Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the Bronx-born artiste said her career trajectory was the result of persistence and talent rather than industry manipulation.
“I was destined for this,” Cardi said, stressing that no record label signed her with the intention of dethroning another artiste. While she avoided naming Nicki Minaj directly, her remarks targeted a rumour that has shadowed her rise to fame.
The narrative gained momentum after a leaked clip of rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) surfaced, in which he alleged that Cardi was “a plant by the Illuminati” created to replace Minaj. The claim has since been amplified by fan debates and online rivalries between the artistes’ supporters.
Cardi rejected the idea of hidden agendas, saying competition and clashes are natural in the entertainment industry. “Sometimes people just don’t get along with each other,” she explained, urging fans not to frame every disagreement as sabotage.
Her history with Minaj remains one of the most publicized feuds in modern hip-hop. Tensions between the two reached a boiling point in 2018 during New York Fashion Week, when a confrontation escalated and Cardi was seen throwing a shoe at Minaj.
By addressing the speculation directly, Cardi appears keen to put the focus back on her artistry rather than the controversies surrounding her.