Cardi B's Album Campaign: A Case Study in Hip-Hop Marketing at Howard University
Howard University is incorporating Cardi B's album campaign for "Am I The Drama?" into its curriculum, offering students a hands-on marketing lesson in the business of Hip-Hop. The Grammy-winning rapper's album strategy will be the focus of a new elective course at the Washington D.C. HBCU as part of its Hip-Hop studies minor. Created in partnership with Warner Music Group and presented by AllHipHop, the course will analyze how Cardi B's marketing tactics led to a successful debut and impactful promotional efforts. The class will explore the strategy behind the album's rollout and its commercial and cultural resonance, providing students with insights into unconventional promotion translating into measurable results. Scheduled for the Fall 2026 semester, the course will delve into the various aspects of Cardi B's album campaign, from the creative packaging strategies to the grassroots marketing tactics she employed to generate buzz and anticipation for the release. Cardi B's approach to promotion, including hosting pop-up activations and engaging directly with her audience through meet and greets, will serve as a case study for students to understand the dynamics of album marketing in the contemporary music industry. The course offers a unique opportunity for students to learn from a real-world example of successful album promotion and engagement with fans in the digital age.