Honestly, the wait felt like a lifetime. Seven years. That is how long we sat around wondering if Cardi B would ever actually drop a second album or if she was just going to be the world’s most famous single-release specialist forever. But then September 19, 2025, actually happened. We finally got the am i the drama tracklist, and it wasn't just a few songs thrown together to satisfy a contract. It was a massive, 23-track monster that basically reminded everyone why the Bronx native is inescapable.
Most people expected a tight ten or twelve songs. Instead, Cardi went for the "more is more" approach. She basically stuffed every era of her life since Invasion of Privacy into one digital folder. It's messy, it's loud, and it's incredibly petty in the best way possible.
What’s Actually on the Am I The Drama Tracklist?
If you haven't sat down and scrolled through the whole thing yet, the sheer scale of the am i the drama tracklist is a lot to take in. It’s not just new stuff. Cardi made the somewhat controversial choice to include her massive legacy hits like "WAP" and "Up" right at the end. Some critics called it "streaming bait," but Cardi was pretty blunt about it on X (formerly Twitter), saying those songs deserved a "home" on an official project.
Here is how the standard edition actually breaks down, track by track:
- Dead (feat. Summer Walker)
- Hello
- Magnet
- Pick It Up (feat. Selena Gomez)
- Imaginary Playerz
- Bodega Baddie
- Salute
- Safe (feat. Kehlani)
- Man Of Your Word (feat. Dougie F)
- What's Goin On (feat. Lizzo)
- Shower Tears (feat. Summer Walker)
- Outside
- Pretty & Petty
- Better Than You (feat. Cash Cobain)
- On My Back (feat. Lourdiz)
- ErrTime
- Check Please
- Principal (feat. Janet Jackson)
- Trophies
- Nice Guy (feat. Tyla)
- Killin You Hoes
- Up
- WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
It is a lot. It’s over 70 minutes of music. For context, that’s almost double the length of her debut.
The Heavy Hitters and Shocking Features
Let’s talk about the Janet Jackson of it all. When the features were first leaked, nobody actually believed the "Principal" collab was real. Janet Jackson? On a Cardi B record? But it happened. The track samples "Control," and it’s easily the most "prestige" moment on the album. It feels like a passing of the torch, or at least a very expensive stamp of approval from music royalty.
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Then you have Summer Walker appearing twice. "Dead" and "Shower Tears" are the emotional anchors of the record. They deal with the fallout of her marriage to Offset, and they don't hold back. If you’re looking for the "drama" the title promises, these are the tracks where she really lets the intrusive thoughts win.
The Beefs Hidden in the Lyrics
You can't name an album Am I The Drama? and then play it safe. Cardi knew exactly what she was doing. The opening track "Dead" starts with a fake news report about her being arrested for hurting "several female rappers." It’s high-key WWE energy.
The internet almost broke trying to figure out who "Pretty & Petty" was about. Between the lines about people doing shows for "damn near free" and the very specific playground insults, fans immediately pointed fingers at Nicki Minaj and BIA. Cardi basically confirmed the BIA friction by name-dropping the "five BIA songs" meme that went viral a while back. It’s brutal. It’s personal.
Why the Rollout Felt Different
This wasn't just a "drop a link and pray" situation. Cardi went old school. She was out here doing "Bodega Baddie" pop-ups in Washington Heights and selling physical CDs out of trunks. In an era where everything feels like a TikTok algorithm play, seeing a superstar do street-level promotion felt weirdly refreshing.
She also used her "Safe" music video to reveal her pregnancy with her third child. It’s a lot of life packed into one rollout. You have the divorce drama, the new relationship rumors with Stefon Diggs, the pregnancy, and the album all hitting at once. She didn't just release a tracklist; she released a 2025 cultural moment.
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Breaking Down the Production
The sound of the am i the drama tracklist is all over the place, which is probably its biggest strength and its biggest weakness. You have the "drill-adjacent" vibes of "Better Than You" produced by Cash Cobain, and then you have the polished, radio-ready gloss of "Pick It Up" with Selena Gomez.
- Executive Producers: Cardi B, Argel Ayo, and Keyz.
- Key Contributors: DJ SwanQo and Sean Island (who touched almost half the album).
- Surprise Names: Ricky Reed helped out on the Lizzo track, which explains why it sounds like a literal party.
The album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the only female rapper to ever have her first two albums start at the top spot. That’s a massive flex. It’s already triple-platinum as of early 2026, mostly because "WAP" and "Up" brought billions of streams with them into the house.
Addressing the "Streaming Bait" Rumors
Look, we have to be real about "WAP" and "Up" being on there. It’s a smart business move. By including two of the biggest songs of the decade on her sophomore album, she basically guaranteed a platinum certification on day one. Some fans felt it took away from the "newness" of the project.
But honestly? If you’re Cardi B and you’ve waited seven years to drop, you put your biggest weapons in the holster. The album is a journey through her life from 2020 to 2025. Leaving those songs off would have felt like ignoring the biggest chapters of her story.
Actionable Insights for the Listener
If you’re just getting into the album now, don't try to digest all 23 tracks at once. It’s too much. Start with the "Divorce Trilogy"—"What's Goin On," "Man Of Your Word," and "Shower Tears." They give you the rawest look at her personal life.
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If you want the club hits, go straight to "Bodega Baddie" and "Nice Guy." The Tyla feature on "Nice Guy" is a masterclass in blending Bronx grit with Afrobeats energy. It’s probably the most "2026" sounding song on the whole project.
Lastly, keep an eye out for the "Little Miss Drama Tour" dates. She’s hitting the road in February 2026, starting in Palm Desert and moving through Vegas and LA. These songs were clearly built for a stadium stage, not just a pair of AirPods. The am i the drama tracklist is meant to be screamed back at her by 20,000 people.
To get the most out of the record, listen to it in the order it was intended. The transition from the aggressive "Dead" into the more vulnerable middle section tells a specific story of a woman who is tired of being the villain in everyone else's story but realizes she’s pretty good at playing the part.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check the official Cardi B webstore for the "Beat Edition" or the "Ultimate Edition" if you want the extra bonus tracks—there are actually versions with up to 39 tracks if you count the instrumentals and live recordings.