Cardi B
Biography
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known professionally as Cardi B, was born on October 11, 1992, in New York City. She was raised in the Highbridge neighborhood of the South Bronx and is of Dominican and Trinidadian descent. Her stage name is a derivative of the rum brand Bacardi, a nickname she was given because her sister's name is Hennessy. In her youth, she was a member of the Bloods gang, a decision she has since said she would not encourage. To escape poverty and an abusive relationship, she began stripping at age 19, a job she credits with saving her.
Rise to Fame
Cardi B first gained popularity through her viral videos on social media platforms like Vine and Instagram. This internet fame led to her being cast on the VH1 reality television series "Love & Hip Hop: New York" in 2015, where she appeared for two seasons before leaving to pursue her music career. In 2016, she released her first mixtape, "Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1".
Music Career
Breakthrough with "Bodak Yellow"
In 2017, Cardi B signed with Atlantic Records and released her commercial debut single, "Bodak Yellow". The song became a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This made her the first female rapper to top the chart with a solo song since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
Invasion of Privacy and Grammy Win
Her debut studio album, "Invasion of Privacy," was released in April 2018 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album featured the number-one single "I Like It" with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, making her the first female rapper with multiple number-one songs on the Hot 100. In 2019, Cardi B made history as the first solo female rapper to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for "Invasion of Privacy". All tracks from the album have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA.
Continued Success
Since her debut album, Cardi B has released several successful singles, including "Up" and the controversial hit "WAP" with Megan Thee Stallion, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She holds the record for the female rapper with the most number-one singles (five) on the Billboard Hot 100. Her highly anticipated second studio album, "Am I the Drama?", is set to be released.
Personal Life and Ventures
Cardi B was married to rapper Offset, from the group Migos. They have three children together: a daughter named Kulture Kiari Cephus, a son named Wave Set Cephus, and a second daughter born in 2024. The couple has had a publicly tumultuous relationship, with Cardi B filing for divorce on two separate occasions. Beyond music, Cardi B has ventured into business, including a collaboration with Fashion Nova and a line of vodka-infused whipped cream called Whipshots. She has also announced plans for fashion and beauty lines.