Cardi B Joins Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé And Rihanna

Cardi B earns her ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Outside” climbs to the top just weeks before Am I the Drama? arrives. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Cardi B attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

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In about a month, Cardi B will release one of the most highly anticipated sophomore albums in history. Am I the Drama? is scheduled to arrive more than seven years after she broke out in a major way with Invasion of Privacy. The rapper has been pushing tunes from the forthcoming set for years, and her latest, “Outside,” is still working its way up several Billboard charts.

Just before she shares “Imaginary Players,” the next promotional cut from the full-length, “Outside” soars at radio — where Cardi is still a favorite — and helps her join an incredibly exclusive club on one specific tally.

“Outside” Jumps to No. 1

“Outside” climbs from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart. Cardi earns her ninth career No. 1 on the radio list. As her current focus cut soars, she claims the fifth-most leaders of all time among female musicians.

Cardi B Joins Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat

Rihanna leads the charge among women with 17 No. 1s on the Rhythmic Airplay chart. Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj are tied for second place with 12 each. Doja Cat follows with 11 winners.

Cardi B’s History on the Rhythmic Airplay Chart

Throughout her career, Cardi has sent 36 tunes to the Rhythmic Airplay chart. 21 of them have broken into the top 10. Nearly half have now reached No. 1, and she could collect a milestone tenth in the coming weeks as excitement around Am I the Drama? builds.

Cardi B’s Many No. 1 Smashes

About half of Cardi’s No. 1s have spent just a single frame on top. “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin and her breakout smash “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” are tied as her longest-running leaders, with four weeks at the summit apiece. “Up” managed three stays on the throne, while “Finesse” with Bruno Mars and “No Limit” alongside G-Eazy and ASAP Rocky racked up just two turns.

“Outside” could match those latter tunes in about a week when Billboard refreshes its rankings, if it holds.

“Outside” Rises on Multiple Radio Lists

While “Outside” declines on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart and sits in lower positions on several other lists, it is gaining ground on almost every airplay ranking it appears on. Cardi also conquers the Rap Airplay ranking and moves within striking distance of the summit on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list as “Outside” rises from No. 3 to No. 2.