My Absolute Favorite Looks who “Met” the Standard

Cardi B often faces criticism from hip hop fans who say she isn’t “iconic” because she only has one album. Yet, Lauryn Hill is widely considered a legend and she also only released one solo studio album. So why is Lauryn praised for her one project while Cardi is dismissed for the same? The answer lies in the double standards that Black women face in hip hop, especially when it comes to how success, artistry, and longevity are measured.

Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is undeniably one of the most respected albums in music history. It won five Grammys and remains influential decades later. But it’s important to remember: that was her only solo album. Still, Lauryn is celebrated as a cultural icon, a voice of a generation, and a symbol of Black excellence in music. No one discredits her legend status because of the number of albums she released.

On the other hand, Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and broke multiple records. Every song on the album went platinum. She made history as the first solo female rapper to top the Billboard 200 with a debut album in over 20 years. She’s had multiple #1 hits, major brand deals, and a powerful influence on pop culture and female rap. Despite all that, Cardi still faces criticism that she hasn’t “done enough” to be considered iconic. Her wins are constantly downplayed, and her image is often used against her.

The truth is, Cardi’s success challenges traditional expectations of what a female rapper should look like, sound like, and represent. She’s loud, unapologetic, and openly herself something that mainstream media and hip hop “purists” still struggle to respect, especially when it comes from a Black Latina woman from the Bronx. Meanwhile, Lauryn fits a more “respectable” image earthy, soulful, and seen as politically conscious. But both artists are necessary and valid in their own lanes.

We need to unpack why Lauryn’s artistry is seen as timeless while Cardi’s is seen as temporary. Is it really about the music or is it about how society wants Black women to behave, perform, and present themselves in public spaces? Lauryn and Cardi took very different paths, but the judgment Cardi receives shows how much work still needs to be done in terms of giving Black women in hip hop the respect they deserve without conditions.

Cardi B doesn’t need ten albums to be iconic. She already is and the numbers, the culture, and the people prove it. It’s time we stop moving the goalposts and start recognizing that multiple truths can exist. Lauryn is a legend. And so is Cardi.

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#Mised