Cardi B teases emotional and "messy" sophomore album set for 2025 release

The long-awaited release of Cardi B's second studio album is scheduled for 2025. The new release will be her first actual full-length album since Invasion of Privacy, released in 2018. That first attempt was critically praised, won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, and shattered commercial records. The artist has approached her follow-up at a far more leisurely pace.

Why the wait for "messy"?

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In various interviews and social media appearances, Cardi B also commented on the project's constant delays. She cited instances in her personal life and creative decisions as major reasons for the delay.

In her opinion, she has put the album on hold and rewritten it multiple times, wishing to create something that reflects her current mindset and maturity, as she has matured over time.

"Messy" but emotional: What she actually said

Although Cardi B has yet to release an official album title or reveal a comprehensive track list, she did explain that the new music is coming from an "emotional place."

According to That Grape Juice.net, she said:

"I’ve been feeling so emotional lately, because I know next year is going to be my f-cking year. This has been the most weirdest year I have ever experienced. I don’t know what the f-ck happened this year, I can’t even tell you. […] I fell in love. Then fell out of love, then got a divorce…”

She continued:

"Next year, my album will be out, my secret businesses will be out. I can’t tell you what I’m working on. Hopefully next year I get me a little boyfriend. I’m hoe-less right now. I gotta get my sh-t together,” she relayed."

The content, she suggests, captures significant emotional changes in her life, including "falling in and out of love," going through a public divorce, and being a mother. Those experiences, she said, have had a profound influence on her songwriting and the tone of the album as a whole.

Album progress and track count

Cardi B recently announced that the album is about 75% done. She reported that she has recorded approximately 100 songs since starting the project, and that she will narrow that list down to a final selection of around 20 songs, nearly double the number of her debut album. That indicates an aggressive rollout, evidence of greater maturity and perhaps greater musical range than seen in her debut work.

What about features and collaborators?

Though no artists have been officially signed on the record, Cardi has said there will be "a lot of features" and even "surprises."

According to News18, she said:

"I have a lot of features. I’m working with artists, some that I have worked with before and some that I haven’t worked with before. I feel like it’s going to really, really surprise you all. And it’s such a vibe. I could tell you this—I’m 100 per cent confident with this album. I just don’t think what I got is out there,"

This leads us to believe there will be a diverse blend of sounds from traditional voices and possibly new ones. However, no names, styles, or producers have been announced publicly as of now. The final decisions are still pending as the project nears completion.

Singles paving the way

Though not formally declared as album tracks, Cardi B recently released "Like What (Freestyle)" and "Enough (Miami)," which have maintained her presence on the charts and in the cultural conversation.

These singles may be an indicator of where or how the new endeavor proceeds.

No title or release date yet

So far, in April 2025, Cardi B hasn't even announced the name of the album, the exact date of release, or the artwork. The rollout appears to be intentional. As she puts it, she doesn't want to rush the process and instead focuses on providing something that is wholly representative of her personal evolution as well as an artist.

The 2025 release of Cardi B's sophomore album is proving to be an extremely intimate and emotionally charged endeavor. While such specifics as title and guest spots remain under wraps, the artist has been openly discussing her songwriting process, personal demons, and emotional scope of the work.