause I ain’t paid her no attentionm,” she wrote. “You haven’t even cut your f–kin kid cake.. my god it’s 6 o clock in LA. You must’ve took your first line of the day.”
Cardi added: “Trying to call me out to fight cuz I’m pregnant af.. you NEVER have that energy when I see you in person!!! I seen you at two Met Gala’s and you never have that energy… BUT WHERE TF YOU AT???? MY NIKKAS IS OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW WHERE TF YALL AT???”
Trying to call me out to fight cuz I’m pregnant af.. you NEVER have that energy when I see you in person!!! I seen you at two Met Gala’s and you never have that energy… BUT WHERE TF YOU AT???? MY NIKKAS IS OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW WHERE TF YALL AT???
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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Papa Bear I’m sorry you can’t speak and banging spoons because your mom couldn’t put the drugs down… I’m sorry your mom not even paying attention to you on your own birthday cuz she such a obsessed and dark spirted hating ho.. I’m so sorry
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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Wait bring that ass here.. you talkin about my father???.. my father never been to jail a day in his life! Go get a detective and tell them to run them records.. don’t put them dirty ass allegations from your bloodline on mine. Your daddy was a crackhead and your brother was…
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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Like damn how you pressed over an album you ain’t got hit in or mentioned in… bitch feelings hurt cause I ain’t paid her no attention!! You haven’t even cut your fuckin kid cake.. my god it’s 6 o clock in LA. You must’ve took your first line of the day
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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Bitch you wish you could call my daughter ugly.. Kulture is beautiful and you know that. Your hate is so deep dark and nasty because your son nonverbal cuz you fucked him up wit them drugs so you jealous of everybody kids and their happiness!!! BITCH WHERE TF YOU AT STOP TALKING
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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DROP THE ADDY RIGHT NOW!!!! And don’t go tagging the feds and the police like you did 3 months ago you pussy ass bitch STFU
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 1, 2025
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