Cardi B Ties Kendrick Lamar With A New No. 1 Smash

Cardi B’s “Outside” rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rap Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts, tying Kendrick Lamar for eight leaders on the former ranking. CANNES, FRANCE – JUNE 18: Cardi B performs at Spotify Beach concert featuring Cardi B, Lola Young and Mark Ronson at Spotify Beach during Cannes Lions 2025 on June 18, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)

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For the past eight years, Cardi B has ranked as not just one of the most successful women in hip-hop, but a reliable hitmaker. As she prepares to finally deliver her long-awaited sophomore album Am I the Drama? next month, one of the singles from the project shoots to No. 1 on multiple Billboard rankings, and it helps her match the man who may be the hottest name in rap music right now.

Cardi B Earns Her Eighth No. 1 Hit

“Outside” lifts one space from the runner-up spot to No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart. The track becomes Cardi’s eighth leader, which is one of the most impressive accumulations of champions of all time on Billboard’s ranking of the most successful songs at rap radio stations across the United States.

Cardi B Ties Kendrick Lamar

Billboard notes that as “Outside” reaches the first place on the Rap Airplay chart seven weeks into its tenure, Cardi ties Kendrick Lamar for the sixth-most leaders of all time.

Last week, when “Outside” was stuck at No. 2 — coincidentally behind one of Lamar’s most famous tracks, “Luther” with SZA — Cardi was on the same level as both 50 Cent and T.I. Those solo male hip-hop powerhouses have racked up seven No. 1s on the Rap Airplay list thus far, and now they’ve fallen slightly on the all-time roster.

Drake Leads, Followed by Lil Wayne

Drake is in a distant first place among all acts, as he’s accumulated 43 No. 1s on the Rap Airplay chart. Lil Wayne and Ye (formerly Kanye West) are the only other two stars that have snagged double-digit placements at No. 1, as Wayne has earned 13 while the man who used to simply be known as Kanye is steady with 10.

Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj are tied for the fourth-most winners with nine – just one ahead of Cardi and Kendrick.

“Outside” Rises to No. 1 on Multiple Rankings

“Outside” has proved to be a big win on American radio. This frame, the single ascends to No. 1 on not only the Rap Airplay chart, but also the Rhythmic Airplay list, where Cardi scores a ninth champion. The Am I the Drama? single also approaches No. 1 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally, where it’s just one rung away from ruling, and it hits a new high point on the Radio Songs chart, inching north from No. 30 to No. 28.