Cardi B Addresses Industry Plant Rumors Amid Nicki Minaj Album Tease

Cardi B is denying the years-long rumor that she's an industry operation meant to disrupt the hip hop status quo ... especially considering she infamously encroached on Nicki Minaj's hip hop reign.

The "I Like It" superstar addressed the rumor on Wednesday's "Call Her Daddy" episode, saying she was "destined" to be a famous rapper -- and no one signed her to take down someone else.

She never mentioned Nicki's name, but her meaning was clear ... the gossip has been swirling for years, ever since Ye claimed in a leaked clip that she was "a plant by the Illuminati" who replaced Nicki on purpose.

Cardi did, however, address her clashes within the industry ... noting "sometimes people just don't get along with each other" ... and that doesn't mean she's there to step all over someone's career.

As you know, Cardi and the "Starships" singer have a well-documented beef that boiled over at a 2018 New York Fashion Week event when Cardi threw a shoe at her.

And on her latest album "Am I The Drama," she goes hard at BIA, JT and even her estranged husband Offset for wronging her in the past.

Now that Cardi has officially addressed the rumor, perhaps folks will move on ... but we have a feeling the responses will be piling on shortly.