Cardi B Faces Major Backlash from Bardigang

Cardi B is under intense scrutiny from her die-hard fanbase, the Bardigang, after conflicting comments about her eagerly awaited second studio album. Fans have waited nearly seven years for the follow-up to her Grammy-winning 2018 first record, Invasion of Privacy, and are losing their patience.

With promises, delays, and sudden changes of heart, Cardi’s updates on her sophomore album have left fans confused, frustrated, and, in some cases, even angry. While the rapper insists she’s working hard to deliver a substantial project, many feel misled by her shifting timelines and unexpected reversals.

When it came out in April 2018, Invasion of Privacy was a game-changer. The record-breaking album received accolades and made Cardi B a global superstar within the hip-hop community. Fans would naturally expect a follow-up within a few years. And yet, here we are in 2025, and the album is nowhere to be found.

In 2022, Cardi hinted at including her hit songs WAP and Up on the new album. She later guaranteed fans the record would be finished in 2024.

“Until I have the album ready, I’m not going home,”

She told Rolling Stone that she seemed to be entering the end stages, and Bardigang hoped 2024 would be the year.

The latest wave of backlash stems from Cardi’s conflicting statements regarding her album’s status. In early 2024, she assured fans that the album was nearing completion and even hinted at a release later in the year. However, following a heated interaction with fans online in May, she abruptly declared:

“No album this year, I don’t care. I’m relaxing.”

This sudden shift left fans in shock. Just days before, she had spoken about putting the finishing touches on the album and crafting the perfect intro. The inconsistency in her messaging has made it difficult for fans to trust any new announcements. Cardi later deleted her post to confuse matters, and her team reassured Rolling Stone that a 2024 album was still in the works. This back-and-forth has only fueled speculation and frustration among Bardigang.

While fans may feel left in the dark, Cardi has shared glimpses of her creative process and the challenges of making music that feels right. She’s spoken about her perfectionist tendencies in past interviews, explaining that her mood often dictates her artistic direction.

“One day, I want my music to be played in the club. The next, I’m in my feelings and want to make something emotional. Then I hear a pop beat and think, ‘Maybe I should do something different.’ It’s hard to make an album when you feel like a different person every day,”

Cardi admitted in a past interview.

Beyond creative struggles, Cardi’s personal life has also contributed to the album’s delays. Over the past year, she’s gone through a public breakup, navigated motherhood, and experienced significant life transitions. In a raw Instagram Live session, she admitted,

“This has been the weirdest year of my life. I fell in love, fell out of love, got a divorce… everything has been moving too fast.”

With so much happening behind the scenes, it’s clear that the delay isn’t just about music—it’s about life.

By November, Cardi admitted that the album wouldn’t come until 2025.

“I know next year is going to be my f***ing year,”

she said during an Instagram Live session.

After years of waiting, the flip-flopping left fans feeling betrayed. Some fans believe that the delay isn’t entirely Cardi’s fault. There are whispers that her label might prioritize other artists, which could affect the timing of her album’s release. Industry insiders have speculated that Atlantic Records focuses on pop star Dua Lipa’s album, potentially sidelining Cardi’s project.

From Cardi’s perspective, the delay isn’t about laziness or disinterest—it’s about getting it right. She has spoken openly about her perfectionism, saying that her mood affects the kind of music she wants to make.

“One day I want a club banger, then I’m mad at my man and want to do a breakup song. Then I want to do pop,”

She said.

She also revealed she had recorded over 50 songs but wasn’t satisfied with them. For Cardi, releasing an album isn’t just about putting songs together—it’s about creating an experience that feels right.

Juggling her personal life, raising three kids, and managing a demanding career has made it difficult for Cardi to set a release date.

For many fans, the biggest issue isn’t just the wait—it’s the mixed messages. Some feel Cardi hasn’t been honest about where things stand. Give her one moment, and she’ll say she’s almost done. The next, she’s saying she doesn’t care about releasing an album this year. Then, her team says the album is still on track.

“It’s been seven years. At this point, say you don’t want to drop the album,” one fan commented on Twitter.

Despite the backlash, Cardi hasn’t backed down. She recently reacted to fans’ criticisms of her for celebrating streaming milestones instead of dropping music.

“This is a big accomplishment for me, and here comes Bardigang complaining… I hate that I start interacting with y’all again, and it bites me in the a**,”

She wrote.

Both parties’ frustrations reflect how transformed the artist-audience relationship is in the social media age. Gone are the days when the fans were updated through interviews and press statements. Now, the artist engages with his audience directly. It is a privilege when the audience feels near the artist through this. It also means every delay and change is criticized forthwith.

The real test will be whether the album—whenever it is released—is good enough to justify the hype. Everybody will forgive her if she delivers something good enough for the hype. Otherwise, the relationship between her and Bardigang may be further strained.