Cardi B and Kehlani’s “Safe” Makes VMA History With Best Hip-Hop Win
Cardi B and Kehlani have made MTV Video Music Awards history.
Their collaboration “Safe” won Best Hip-Hop at the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27, giving the two artists a major moment at the annual awards show in Los Angeles. Paramount’s official winners list confirms the victory.
The win is drawing renewed attention because “Safe” became the first all-female collaboration to win the Best Hip-Hop category at the VMAs. The possibility of that milestone was identified ahead of the ceremony, when Cardi B and Kehlani were listed as potential record-setters.
“Safe” Takes Best Hip-Hop
“Safe,” credited to Cardi B featuring Kehlani, faced a field that included some of the biggest names in contemporary hip-hop.
The nominees were Don Toliver’s “E85,” Drake’s “Janice STFU,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “LOVER GIRL,” Travis Scott’s “DUMBO” and Tyler, The Creator’s “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.”
Cardi B and Kehlani ultimately took the Moon Person for the category.
The official result was also reported by multiple outlets covering the September 27 ceremony, confirming that “Safe” was the Best Hip-Hop winner rather than simply a nominee.
Why Cardi B Is Trending Now
Cardi B is trending as attention turns to the biggest moments from the 2026 VMAs following the ceremony.
The awards show took place at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater and was hosted by Snoop Dogg. The night produced several major headlines, including Madonna being named Artist of the Year, Taylor Swift winning Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” and BTS taking Song of the Year for “Swim.”
Against that broader backdrop, Cardi B and Kehlani’s historic category win has become one of the ceremony’s notable talking points.
A Milestone for an All-Female Hip-Hop Collaboration
The historical significance of “Safe” comes from the combination of its performers and the category in which it won.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Action Network identified Cardi B and Kehlani as potential first-time record-setters if “Safe” won Best Hip-Hop, specifically noting that an all-female collaboration had not previously won the category.
That prediction became a confirmed milestone when the winners were announced.
It also gives Kehlani a second notable connection to the 2026 VMAs. She was separately nominated in Best R&B for “Folded,” while “Safe” represented her collaboration with Cardi B in Best Hip-Hop.
“Safe” Adds Another VMA Moment for Cardi B
For Cardi B, the Best Hip-Hop victory adds another VMA award to a career that has already included several wins at the ceremony.
This year’s result also places her in a category that included several major contemporary rap releases, making the win particularly notable within the show’s hip-hop field.
For Kehlani, meanwhile, the award adds a major VMA achievement to a night in which she appeared in two different competitive categories.
The attention around “Safe” is therefore not simply about another awards-show win. It is the combination of Cardi B, Kehlani, the Best Hip-Hop category and the first all-female collaboration milestone that has pushed the song back into the spotlight after the ceremony.
5 FAQs
1. Did Cardi B and Kehlani win Best Hip-Hop at the 2026 VMAs?
Yes. Cardi B featuring Kehlani won Best Hip-Hop for “Safe” at the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27.
2. What song won Best Hip-Hop at the 2026 VMAs?
“Safe” by Cardi B featuring Kehlani won the award.
3. Was “Safe” the first all-female collaboration to win Best Hip-Hop?
Yes. The 2026 victory marked the first time an all-female collaboration won the VMAs’ Best Hip-Hop category. The record-setting possibility was identified before the ceremony and became reality with the win.
4. Who did Cardi B and Kehlani beat for Best Hip-Hop?
The nominees included Don Toliver, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott and Tyler, The Creator.
5. When were the 2026 MTV VMAs held?
The 2026 MTV VMAs took place on September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
