How Motherhood—and Milk Production—Inspired Cardi B’s Next Act

Cardi B doesn’t mince words. Whether she’s in court, on stage or on social media, the rapper is known for speaking her mind. So it’s no surprise the 33-year-old is sounding off in her signature way about motherhood.

Cardi lights up when she talks about her children, and is matter of fact when the conversation turns to advocating for other moms—especially ones figuring it out for the first time. “Every minute of the day there’s a new mom being born,” she tells Vogue.

I chatted with the superstar over Zoom, and she was even more relatable than I expected. She walked around her house with no makeup on; she paused our interview to answer her children’s questions; she shared how exhausted she was after being up all night with her 13-month-old daughter, Blossom, who is teething; at one point she even laid down in the bed. What mama hasn’t been there?

Cardi has been especially busy recently. Last month, she released her new album Am I the Drama? which topped the Billboard charts, making her the first female rapper to achieve such a feat with her first two records. She’s been promoting the album on the subway and in the streets. She even squeezed in some time to celebrate her birthday.

The soon-to-be mother of four has never shied away from sharing her life. Now, she’s using her platform to advocate for other women navigating sleep schedules, unsolicited advice, and the pressure to churn out perfectly packed lunches.

Announced today, the rapper is teaming up with infant formula company Bobbie to bring attention to major issues like maternal mortality and lack of paid leave—and to help give moms the confidence to choose whatever they want when it comes to feeding their babies. The partnership marks Cardi’s first time working with a baby brand, and she felt passionate about it after struggling with her milk production and experiencing postpartum depression.