Cardi B’s Am I the Drama lands as a record that’s unmistakably hers — brash, funny, emotional, and loud in all the right ways — yet it also exposes the difficult balance between ambition and consistency. Across 23 tracks, Cardi experiments with an impressive range of sounds, from drill-inspired bangers and old-school hip-hop throwbacks to slow, R&B-infused ballads that lean into heartbreak and reflection. The result is an album that’s fearless and dynamic, but also uneven, occasionally weighed down by filler, underwhelming features, and pacing that doesn’t always keep up with her fire.
The album opens with “Dead,” a cinematic statement piece that sets the tone immediately — sampled news clips, blaring horns, and Cardi in full command. Summer Walker’s soft vocals add an atmospheric contrast to Cardi’s sharp delivery, though the subdued beat sometimes struggles to match her energy. This tension — her charisma outshining the production — runs throughout the project, where her larger-than-life personality often carries tracks that might otherwise fall flat.
“Hello” and “Magnet” channel early mixtape-era Cardi: witty punchlines, street-tough flows, and unapologetic confidence. Yet even as she flexes lyrical cleverness, some hooks feel less memorable, and a few verses lose focus. Still, Cardi’s gift for transforming nursery-rhyme simplicity into savage humor keeps listeners hooked — her wordplay remains her superpower.
The features are a mixed bag. On the high end, Selena Gomez shines on “Pick It Up,” delivering a dreamy, lullaby-like hook that softens Cardi’s aggression, while Kehlani’s appearance on “Safe” adds warmth and emotional grounding. Lourdiz brings sultry energy to “On My Back,” turning it into one of the album’s most hypnotic deep cuts. These collaborations with women stand out, elevating Cardi’s performance and enhancing her emotional range.
On the other hand, some features miss the mark. Doug’s autotuned delivery on “Man of Your Word” feels hollow and out of sync with Cardi’s energy, and even Janet Jackson’s backing vocals on “Principal” barely register — a missed opportunity for what could have been a showstopping moment.
Production-wise, Am I the Drama is as bold as it is inconsistent. Tracks like “Bodega Baddie” and “Pretty & Petty” capture Cardi at her sharpest — blending Latin-inspired rhythms, 808-heavy bass, and flashes of 80s-inspired synths. But others, like “Errtime,” “Check Please,” and “Up,” recycle familiar beats without innovation, leaving a sense of déjà vu rather than evolution.
When Cardi slows things down, results vary. Songs like “Imaginary Playerz” and “Shower Tears” attempt emotional depth but stretch their themes too thin, leading to mid-album fatigue. The final stretch picks up again, but not without bumps — and closing the record with “WAP” (featuring Megan Thee Stallion) feels like a fun but lazy callback. It’s nostalgic, sure, but also a reminder that her older material sometimes outshines her newer work.
Still, Am I the Drama isn’t short on memorable highs. “Pretty & Petty,” “Better Than You,” and “Bodega Baddie” reaffirm why Cardi remains one of hip-hop’s most magnetic personalities — sharp, hilarious, confident, and brutally honest. Her ability to weave together humor, heartbreak, and hustle makes her one of the genre’s most relatable figures, and when the beats hit right, she’s nearly unstoppable.
In the end, Am I the Drama is fun, bold, messy, and entirely Cardi. It’s an album that thrives on her personality — full of swagger, punchlines, and chaos — but also one that could have benefited from tighter editing and stronger quality control. Still, even in its imperfections, Cardi’s charisma dominates, her voice remains unmistakable, and her energy ensures she’s still one of the most entertaining figures in modern hip-hop
NOTABLE TRACKS:
Magnet
Shower Tears (feat. Summer Walker
Pretty & Petty
WAP