In a dramatic escalation of one of hip-hop’s most storied rivalries, Nicki Minaj unleashed a blistering attack on Cardi B during a live episode of her Queen Radio podcast on August 25, 2025, accusing the Bronx rapper of being unfit for motherhood with the stinging remark, “She doesn’t deserve to be a mother!” The comment, delivered with Minaj’s trademark intensity, sent shockwaves through the music industry and ignited immediate outrage among fans and critics. But just seconds later, Cardi B fired back with a cryptic, nine-word challenge on Instagram Live that left social media in a frenzy: “Say it to my face, I dare you, queen.” The bold retort, dripping with defiance, set off a firestorm of reactions, with fans and commentators dissecting every word and reigniting debates about the long-simmering feud between the two rap titans.

The explosive exchange occurred during a highly publicized episode of Queen Radio, where Minaj, 42, was promoting her upcoming Pink Friday 3 album. Known for her unfiltered commentary, Minaj didn’t hold back, revisiting old grievances and targeting Cardi’s personal life. The motherhood jab was particularly pointed, referencing Cardi’s role as a mother to three children—Kulture, 7, Wave, 3, and a newborn daughter born in July 2025—with estranged husband Offset. Minaj claimed Cardi’s public persona and ongoing controversies, including her messy divorce proceedings, made her an unworthy parent. “You can’t raise kids while chasing clout and throwing shoes at parties,” Minaj said, alluding to their infamous 2018 New York Fashion Week altercation where Cardi threw a shoe at Minaj over alleged disses about her parenting. The remark was a calculated blow, tapping into a sensitive topic from their past feud, which has included diss tracks, social media spats, and accusations of sabotaging each other’s careers.

The internet erupted in response to Minaj’s attack. Her loyal fanbase, the Barbz, rallied behind her, flooding X with hashtags like #QueenNicki and #CardiAintFit, praising Minaj for “speaking facts.” Others, however, condemned the comment as cruel and personal, with one viral post reading, “Nicki going after Cardi’s motherhood is low. Nobody questions her parenting with Papa Bear.” Critics pointed out the hypocrisy, noting Minaj’s own public struggles as a mother to her son, born in 2020, and her defense against similar scrutiny. The backlash was swift, with many accusing Minaj of crossing a line by targeting Cardi’s children. “This isn’t rap beef anymore; it’s bullying,” one Instagram user commented, while another wrote, “Nicki’s obsessed with Cardi. Let her live!”

Cardi, 32, didn’t let the attack slide. Within minutes, she hopped on Instagram Live from her Los Angeles home, her signature energy on full display. Clad in a Skims robe and sipping a drink, she addressed Minaj’s comments with a fiery mix of sarcasm and challenge. “Say it to my face, I dare you, queen,” she said, pausing for effect as her eyes locked on the camera. The nine-word retort, delivered with a smirk, was both a callback to their 2018 confrontation and a gauntlet thrown down for a face-to-face showdown. Cardi continued, “You wanna talk about my kids? Come see me in the Bronx, not on no podcast. I’m a real mom—diapers, school runs, all that. What you know about it?” Her words electrified her fanbase, the Bardi Gang, who flooded social media with clips of the Live, hailing her as “untouchable” and “ready for war.”

The nine-word challenge—“Say it to my face, I dare you, queen”—became an instant viral moment, trending globally on X within hours. Fans memed the phrase, overlaying it on clips of Cardi’s iconic moments, like her Invasion of Privacy era or her recent Am I the Drama? album teaser. “Cardi just turned Nicki’s shade into a battle cry,” one tweet read, while another user posted, “That ‘queen’ was so shady. Cardi’s not playing!” The word “queen,” a nod to Minaj’s self-proclaimed title, was interpreted as both respect and a subtle dig, amplifying the drama. Some fans speculated Cardi was inviting a physical confrontation, while others saw it as a call for a rap battle, with one X post joking, “Cardi’s ready to drop a diss track in nine words or less.”

The feud’s latest chapter reignites a rivalry that began in 2017 when Cardi’s “Bodak Yellow” skyrocketed her to fame, challenging Minaj’s dominance as the leading female rapper. Tensions flared over collaborations like Migos’ “MotorSport,” where Minaj felt sidelined by Cardi’s label, and escalated with the 2018 Harper’s Bazaar Icons party brawl, where Cardi’s shoe-throwing outburst stemmed from Minaj allegedly liking a social media post questioning her parenting. Recent years have seen periods of uneasy truce, with both artists denying direct beef at times, but Minaj’s 2025 attack and Cardi’s swift response prove the bad blood remains. Cardi’s upcoming album, Am I the Drama?, set for release on September 19, 2025, has fueled speculation that she’s addressing the feud in her lyrics, especially after her single “Imaginary Playerz” sampled Jay-Z’s track with his approval, a move some saw as a flex over Minaj’s influence.

The motherhood angle has added a new layer of intensity. Cardi has been open about her parenting struggles, from sacrificing tour dates to stay with Kulture to navigating co-parenting with Offset amid their divorce. Her recent Instagram posts show her cradling her newborn while managing her older kids’ schedules, earning praise for her hands-on approach. Minaj’s comment, however, weaponized these efforts, echoing a 2018 W Magazine interview where Cardi revealed the feud boiled over when Minaj liked a post questioning her mothering skills. “I love my daughter. I’m a good-ass mom,” Cardi said then, a sentiment she echoed in her 2025 Live, emphasizing her dedication despite her high-profile career. Minaj, meanwhile, has faced her own parenting critiques, particularly over her husband Kenneth Petty’s legal issues, making her attack a risky move that invited accusations of projection.

Social media reactions reflect a deeply divided audience. The Bardi Gang celebrated Cardi’s clapback, with one X user writing, “Cardi’s nine words hit harder than Nicki’s whole discography.” Others criticized Minaj’s personal jab, with a viral post stating, “Going after someone’s kids is desperate. Nicki’s losing her edge.” The Barbz, however, defended Minaj’s critique, arguing she was calling out Cardi’s public behavior, not her actual parenting. “Nicki’s just saying what we all see—Cardi’s too messy to be a role model,” one fan tweeted. The debate spilled into celebrity circles, with artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat reportedly liking Cardi’s Live, while Minaj’s collaborators, like BIA and JT, posted cryptic emojis, hinting at their allegiance. Snoop Dogg, known for his commentary on hip-hop feuds, tweeted, “Let these queens shine, no need for this,” urging peace but fueling speculation about his stance.

The cultural impact of this clash extends beyond music. It’s reignited discussions about women in hip-hop, with some arguing the industry pits female rappers against each other, forcing them to compete for a single “queen” title. Cardi addressed this in her recent Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, saying, “They can’t stand me because I’m a senior in this game. They’re throwing shots instead of focusing on themselves.” Minaj, who has long claimed her throne, seems to view Cardi’s rise as a threat, a narrative fans have debated since 2017. The motherhood critique also sparked broader conversations about societal expectations of celebrity moms, with one X post noting, “Nicki and Cardi are both great moms. Why are we judging them like this?”

As the dust settles, the focus remains on Cardi’s challenge. Will Minaj respond on Queen Radio or with a new track? Fans are already speculating about a diss track from either side, with Pink Friday 3 and Am I the Drama? poised to escalate the battle. For now, Cardi’s nine words have given her the upper hand, turning Minaj’s attack into a moment of triumph. The internet is watching, waiting for the next move in this epic saga, proving that in the world of hip-hop, shade and swagger are never far apart.