Cardi B Blocks Nicki Minaj From Charting Another No. 1 Hit – Forbes

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Host Cardi B attends the 2021 American Music Awards Red … [+] Carpet Roll-Out with Host Cardi B at L.A. LIVE on November 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
It’s no secret that Cardi B and Nicki Minaj do not have a friendly relationship. The two have been at odds for years now, and they occasionally take turns reigniting one of hip-hop’s most closely-watched beefs. This week, Cardi’s new single keeps Minaj from scoring another No. 1 on a Billboard chart that both artists have ruled before.
Cardi’s latest single “Like What (Freestyle)” launches at No. 1 on Billboard’s Rap Digital Song Sales chart. The tally focuses only on which rap tunes actually sold the most copies in the U.S. each week. That separates the list from other, more competitive rankings, such as the Hot Rap Songs, which tracks the most-consumed cuts in the genre.
“Like What (Freestyle)” starts its time on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart at No. 1 thanks to 11,535 copies sold, according to Luminate. That’s a hefty enough sum to make it not only the top-selling rap tune in the U.S., but one of the top performers when looking at all genres. The single debuts at No. 3 on the Digital Song Sales ranking at the same time.
As “Like What (Freestyle)” debuts atop the Rap Digital Song Sales chart, Cardi stops Minaj from earning yet another leader. That rapper doesn’t have something new to deliver to fans, but her fan base began buying some of her recent releases following the launch of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour earlier this month—and one of them almost became a winner.
Minaj’s “Pink Friday Girls” returns to the Rap Digital Song Sales chart, narrowly missing out on becoming a champion. The track reappears at No. 2 on the tally, a new high point for the cut. The song sold 8,789 copies in the past tracking period.
Minaj might not have claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s list of the bestselling rap tracks in the country, but she does manage a trio of top 10s. As “Pink Friday Girls” bolts to the runner-up rung, another hit from the rapper enters the top 10 as well. “Let Me Calm Down,” a collaboration with J. Cole, is back at No. 4. Further down on the list, “FTCU” re-enters at No. 9 after once peaking in first place.
“Like What (Freestyle)” is Cardi’s eleventh No. 1 single on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart. It also instantly becomes one of her 31 top 10s on the tally. Minaj has claimed twice as many leaders, and she’s sent 96 tunes into the highest tier on the tally.

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