Cardi B Names Keyshia Cole's Debut Her Greatest Album of All Time

Cardi B has named Keyshia Cole's debut album, The Way It Is, the greatest album of all time. She said so in a video segment for the New York Times T Magazine "Greats" feature, published on October 21, 2026. Billboard reported her remarks the same day.

In the segment, Cardi B said she first listened to the album when she was 13, and that she still listens to it at 33. She said every woman should hear it.

The Way It Is came out in July 2005. It debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, the weekly US album chart that ranks sales and streams. It has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade body whose certifications count shipments and sales, and it spent 64 weeks on the Billboard 200.

The album also produced three singles. "I Changed My Mind," produced by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, was one. "I Should Have Cheated" peaked at No. 31 on the Hot 100, the main US singles chart. "Love" peaked at No. 19 on the same chart.

Cardi B and Cole have not yet made music together, according to Billboard. The two had been linked to the same event. Billboard reported in late September that Cole, along with Spice and Malie Donn, was set to join Cardi B at BZR WKND Jamaica. Cardi B's representatives later said she would not perform there, and the statement covered her withdrawal from the event on October 18, 2026.

Cardi B's own week also included a first for her on NPR. She made her Tiny Desk Concert debut on Monday, October 19, 2026, performing with a live band.

For Cole, the album's 20th anniversary has been a year of its own. She headlined an arena tour of the U.S. and U.K. to mark the milestone. BET also marked the anniversary in a 2025 Instagram post, noting that 20 years had passed since the album's release.

Cardi B's pick puts a 2005 record back in front of a new audience. The rest is one artist's answer to a question that has no official scorecard.