Cardi B has opened up about why it took seven years to release her sophomore album, admitting that her perfectionist approach delayed the project.
Her debut record, Invasion of Privacy, arrived in 2018, and fans have long awaited the follow-up, Am I the Drama?, which is set to drop later this month. Speaking to Billboard, the rapper confessed that she held off because she wanted every track to be just right.
“I always knew that I was going to drop a second album, I just didn’t have a project well put together,” Cardi B said.
“My fans be like: ‘Oh, you should have put a project together when WAP and Up was out [in 2020 and 2021 respectively] but I only had four records that I liked. I didn’t have an album done around that time. I’m not the kind of person that’s going to lock in in two months and complete an album. I’m very picky with my music.”
The rapper revealed that she recorded around 60 songs before settling on the final cut, admitting that her constant indecision often worried her team.
“Every other day, I’m a different person, I change my mind [about everything]. My team is always like: ‘I hope you don’t change your mind about your songs.’ I’m like: ‘Nope. I’m settled’.”
Cardi B also explained that while she earns more from live shows than record sales, she was determined not to rush the release for financial gain.
“A lot of people say I got comfortable because I make money, but the most money I make is when I go and do shows … I could rush and put out music like it’s nothing and then pick up millions of dollars per show, but it’s not about that. I want the music to be great. I want it to be amazing.”
The upcoming Cardi B’s album will feature 23 tracks, including fan favorites WAP and Up, alongside her newer singles Outside and Imaginary Playerz, the latter of which samples Jay-Z’s 1997 classic Imaginary Player.
Am I the Drama? is scheduled for release on September 19.
