Cardi B has spoken publicly for the first time about the viral social media exchanges that have consumed much of the past month and the way motherhood has shaped her response to them. In a new interview with Paper magazine, the Grammy-winning rapper addressed her recent disputes with Nicki Minaj and BIA, saying the experience tested her limits both as an artist and as a parent.

“This week I showed the world that I will get the most nasty about mine,” Cardi said. “I never had to get that nasty for my kids. But I did, and I really feel like a lioness. This has been one of the moments I got tested the most about being a parent. But it just goes to show me how strong I am. I will really take it to hell for mine, mentally, physically, anything.”

The tension between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj (a rivalry that has lingered since the early stages of Cardi’s career) reignited in late September following reports that Cardi’s new album Am I the Drama? debuted with record-breaking numbers for a female rap artist. Minaj disputed those reports in a string of now-deleted posts, claiming that the album’s sales were inflated by bundles and discounts.

Cardi, whose record opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, fired back on X, suggesting that Minaj should measure her success against peers from her own generation. “You been in the game like 16 years,” she wrote. “You need to compare yourself to your peers that started around your time, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake. Those are the numbers you need to be competing with.”

The exchange escalated quickly, with Minaj later making remarks about Cardi’s pregnancy and children. Cardi retaliated by insinuating that Minaj’s alleged substance use had impacted her own family life. The feud drew widespread attention before both sides appeared to pull back, though neither has issued a formal truce.

Cardi also reignited another rap feud - this time with BIA, through a diss verse on her song “Pretty & Petty.” On the track, she raps: “Name five BIA songs, gun pointin’ to your head,” and “They only book you when they can’t afford Coi [Leray].”

The line references BIA’s previous criticism of Cardi for allegedly copying her style. In a 2023 interview with The Breakfast Club, Cardi said she felt compelled to respond after BIA mentioned her children. “She did her little diss and it was trash,” Cardi recalled. “But when my kids grow up one day and they see that you mentioned them, they’re gonna ask me, ‘So what did you do?’ I’m not gonna say I stayed quiet. I’m gonna say, ‘You see how I handled it.’”

Beyond the controversies, Cardi told Paper that the backlash and scrutiny have strengthened her sense of identity as a mother. “It just reminded me that being a parent doesn’t mean you stop being human,” she said. “You just protect what matters most.”

Cardi is currently pregnant with her fourth child, her first with her boyfriend, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Speaking to CBS Mornings host Gayle King last month, the rapper described feeling “strong and powerful” while balancing pregnancy and work. “I feel like I’m in a good space,” she said. “I’m happy, and I’m proud that I’m doing all of this while creating a baby.”

Despite the recent turbulence, Am I the Drama? has been a major commercial success, earning Cardi her third consecutive No. 1 album and solidifying her standing as one of the most dominant voices in hip-hop. For now, she appears focused on her family but, as her comments suggest, she remains ready to defend herself and her children against any challenge.

“I’ve learned I’m tougher than I thought,” she told Paper. “And I’ve learned that when it comes to my kids, there’s no limit to how far I’ll go.”