The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for three consecutive weeks, making Cardi B the second female rapper to reach number one with a solo song, following Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.

[11] Cardi B became the first female rapper to have a solo single certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), when "Bodak Yellow" received the certification in 2021 for selling more than 10 million units in the country.

"[27] Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "On 'Bodak Yellow,' Cardi uses [her] voice to fill up the synthy, minimal beat, using all the track's open space to project personality everywhere.

"[28] USA Today wrote, "The track’s name is a reference to the Florida rapper Kodak Black, borrowing the distinctive cadences he used on his minor hit 'No Flockin'.."[29] The Washington Post editor Chris Richards said that the song did not need a hook because "every phrase she blurts has its own ticklish melody, its own whiplash rhythm.

"[30] Naming it the best song of the year, Pitchfork stated that it "emboldened many of the people—especially women of color—who were marginalized for the very things that anchor the Afro-Latina star's impenetrable pride.

[52] It later reached number two, behind American pop singer Taylor Swift's song "Look What You Made Me Do", in the issue dated September 23, 2017, before climbing to the top of the chart two weeks later.

[53] "Bodak Yellow" topped the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, making it the second solo hip-hop number-one single by a female artist in the chart's history, following American rapper Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.

Also the longest number one for a solo single by a female rapper at the time, the record has since been surpassed by Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" with seven weeks in 2019.

[12][13] Cardi B debuted the song live on June 15, 2017, at the Anti-Prom cruise hosted by NYC-based skate crew Brujas and designer label Gypsy Sport.

[66][67] She opened the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards with a medley of "Bartier Cardi", "Bodak Yellow", "No Limit", "MotorSport" and "Finesse (Remix)".

[70] The song features Cardi B rapping in Spanish and includes vocals from Dominican hip hop recording artist Messiah, who contributes a guest verse.

"[81] Another article from the magazine in 2019 stated "she left an indelible mark on the summer of 2017" as "sonically, and lyrically, no mainstream song had the same flare as 'Bodak Yellow'" during the season.

"[41] In El Paso Times, Dave Acosta opined that with the song's success Cardi B gave "a new voice" to Hispanics and women, further adding, "at a time when Hispanics of all nationalities are being targeted by various government and political entities and the war rages for women's equality in health care and employment, Cardi's opening line, "You can't (expletive) with me, if you wanted to", give us an anthem and a voice—one with a heavy accent.

[83] With memorable performances at Made in America and the VMAs, Cardi's flavorful club banger has undeniably taken the crown as hip-hop's song of the late summer.