Two years ago today Cardi B dropped her Grammy award winning, critically acclaimed debut album & forever changed female rap.

Here is an examination of the impact the era had on female rappers, the music industry and pop culture (a thread): #2YearsofIOP

ALBUM RELEASE: On March 26th, 2018 Cardi announced that her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, was to be released on April 6th, 2018.

The track list was not revealed until the album was released.

“Invasion of Privacy” shocked the world, garnering rave reviews from music critics and fans alike. The album earned a Metacritic score of 84, indicating universal acclaim.

The album would debut at #1 & sell 255,000 units (105,000 pure) in its first week.

Since it’s release 2 years ago, the album has broken multiple records. Here are some of the many records below (via @RapChartss).

Named Album of the Year by TIME Magazine and Rolling Stone in 2018, “Invasion of Privacy” would prove to be a sales juggernaut, selling an estimated 7.5 MILLION units worldwide & earning 9 certifications around the world, the most EVER for a debut female rap album this century.

In the United States, “Invasion of Privacy” is the 5th highest certified era of ALL TIME for a female artist with 34 MILLION RIAA units.

SINGLES: The “Invasion of Privacy” era had a total of 5 official singles & one promotional single: Bodak Yellow, Bartier Cardi, Be Careful, I Like It, Ring & Drip. Each song is either certified or eligible for multi-platinum status.

The album’s first single was Cardi’s major label debut single “Bodak Yellow”. Released on June 16th, 2017 the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #85.

The song would peak at #1, becoming the first solo female rap song to go #1 since Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998.

“Bodak Yellow” would go to spend 35 weeks on Billboard and was nominated for 2 Grammys. The song would win an AMA award, a Soul Train Award, a BET award & a BET Hip-Hop award.

Before No Limit reached its peak on the Hot 100, Cardi would be featured on Juicy J’s “Karmasutra”, Phresher’s “Right Now” & Quality Control’s “Um Yea” with Offset. The features would help Cardi build her status as a certified hit maker.

On October 27th, 2017 “MotorSport” was released the lead single for The Migos’ sophomore album. The song would peak at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 & become certified 3x platinum in the US.

After the success of “Bodak Yellow”, anticipation mounted for Cardi’s second single.

On December 22nd, 2017 Cardi dropped her follow up single “Bartier Cardi”. The song would peak at #14 in the US, reach the top 20 in Canada, top 40 in the UK and be certified 3x plat in the US.

On that same day, Cardi would showcase her crossover ability by costarring in Ozuna’s new single “La Modelo”. Pitchfork praised the song saying “the song highlights why Cardi is so important to pop this year.”

The song peaked at #52 in the US and is eligible for 3x platinum.

Due to the success of ‘Bodak Yellow’, along with her features on ‘No Limit’ & ‘MotorSport’, Cardi would make Billboard history becoming the FIRST female rapper, and second overall, to have their first 3 billboard entries remain in the top 10 simultaneously.

Around the same time, Bruno Mars announced Cardi would be on the remix to his song “Finesse”. The song & video were released on January 4th, 2018.

The song would peak at #3 in the US & be certified 4x platinum. The duo would also perform the song at the Grammys.

After announcing the release date of her debut album, Cardi would release the third single “Be Careful” on March 29th, 2018.

The song initially received criticism for its new sound but would ultimately become a fan favorite, be nominated for a Grammy & certified 2x plat.

Before the release of IOP, Cardi would release the album’s promotional single “Drip”. The song would peak at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sell over 2 million units in the US.

It is the best selling & highest charting promo single for a female rapper in history.

After the release of IOP “I Like It”, which features Latin superstars Bad Bunny & J Balvin, debuted at #8. The song became Cardi’s biggest hit as a lead artist worldwide.

“I Like It” would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is eligible for DIAMOND in the US.

“I Like It” made Cardi the FIRST female rapper in HISTORY to have multiple #1 songs.

The song was nominated for ROTY at the 2019 Grammys while winning “Summer Song of the Year” at the 2019 VMAs & “Top Rap Song” at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

The album’s 5th and final official single “Ring” was released to Urban and Rhythmic radio on August 28th, 2018. The song initially peaked at #28 upon IOP’s release & is eligible for 3x platinum in the US.

Less than two months after “Ring” was announced as a single, Cardi would take to Instagram to announce the release of a brand new song “Money”.

The song was originally meant for the deluxe version of IOP but has sense been declared a stand alone single.

Despite being leaked on October 23rd, 2018, 3 days before originally planned, “Money” would peak at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sell over 5 MILLION units in the US.

The song won multiple awards including a Soul Train award, a VMA & BET award.

FASHION: During the IOP era Cardi went from fashion unknown to the being hailed as a fashion icon by Vogue Magazine.
: Michael Loccisano

At NYFW 2017, all eyes were on Cardi. With the help of her stylist Kollin Carter, Cardi caught the attention of the fashion world and was beginning to be seen as a fashion girl.
: Getty Images

Cardi’s status as a fashion girl increased dramatically when she was given the honor of sitting next to Anna Wintour at Alexander Wang’s Spring 2018 NYFW show.
: David X Prutting/BFA/REX/Shutterstock

After the show, Cardi spoke briefly to E News about sitting next to the Editor-In-Chief of Vogue with hopes that one day she would be on the cover.
: E News

Around the same time, Cardi would land her first high fashion cover with CR Fashion Book.

The magazine is ran and owned by the former Editor-In-Chief of Vogue Paris Carine Roitfeld.

Within the same month, Cardi’s cover for I-D magazine would be released. Cardi’s power as a fashion staple was becoming solidified.
: Oliver Hadlee Pearch

After the release of her debut album & the birth of her daughter, Cardi would make a full return to NYFW & PFW in 2018.

Sitting front row at Tom Ford & Jeremy Scott, Dolce & Gabbana and Mugler Cardi would prove to be the new fashion IT girl.
: Shutterstock, Getty

Although many believed that Cardi’s fashion brand was in jeopardy of never recovering after her Harper’s Bazaar incident, Cardi would prove them wrong selling out her Tom Ford lipstick in less than 24 hours, meer days after the altercation.

Cardi’s influence and impact reached a new peak in Fall 2018.

In November 2018, Cardi launched her first collection with Fashion Nova. The line SOLD OUT in 3 hours despite being released at 12am EST. The collection also helped FN become the #1 googled fashion brand in 2018.

Cardi’s power in fashion only grew in 2019 when she wore multiple archived Mugler looks to the 61st Grammy Awards. Only Beyoncé and Lady Gaga had been given the honor before.

After that night, Cardi was seen as a fashion icon.
: Getty Images for Recording Academy

In May 2019, Cardi would release her second Fashion Nova collection. The collection would gross $1M dollars in its first 24 hours.

Perhaps the biggest and most influential moment of Cardi’s fashion career came at the 2019 Met Gala where she wore a custom Thom Browne design.

Cardi’s 2019 Met Gala look was praised by Anna Wintour and throughout the fashion world. The dress ultimately changed Anna’s opinions about Cardi’s style.

3 months after the Met Gala, Cardi was announced as one of the keynote speakers for Vogue’s annual #ForcesOfFashion conference. It marked just the second time a female artist was asked by Anna Wintour to speak at the conference.
: Corey Tenold

A week prior to the conference, Cardi would sit next to Anna Wintour twice during Paris Fashion Week 2019: at Thom Browne & Chanel.

: Pierre Suu/Getty

During 2019 PFW, it became apparent that Cardi’s power as a fashion icon was undeniable. Cardi’s Instagram post of her head-to-toe floral outfit proved to be the most lucrative post of the whole week, beating out luxury brands & showing just how influential she is.

In addition to fashion weeks and her Fashion Nova lines, Cardi’s influenced and selling power has earned her multi-million dollar campaigns with Reebok, Pepsi & Steve Madden.
: Reebok/Steve Madden

In December 2019 it was announced that Cardi & Kulture would be 1 of 4 cover stars for American Vogue’s “Fashion Values” January 2020 cover.

Cardi once again made history, becoming the 1st female rapper to appear on the US, & most coveted, edition.
: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue