Cardi B is now the first solo female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 19 years with “Bodak Yellow,” Cardi B celebrated her milestone achievement.
But the achievement is also a larger victory, as she becomes the second female rapper ever to reign at the top without any guests. The first was Lauryn Hill, who did it with “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998.
With this accomplishment, Bardi is only the fifth solo female rapper ever to nab the top slot on the chart, following Lil’ Kim (2001’s “Lady Marmalade” featuring Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Pink), Shawnna (2003’s “Stand Up” by Ludacris), and Iggy Azalea (2014’s “Fancy” featuring Charli XCX).
The stat, provided by Billboard, does not account for groups that include female MCs, such as TLC and Terror Squad.
Plus, the former “Love & Hip Hop” star is the first female artist overall to reach the peak of the Hot 100 with an unaccompanied debut track since Meghan Trainor’s 2014 smash, “All About That Bass.”
At a surprise party hosted by Atlantic Records in New York on Monday (Sept. 25), the Bronx rapper was presented with a platinum plaque and a Christian Louboutin cake in honor of her now-famous “bloody shoes” lyric. The former reality television star opened up about the accomplishment, which makes her the first solo female rapper since Lauryn Hill to top the chart.
“Yeah, b**ch. I hit No. 1. What’s good?” she told the crowd, which included family members and label executives. “Yeah, y’all. Oh my God! Thank you everybody. I am very happy. I am very honored.”
She continued by acknowledging the prestigiousness of the Hot 100, which she says she was not privy to before entering the chart. “I don’t really know how the music industry works,” she explained. “All I feel is, ‘Well, if everybody listens to the song, it’s poppin’.’ No! If it’s not on the Billboards, then it really don’t matter.”
During her speech, Cardi also sang Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do,” which previously held the No. 1 spot for three weeks. “Everybody posted so I could go No. 1 without even me asking,” she said. “I never asked them. They just did it voluntarily. Every day, harassing their followers, like, ‘Make sure you download and stream ‘Bodak Yellow.’ And look what you made me do, look what you made me do!”
Taking to Instagram, an emotional Cardi went on to explain the magnitude of the win. “What a day,” she wrote. “I feel like it’s my Graduation,Birthday and prom at the same time ! You see Atlantic wanted me to take a flight in the AM for a meeting and to pick up my Platinum plaque…Didn’t know it was a big surprise with my family ,friends, Gang and the girls that I used to work good and bad nights with back in Sues Rendezvous.Also fans and people that been supporting me since day one ,All of them there for ME!! Thank you I’m beyond happy!! #BARDIGANG.”
