And the Best Rap Performance GRAMMY goes to…

We'll have to wait until the 62nd GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26, 2020 to find out how the sentence will be completed, so, for now, let's revisit the talented artists and fire tracks that are currently nominated for Best Rap Performance. Take the poll below to pick who you think Recording Academy voters will select as the winner, and read on to learn a bit more about the songs and artists in the running, which include J. Cole, J.I.D., Bas, EARTHGANG, Young Nudy, DaBaby, Nipsey Hussle, Roddy Ricch, Hit-Boy, Offset and Cardi B.

Former 2012 Best New Artist nominee J. Cole has become one of the biggest names in hip-hop over the past decade, and with his talent-rich Dreamville Records imprint, is bringing many younger rappers up with him. This past January, the North Carolina legend released "MIDDLE CHILD," which would serve as a lead single to the Dreamville compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III, released later in the year, on July 5.

Not only is Cole up against himself in this category, as "Down Bad" is also nominated, he and the Dreamville squad are also up for Best Rap Album for Revenge of the Dreamers III.

Related: Find Out Who's Nominated For Best Rap Album | 2020 GRAMMY Awards

Following a series of mixtapes, first-time GRAMMY nominee DaBaby, also from North Carolina, released his debut studio album, Baby On Baby, this past March. It was indeed a huge year for the rising rapper, as not only was his album well-received, but he also saw viral success with its single, "Suge," and he was featured in XXL's 2019 Freshman Class. He also served up several high-profile features, including for remix versions of both Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" and Lil Nas X's "Panini."

"Suge," whose title is a reference to Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight, is also nominated for Best Rap Song, a songwriters' award.

"Down Bad" was released on June 12, 2019, one week after Revenge of the Dreamers III finally dropped, as its next single. As the album itself is a product of the collaboration of many artists, the majority who are signed to Cole's Dreamville label, this track is a shining example of both a solid rap posse cut and the collab-led album.

"Down Bad" features J.I.D., Bas, EARTHGANG—all of whom are on Dreamville, Young Nudy and Cole himself, who offers his flow to a bulk of the LP's 18 tracks.

Another Poll: Who Will Win Best Pop Vocal Album At The 2020 GRAMMYs?

"Racks In The Middle," was the last empowering single Nipsey Hussle released before we lost the Los Angeles icon this spring. The track features emerging L.A. rapper Roddy Ricch, another XXL Class Of 2019 inductee and GRAMMY-winning producer Hit-Boy. Like "Suge," "Racks In The Middle" is also both up for Best Rap Song.

The late, great Hussle is also up for a third nomination this year, for DJ Khaled's track "Higher," which also features vocals from John Legend and was released after Hussle's death. At the 61st GRAMMYs earlier this year, the hip-hop hero received his first GRAMMY nomination for his long-time-coming debut studio album, Victory Lap.

Hip-hop powercouple Offset and Cardi B slayed at the 2019 GRAMMYs this past February. Not only did they look fly on the red carpet, they shared a major moment onstage earlier this year when Cardi took home her first golden gramophone, for Best Rap Album for her 2018 killer debut studio album Invasion Of Privacy.

Later that month, Offset released his first solo album, FATHER OF 4, the final Migos' member to release their solo project. The album's second single, "Clout," features none other than Cardi B, who adds a big dose of bad b*h attitude to the track and music video.

Stay tuned to GRAMMY.com (sign up for our weekly newsletter digest above!), our social media channels (follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), YouTube page, to keep up on all things 2020 GRAMMYs. And don't forget to catch the big show live on CBS on Jan. 26, 2020.

Find Out Who Just Made History With Their GRAMMY Nominations: 2020 GRAMMYs By The Numbers

It's that time again! The 2023 Met Gala — one of the fashion bonanzas of the year — is in full force. And given that fashion has always been the yin to music's yang, GRAMMY winners and nominees were among the stars studding this glamorous, fashion-forward event.

Presented by gala co-chair Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue and global editorial director of Condé Nast, the Met Gala this year is co-chaired by Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer and three-time GRAMMY winner Dua Lipa.

GRAMMY winners and nominees as well as today’s leading artists in music are already setting the Met Gala red carpet on fire, with everyone from Dua Lipa, Phoebe Bridgers, Rita Ora, David Byrne, rising rap sensation Ice Spice, and more showing off their fierce fashion looks. Plus, Rihanna and her partner ASAP Rocky made a last-minute surprise arrival on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet, setting the fashion and music worlds ablaze.

This year's Met Gala celebrates the indelible legacy of the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld; the dress code is "In honor of Karl…")

Below, check out some of the most eye-catching red carpet fashion looks from music’s biggest stars at the 2023 Met Gala.

Rihanna attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Dua Lipa arrives for the 2023 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023, in New York | Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP

(L-R) Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish attend The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG23/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Bad Bunny attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Cardi B attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG23/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Doja Cat attends the 2023 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Lil Nas X attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG23/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Usher attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Sean "Diddy" Combs attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Phoebe Bridgers attends the 2023 Met Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Anitta attends the 2023 Met Gala the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Halle Bailey attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Kevin Mazur/MG23/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Janelle Monáe attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City | Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

2023 GRAMMYs Red Carpet Fashion Highlights: Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Doja Cat & More

Long before Jack Harlow was one of rap's buzziest stars, he was making music for his middle-school classmates. Even at just age 12, he knew the art of collaboration, teaming up with a friend to create his first album, and later creating a rap collective with other pals. Fast forward 13 years later, and he's teaming up with some of the biggest stars in the industry.

Harlow has counted several superstars as collaborators since signing with Atlantic Records in 2018; just the track list of his second album, 2022's Come Home the Kids Miss You, featured the likes of Drake, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell Williams. So when Harlow surprised fans with the announcement of his third studio album, Jackman, just days before its April 28 release, it was easy to assume he'd deliver more star-studded tracks. 

But upon the album's arrival, there was not a collaboration to be found. Based on Harlow opting to use his birth name as the title of his latest release, it's not all that surprising that he opted to take the no-features route this time around — and even without collaborators, he sounds more confident than ever.

Although Jackman didn't add to Harlow's reputable lineup of guest stars, he has quite the roster already, whether from his own projects or featuring on another artist's track. To celebrate Harlow's new music, GRAMMY.com revisits some of his most memorable collaborations so far.

DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne — "Whats Poppin" (Remix)

Harlow released six mixtapes and two EPs in the many years leading up to his breakthrough hit "Whats Poppin," the lead single off his debut studio album, 2020's Thats What They All Say. Though "Whats Poppin" certainly isn't the only of Harlow's raps to reflect on the joys of being rich and famous, his hard-hitting delivery on the new remix verse is a standout among the rest.

And with the help of DaBaby and Tory Lanez on the remix as well, the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 — an impressive feat for his first-ever entry on the chart. Not only did the song's commercial success put him on the map, but it nabbed Harlow his first GRAMMY nomination in 2021, for Best Rap Performance.

Drake — "Churchill Downs"

Named after Louisville's iconic racetrack, "Churchill Downs" is a heartfelt ode to Harlow's hometown; the music video was even filmed at the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Backed by a flute-driven beat, the standout track off Harlow's sophomore album, Come Home the Kids Miss You, is a perfect embodiment of his humble beginnings: "All that time in the kitchen finally panned out/ I put some flavor in a pot and took the bland out/ I know my grandpa would have a heart attack if I pulled a hunnid grand out," he raps.

Meanwhile, Drake's guest verse — which calls out the pitfalls of fame — is considered one of his best in recent years, likely due to the level of vulnerability the Canadian rapper is showing nearly two decades into his career.

The rags-to-riches tale resonated with fans and critics alike: "Churchill Downs" cracked the top 10 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and earned the pair a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rap Song in 2022.

Lil Nas X — "Industry Baby"

Lil Nas X recruited Harlow for his multi-platinum single "Industry Baby," a pulsing track laden with triumphant horns and braggadocious lyrics. Accompanied by a provocative music video where both rappers break out of prison while donning bright pink jumpsuits, the song strategically followed Lil Nas X's legal battle with Nike. But the Kentucky rapper's verse arguably steals the show with brow-raising bars, including "I sent her back to her boyfriend with my handprint on her a— cheek."

The boisterous tune helped Harlow earn his first of two No. 1s on the Hot 100; his second came in 2022 with his solo track "First Class."

Saweetie — "Tap In" (Remix)

Harlow was one of three rap stars Saweetie recruited for the remix of her Too Short-sampling single "Tap In," which also featured Post Malone and DaBaby.

While the SoCal rapper isn't shy about flaunting her physical attributes ("Lil' waist, fat a—") and being able to "bag a eight-figure n—," Harlow just seems happy to be there. "I just crossed over to Top 40/ I can't even say 'Whats poppin?' now 'cause it got corny," he spits before telling listeners that his verse for Saweetie got him "horny."

Big Sean — "Way Out"

A solid single choice following "Whats Poppin" and "Tyler Herro," Harlow and Big Sean's "Way Out" is as straightforward and braggadocious as it is club-ready. Just under three minutes in length, Sean's guest verse does not disappoint — it's packed with punchlines, such as "I'm anointed, I'm the boss/ I done came out of pocket so much/ You thought that I was disjointed."

Lil Wayne — "Poison"

Lil Wayne was no stranger to AutoTune before teaming up with Harlow, but some critics disapproved of his use of it on "Poison," a track from Come Home the Kids Miss You. Even so, his rhyme about stealing someone's girl is pretty iconic: "I might have to jack your b— 'cause I be on my Harlow sh—."

Despite what critics have to say, clearly Wayne enjoys working with Harlow — "Poison" marked their third collab, following the "Whats Poppin" remix and 2020 single "P— Talk" alongside City Girls and Quavo.

Pharrell Williams — "Movie Star"

On "Movie Star," Harlow ditches his humble persona to rap about enjoying the perks of his then-newfound superstardom: money, women, and designer clothes. "Can't imagine being you, ooh, I'd hate to be it / I'm done fakin' humble, actin' like I ain't conceited / 'Cause, b—, I am conceited," he declares on the track produced by the legendary Pharrell Williams, a true indicator that an artist has made it in the music industry.

After Williams adds some of his flair to the chorus, both stars trade off rhymes in the song's final verse. "But do it jiggle though?" Williams asks. Harlow's response? "I feel like the whole damn city know."

Justin Timberlake — "Parent Trap"

The dark side of fame theme resurfaces in "Parent Trap," a collaboration with Justin Timberlake, who lends his signature southern drawl to the chorus. "Every sky can't be blue/ It's hard to see when you're walkin' in the grey/ So many flights, look at how the time flew," he sings.

Though it may not quite measure up to Harlow's top-tier duet with Drake on "Churchill Downs," which tackles similar subject matter, the collab is a fitting one — Harlow referenced NSYNC in "Tyler Herro" just two years prior.

Eminem and Cordae — "Killer" (Remix)

In late 2020, Harlow told GQ that he "grew up listening to Eminem" and idolized him, so it must have been surreal and full-circle when he got to join forces with the 15-time GRAMMY-winning rapper a mere six months later.

Rising to the challenge, Harlow holds his own alongside Em and then-fellow newcomer Cordae, demonstrating strong lyrical wordplay — particularly with lines like "I'm eatin' pizza in Little Italy, damn, I used to hit Caesars."

Even alongside his biggest heroes, Harlow has proven his natural ability to command attention — and though it's just him on the mic on Jackman, he seems poised and ready to see who's next.

ReImagined: LAVI$H Offers A Soul-Stirring Performance Of Ed Sheeran's "The A Team"

It’s April and for the Southern California music scene that means one thing: It’s time for Coachella.

Over two consecutive weekends, April 14-16 and 21-23, the Empire Polo Club in Indio will welcome hundreds of thousands of attendees (not to mention all the people watching the live streams) for the 22nd edition of the festival. 

What is rather striking about this particular edition is that, at the time of writing, the event is not completely sold out; tickets to weekend two are still available. There is no way to discern exactly why there is still availability this year, but the lineup doesn’t seem to be the culprit. The 2023 Coachella lineup has massive mainstream appeal, as well as many up-and-coming acts.

The ever-elusive R&B star Frank Ocean will perform a headlining set as the speculation around a new album reaches critical mass. Bad Bunny, who was Spotify’s most streamed artist of 2022 and the record holder for the highest-grossing tour in history, will be headlining as well. From there, the festival features a slew of major pop acts like Charli XCX, Rosalía, and Metro Boomin’, as well as exciting surprises like the first-ever performance from the MySpace-era, alternative pop hero Jai Paul.

In addition to the names in big text, the Coachella lineup boasts something for everyone  further down the roster. Artists performing in jazz, electronic, reggae, indie, rap, and many more genres promise to offer equally exciting sets. Check out 10 buzzing artists who may be in small print, but are sure to make a big impact this year.

Jupiter & Okwess

Kick off Coachella with sounds from Africa, brought to you by Jupiter & Okwess. Hailing from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jupiter Bokondji and his band Okwess will bring the sound he’s delineated as "Bofenia Rock" to the festival on Friday.

"Bofenia" refers to a dance Bokondji’s grandmother performed in healing ceremonies in the DRC. However, in recent years, he has demonstrated a commitment to integrating music of different cultures into his repertoire. In 2022 Jupiter & Okwess shared two EPs entitled Brazil is my land and Mexico is my land, respectively, wherein artists from those nations remixed music from the most recent Jupiter & Okwess album, 2021’s Na Kozonga. 

With such a diverse catalog, there’s no telling where in the world this set will take the people of Coachella.

Yves Tumor

With his latest album, Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds), still hot off the presses, Yves Tumor is coming back to Coachella several lines higher than his last appearance in 2019.

On this new LP, the Warp Records mainstay continues his foray into the alternative. "Ebony Eye" is an exploration in grand soul with an orchestral break laid against vocal tones of longing. "Meteora Blues" goes into alt-rock with the kind of emotional highs and lows that match the reference to Linkin Park’s sophomore album.

Yves Tumor held an overlapping time slot with headliner Childish Gambino in 2019, reserving his set for the heads who gravitate away from the main stage. This year, he’ll likely have a more coveted and, hopefully, less conflicting, set time. 

EARTHGANG

2022 was massive for the Atlanta-based rap duo EARTHGANG: They released their second album, GHETTO GODS, went out on a 30-plus date North American tour, and were set to tour Europe. Their Euro tour was postponed to 2023 — but for good reason. 

The group was "bit by the creative bug," and they will have "new energy" when they’re back on the road. Coachella's desert crowd will get the first taste of this "new energy," and hopefully some new material, before EARTHGANG heads to Europe with JID this summer. 

The Comet Is Coming

After being booked on Coachella’s doomed 2020 lineup, modern jazz trio The Comet Is Coming are locked in for their debut performance. Like previous jazz acts that had space at the mainstream mecca — among them, electro-swing purveyor Parov Stelar and the hip-hop heavy trio BADBADNOTGOOD —  TCIC showcase a new age understanding of jazz. 

The three members all play specific instruments, but their titles in the band are expanded to an existential scale: Betamax the intuitionist, Shabaka the spiritual riffologist, Danalogue the studio magician. These unconventional titles feed the sound of their 2022 LP, Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam. Songs like "ANGEL OF DARKNESS" feature the instrumental elements for which jazz is known, but are presented over experimental soundscapes like choral cacophonies.

Whyte Fang

Coachella has long been the place for debuts. Daft Punk debuted their now-famous pyramid show in 2006; Richie Hawtin did the first-ever CLOSE show in 2017; Swedish House Mafia made their return to the festival stage after a five-year hiatus at Coachella 2022. In 2023, Alison Wonderland will make her festival debut as Whyte Fang.

Though Alison Wonderland (real name Alexandra Sholler) has performed as Whyte Fang twice before, her Coachella set will be the first with full-fledged festival production. The Coachella show will coincide with the release of the project’s debut album, Genesis, out on the Friday of weekend one.

Sholler’s music as Alison Wonderland is intricate in nature given her experience as a singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Whyte Fang channels her widespread talent and takes it into a darker presentation. Such a shift can be heard on the album’s singles like the title track, which combines haunting pop vocals with a ghostly deep techno drop. 

2manydjs

After rocking the house with their hybrid live-electronic band Soulwax in 2018, David and Stephen Dewaele return to Coachella as their brothers-only project, 2manydjs.

As 2manydjs, despite the on-the-nose name, the Dewaeles will not perform a traditional DJ set. They have a live show that integrates a carefully crafted journey largely consisting of their lauded remixes of celebrated artists. In 2022 alone they remixed tracks from artists including Oliver Sim, Wet Leg, and Peggy Gou into funky electro hitters primed for aCoachella set.

And those who want to see the brothers go into pure DJing can visit Despacio at Coachella all weekend long. Despacio is the custom sound system they designed with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. 

Ethel Cain

Hayden Silas Anhedönia has been telling the story of her alter-ego since 2019. Ethel Cain is a version of herself that represents emotions towards her restrictive Southern upbringing, and Ethel's story was first outlined on  the singer/songwriter's 2022 debut album, Preacher’s Daughter.

The enthralling record employed diverse soundscapes to its relatable and utterly dark subject matter. Songs like "American Teenager" paired adolescent dread with indie-rock guitar chords, while "August Underground" is a full-fledged ambient composition. Though it has no words, the grueling sounds of the latter are meant to represent the emotions surrounding Ethel’s murder at the hands of her lover.

How Anhedönia will bring such a harrowing tale to life at Coachella will surely be a sight to behold.

Snail Mail

Lindsey Jordan, who writes and performs under the name Snail Mail, was another artist set to make her return to Coachella in 2020 before…well, you know. 

That performance was to be ahead of her 2021 sophomore album Valentine. Since touring has reopened, Jordan has taken her new batch of songs all over the world, performing 102 shows in 2022 alone.

In 2023 she is bringing songs like the indie power ballad "Valentine" and the heavy beats of "Ben Franklin" to Indio. 

Elyanna

This year Coachella is standing up for diversity. All three headliners are minorities with the first-ever headlining slot from both a Latin artist (Bad Bunny) and an AAPI artist (BLACKPINK). This year’s lineup also includes Elyanna, who will be the first artist in the history of Coachella to perform her set in Arabic.

The Palestinian-Chilean artist released her second EP, Elyanna 2, in March of 2022. Across the seven tracks, she visits various different sounds in the popular music sphere; opener "Ghareeb Alay" is a lowdown reggae tune, while the piano ballad "Al Kawn Janni Maak" sees her voice soar to the sky. 

Coachella lineups have the power to predicate listening trends. Perhaps this booking will lead to wider acceptance of Arabic artists on mainstream stages in years to come.

DJ Pee Wee

On Anderson .Paak’s Instagram account, his bio now reads: "Moving my talents towards Dj & film!" Attendees during the first weekend of Coachella will have a chance to enjoy .Paak’s DJ talents at the Heineken House, where he will spin an all-vinyl set as DJ Pee Wee.

Across his solo albums and his GRAMMY-winning work with Bruno Mars as Silk Sonic, .Paak has demonstrated his mastery of funk, soul, hip hop, and various other genres, all of which he will likely combine in his DJ set.  (Given .Paak will be on site, it’s also likely he will make a guest appearance with his collaborators and label signees, DOMi & JD Beck, during their set on Friday.

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By the time Cardi B released her debut album on April 6, 2018, there was no denying that she was rap's biggest and boldest new star.

The rapper's fearlessness placed her at the head of her rap class — and on top of the charts — with 2017's history-making hit, "Bodak Yellow." But after she released her first album, Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B didn't just solidify herself as a superstar — she issued one of the most unforgettable rap albums of her generation. 

Not only was Invasion of Privacy an audacious middle finger to those who denied Cardi's talent, but its versatility reflected a new era in millennial rap. Cardi's magnetic personality — a combination of tongue-wagging sexuality, unfiltered opinions and sheer silliness — shined across all 13 tracks. With that, Invasion of Privacy declared Cardi as the ringleader of rap's next class — one who wasn't afraid to make her own rules.

Cardi's rap aspirations were first introduced in 2015, when she joined the cast of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York; her audacious hometown pride and an undeniably hilarious personality captured the attention of millions. Though she branded herself as a "regular-degular-shmegular girl from the Bronx," it was clear she had her sights set on superstardom.

Initially, many people held her stripper background against her, with diehard rap fans (and even her Love & Hip Hop: New York castmates) insinuating that she was solely meant for the pole and not the studio. Yet, Cardi used her humble beginnings to her advantage, colorfully sharing booty-shaking tales on Instagram and foreshadowing the confidence she conveys on Invasion of Privacy. Her retable humor turned her into a viral social media maven and the growing attention — whether you loved or hated her — was the fuel she needed to ignite her music career.

Cardi B spun her stripping roots into gold (well, Platinum, in Invasion of Privacy's case — but more on that later). She dropped her first mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 in 2016, which featured the colloquialism and commanding delivery that has become her signature. Upon dropping Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2 a year later, Cardi made it known that she was aware of her haters' disdain — and the fact that she was on her way to mainstream success. "They ain't like me before, now they bookin' me/ The glow got b—es so shook at me," she spits on "Lick," a Vol. 2 track with future husband Offset.

It didn't take long for the industry to notice the mixtapes' viral dominance: Atlantic Records signed Cardi B just one month following the release of Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2. Her major-label debut single, "Bodak Yellow," arrived that June, almost instantly catapulting Cardi from beloved reality show personality to rap's breakthrough star. And she confidently walked those "bloody shoes" into history: Cardi B became the second female rapper to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 with a solo song.

As the anticipation for her debut album surged following the success of "Bodak Yellow" (as well as other hits alongside the likes of Migos and Bruno Mars), Cardi's rise earned her the title of "hood Cinderella" — and Invasion of Privacy perfectly captures her rags-to-riches story. The album encapsulates the same humility that initially made her a viral star, detailing the hard work she put in to finally secure a record deal. As she put it on a track called "Best Life," "This some real-life fairy tale Binderella s—."

While songs like "Bodak Yellow" and album opener "Get Up 10" show that Cardi hadn't lost sight of the explosive assertiveness she brought with her independent releases, Invasion of Privacy as a whole was a shift from her more hardcore mixtapes. But that only paid off: Some of the album's most impactful tracks are also her most vulnerable moments, whether it's her raw crooning in "Be Careful," revealing self-doubt in the Kehlani- assisted "Ring," or detailing her trust issues in "Thru Your Phone."

For every heartfelt moment on the album, there are still plenty to remind you of the rapper's Bronx-born swagger. She and SZA take turns slicing through enemies on "I Do" and Cardi flips Project Pat's misogynistic 2001 "Chickenhead" single on the feminist anthem "Bickenhead." Her ferocity came through in her performances, too: During her Coachella debut in 2018, she performed her entire set pregnant, even twerking during album cut "She Bad."

Just three days before Cardi gave birth in 2018, she scored her second No. 1 from Invasion of Privacy with "I Like It," a modern-day version of boogaloo with club-banging trap beats — an undeniably danceable homage to her hometown and her Dominican-Trinidadian heritage. Featuring reggaeton stars J Balvin and Bad Bunny, "I Like It" added another layer to Invasion of Privacy's impact, as it helped amplify Latin music's global breakthrough while also solidifying Cardi as a versatile mainstream star.

That's exactly the magic of Invasion of Privacy: Cardi B broke barriers by simply saying "what you see is what you get." Her tenacity resonated with fans and critics alike, leading Cardi to another history-making feat in 2019, this time on the GRAMMY stage: Invasion of Privacy won Best Rap Album, marking the first win by a solo female rapper. (Even four years after its release, Invasion of Privacy was still making history, becoming the first album by a female artist to have all of its tracks certified Platinum — or higher — by the RIAA in March 2022.)

Invasion of Privacy's legacy isn't just felt in the accolades, either. Cardi's unabashed authenticity helped open the doors for a new generation of women rappers, from Latto and Ice Spice to Saweetie and Megan Thee Stallion — the latter of whom Cardi recruited for 2020's "WAP," now one of the biggest hits of her career.

Five years after Invasion of Privacy's release, Cardi B still has fans eagerly awaiting its follow-up. And although she has released a number of one-off singles and collabs with several artists (including Lizzo and Rosalía), the anticipation for another album shows just how impactful Invasion of Privacy was for both Cardi and mainstream rap. 

Whether she was letting her Bronx-born tone and Caribbean heritage shine, or unapologetically championing explicit women in rap, Cardi knew the secret formula to stardom was to remain her authentic self — even if some couldn't see it.

"My little 15 minutes lasted long as hell, huh?" she boasts on album closer "I Do." Thanks to Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B's hood Cinderella story is only just beginning. 

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