Originating as industry competition and online speculation nearly a decade ago, this conflict has evolved into one of the most prominent rivalries in contemporary hip-hop culture. The ongoing saga recently resurfaced during Saturday Night Live rehearsals, where Cardi B allegedly responded angrily to a joke referencing her long-standing adversary.
By Allan R. Ellenberger
The origins of the feud can be traced to the late 2010s, following Cardi B’s rapid ascent after her breakout hit “Bodak Yellow.” In 2017, social media users observed Nicki Minaj seemingly endorsing negative commentary about Cardi’s rap abilities and noted tension when both artists appeared on the Migos track “MotorSport.” These incidents fueled speculation that the rappers were subtly criticizing each other through their verses and industry maneuvers, although both consistently denied any animosity at the time.
The first major public confrontation occurred in September 2018, when the two artists engaged in a physical altercation backstage at a Harper’s Bazaar event during New York Fashion Week. Cardi B attempted to confront Minaj on camera, reportedly angered by comments she believed Minaj had encouraged regarding her abilities as a mother after the birth of her daughter, Kulture. The incident left Cardi with a visible injury and generated significant attention on social media. Although Minaj later called for a focus on positive matters through her own platform, both artists subsequently withdrew from public engagement with each other.
For several years after that incident, the feud quieted in the mainstream, though periodic subliminal digs and sniping persisted via social platforms and interviews. It re-ignited significantly in 2025 amid the release of Cardi B’s second studio album, Am I the Drama? When Minaj took to social media to mock Cardi’s sales figures and made disparaging remarks about her pregnancy, the back-and-forth escalated once again, with both artists trading barbs online — including controversial references to each other’s families that drew widespread criticism and headlines.
That simmering tension appeared over the weekend when Cardi B served as musical guest on Saturday Night Live, marking the show’s milestone 1,000th episode in January 2026. According to reports from TMZ and others, Cardi allegedly lost her temper during rehearsals after overhearing writers on Weekend Update running through a joke about Minaj’s recent political affiliations — a gag that had nothing directly to do with Cardi herself but clearly struck a nerve because of her ongoing feud with her rival. Sources allege she threatened to walk off the show, threw her phone at a television monitor, and even damaged equipment in the producer’s office before the joke was ultimately cut from the broadcast.
Although neither Cardi B nor SNL representatives have publicly confirmed the details, and some observers remain skeptical of the reported events, the incident highlights the extent to which the Minaj–Cardi rivalry is entrenched in both popular culture discourse and personal branding dynamics on social media.
The feud has also intersected with broader cultural debates, such as discussions about the influence of bots and political messaging online. After a Politico report alleged that a significant portion of Minaj’s social media engagement was generated by automated accounts, Cardi publicly denied any involvement and threatened legal action against a political advisor who attempted to associate her with the controversy.
Critics, fans, and cultural commentators alike have alternately lamented the feud as exhausting and unnecessary or treated it as emblematic of the competitive pressures female artists face in a space historically conditioned to pit women against one another. Whatever the ultimate outcome, the Minaj–Cardi conflict — now stretching back roughly eight years in public view — remains a part of how both artists’ legacies are debated in music journalism and hip-hop fandom.
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