Bronx rapper Cardi B’s debut commercial single “Bodak Yellow” has just climbed to the Number One spot on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first solo female rapper to do so in nearly 20 years. Cardi B is now one of only five female rappers to reach the Number One spot alongside Lil Kim, Shawnna, Iggy Azalea and Lauryn Hill – the only other artist of the five to do so by herself with her 1998 hit “Doo Wop (That Thing)”.
Not only was this a big achievement for females in hip-hop, but Cardi also became the first artist of 2017 to climb to the top of the charts with her debut song on the Hot 100 chart. “Bodak Yellow” knocked Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” from the top spot after nearly a month at the top of the charts.
“Thank you sooo much to my fans my supporters,” Cardi tweeted. “This couldn’t [have] happened without y’all seriously.”
The fact that there hasn’t been a female rapper at the top of the charts by herself in nearly 20years probably comes as a surprise, especially to fans of Nicki Minaj, considering her impressive total of 80 songs to ever grace the charts. Throughout the duration of her nearly ten-year-long career, Minaj has yet to claim the Number One spot, which makes it all the more surprising that Cardi has managed to do so with her first entry on the charts. Minaj isn’t bitter, rather she celebrated the accomplishment along with Cardi on Twitter.
“Congratulations to a fellow NEW YAWKA on a RECORD BREAKING achievement,” Minaj tweeted. “Bardi, this is the only thing that matters!!! Enjoy it.”
Minaj was not the only A-List rapper to acknowledge Cardi’s success online. The day before Billboard announced the charts for the week, J. Cole took to Twitter to get a lot off of his mind. Cole used to maintain a regular Twitter presence until January 2016, when he mysteriously vanished. Over the 20 months that followed, Cole only tweeted a total of 14 times, to promote album releases of artists on his Dreamville label, his own album 4 Your Eyez Only, and his recent North American tour. However, on Sunday September 24, he shouted Cardi out on Twitter.
“Cardi b I seen your breakfast club interview, loved it. Don’t put all that pressure on your album. You already won. Just drop & repeat,” Cole tweeted.
A cosign from one of the most successful rappers at the moment is an impressive feat for any new artist. Cardi has yet to follow up the release of “Bodak Yellow” and continues to ride the wave of the single’s success. Whatever is next for her, it seems like the fans are ready for it.
