Cardi B has explained why she defended her children amid her online feud with Nicki Minaj.

Last week, the I Like It rapper and Super Bass hitmaker exchanged a series of insults on X over the course of several days, even making comments about each other's kids.

Though the hip-hop stars later issued half-hearted apologies, in an interview for Paper magazine published on Tuesday, Cardi described how the messages reminded her just how far she is willing to go to protect her family.

"I feel like, definitely this week, my mother warrior came out. I was fighting for my kids. This week, I showed the world that I will get the most nasty about mine, and it was, it felt so weird, because I never had to get that nasty for my kids," she began, without making a specific reference to the Nicki fight. "But I did, and I really feel like a lioness. This has been one of the moments I got tested the most about being a parent. But it just goes to show me how strong I am, and it just goes to show me that it's like, 'Damn, I will really take it to hell for mines (sic).' Mentally, physically, anything. And I wouldn't care."

Cardi, real name Belcalis Almánzar, shares daughters Kulture, seven, Blossom, 13 months, and four-year-old son Wave with estranged husband Offset.

The music superstar is currently expecting her fourth child with boyfriend Stefon Diggs.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Cardi noted that she hopes all her children inherit her work ethic.

"It's almost like you have to hope that your kids have that work ethic in them, and I just pray that they do," the 33-year-old added. "It's gonna be a lot of prayers, because it's for them. I don't want one of them to feel they're behind their siblings. You just got to work and not think too much... just get out there and get in the paint and do it. Procrastination is what kills you. It's what slows you."