Cardi B

Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar (born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and television personality.[2]Born and raised in The Bronx, New York City, she first attracted attention for discussing her career as a stripper on social media; she became an Internet celebrity after several of her posts and videos went viral on Vine and Instagram.[3] From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York to follow her music aspirations, and released two mixtapes—Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.[4]

Cardi B has earned three number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100; "Bodak Yellow" made her the second female rapper to top the chart with a solo output—following Lauryn Hill in 1998, "I Like It" made her the first female rapper to attain multiple number-one songs on the chart, and her Maroon 5collaboration "Girls Like You" extended that record.[5] Released through Atlantic Records, her critically acclaimed debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018), on which the first two songs were included, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and broke several streaming records.[6][7] That year, Time included her on their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[8]

Among her numerous accolades, she has received seven Grammy Awardnominations, three American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, nine BET Hip Hop Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.

Early life
Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar was born on October 11, 1992 in The Bronx borough of New York City to a Dominican father and Trinidadian mother.[9][10] She was raised in the Highbridge neighborhood of the South Bronx,[11][12][13][14] and spent much time at her paternal grandmother's home in Washington Heights, which she credits with giving her "such a thick […] accent."[15] Almánzar developed the stage name "Cardi B" as a shortened form of Bacardi, a rum brand by which people used to call her.[16] As a youth, Cardi B was a member of the Bloods, and has said she was a gang member since the age of 16.[17][18] She went on to attend Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High School campus.[19][20]

During her teenage years, Cardi B was employed at a supermarket in Lower Manhattan, which was the last job that she held before turning to stripping at the age of 19.[21][22] Upon being fired from the supermarket, her former manager recommended she work at a strip club. She has said she became a stripper to escape poverty and domestic violence, having been in an abusive relationship at the time.[23] Cardi B has also said becoming a stripper was positive for her life in many ways: "It really saved me from a lot of things. When I started stripping I went back to school."[24][25][26] She says stripping was her only way out, a way to earn enough money to escape her dire situation and get an education. She attended Borough of Manhattan Community College[27] before eventually dropping out.[28]

In 2013, Cardi B began to gain publicity due to several of her videos going viralon social media, on Vine and her official Instagram page.[3]

2015–2017: Career beginnings and breakthrough
In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, debuting in season six.[29] She is considered the breakout star of the show's sixth season.[30] The sixth and seventh seasons chronicle her rise to stardom and her turbulent relationship with her incarcerated fiancé. On December 30, 2016, after two seasons, she announced that she would be leaving the show to further pursue a career in music.[31]

In November 2015, Cardi B made her musical debut on Jamaican reggae fusionsinger Shaggy's remix to his single "Boom Boom", alongside fellow Jamaican dancehall singer Popcaan.[32] She made her music video debut on December 15, 2015, with the song "Cheap Ass Weave", her rendition of English rapper Lady Leshurr's "Queen's Speech 4".[33][34] On March 7, 2016, Cardi B released her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.[35][36] In November 2016, she was featured on the digital cover of Vibe magazine's "Viva" issue.[37][38] On September 12, 2016, KSR Group released the compilationUnderestimated: The Album, which is a collaboration between KSR Group artists Cardi B, Hood Celebrityy, SwiftOnDemand, Cashflow Harlem, and Josh X. It was previously released only to attendees of their U.S. tour. KSR Group's flagship artist Cardi B said "I wanted to make a song that would make girls dance, twerkand at the same time encourage them to go get that Shmoney," in regard to the compilation's single "What a Girl Likes".[39]

She appeared on the December 9, 2015 episode of Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne.[40][41] On April 6, 2016, she was on the twelfth episode of Khloé Kardashian's Kocktails with Khloé: In it, she revealed how she told her mother that she was a stripper.[42][43] In November 2016, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of the BET series Being Mary Jane. TVLine describes her character, Mercedes, as a "round-the-way beauty with a big weave, big boobs and a big booty to match her oversized, ratchet personality."[44][45][46]

On January 20, 2017, Cardi B released her second mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2.[47][48] In February 2017, Cardi B partnered with MAC Cosmetics and Rio Uribe's Gypsy Sport for an event for New York Fashion Week.[49] In late February, it was reported that Cardi B signed her first major record label recording contract with Atlantic Records.[50][51] On February 25, 2017, Cardi B was the opening act for East Coast hip hop group The Lox's Filthy America... It's Beautiful Tour, alongside fellow New York City-based rappers Lil' Kim and Remy Ma.[52][53] In April 2017, she was featured in i-D's "A-Z of Music" video sponsored by Marc Jacobs.[54] Cardi also guest-starred on the celebrity panel show Hip Hop Squares, appearing on the March 13 and April 3, 2017 episodes.[55][56]

In May 2017, the nominees for the 2017 BET Awards were announced, revealing that Cardi B had been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, tying with DJ Khaled and Kendrick Lamar for the most nominations with nine.[57][58] Although she failed to win any awards, losing to Chance the Rapperand Remy Ma, respectively, Cardi B performed at the BET Awards afterpartyshow.[59][60] On June 11 2017, during Hot 97's annual Summer Jam music festival, Remy Ma brought out Cardi B, along with The Lady of Rage, MC Lyte, Young M.A, Monie Love, Lil' Kim and Queen Latifah, to celebrate female rappers and perform Latifah's 1993 hit single "U.N.I.T.Y." about female empowerment.[61][62] In June 2017, it was revealed that Cardi B would be on the cover of The Fader 's Summer Music issue for July/August 2017.[63] She performed at MoMA PS1 on August 19 to a crowd of 4,000.[64]

On June 16, 2017, Atlantic Records released Cardi B's commercial debut single, "Bodak Yellow", via digital distribution.[65][66] She performed the single on The Wendy Williams Show[67] and Jimmy Kimmel Live![68] The song climbed the charts for several months, and, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated September 25, 2017, "Bodak Yellow" reached the number one spot, making Cardi B the first female rapper to do so with a solo single since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" debuted atop the chart in 1998.[69] The song stayed atop the charts for three consecutive weeks, tying with American pop singer Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" as the longest running female at the number one spot in 2017.[70][71] Cardi B became the first person of Dominican descent to reach number one in the history of the Hot 100, since it was launched in 1958.[72] An editor of The New York Times called it "the rap anthem of the summer".[64]"Bodak Yellow" was eventually certified septuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song received nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 60th Grammy Awards.[73] It won Single of the Year at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards.[74]

With her collaborations "No Limit" and "MotorSport", she became first female rapper to land her first three entries in the top 10 of the Hot 100,[75] and the first female artist to achieve the same on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[76]

In October 2017, Cardi B headlined Power 105.1's annual Powerhouse music celebration, alongside The Weeknd, Migos, and Lil Uzi Vert, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[77] In December, she released two songs: a collaboration with Puerto Rican singer Ozuna titled "La Modelo",[78] and "Bartier Cardi", the second single from her debut album.[79]

2018–present: Invasion of Privacy
On January 3, 2018, Cardi B was featured on Bruno Mars' remix version of "Finesse",[80] and also appeared in the 90's inspired video. On January 18, 2018, Cardi B became the first woman to have five top 10 singles simultaneously on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.[81] She released another single, "Be Careful", on March 30, 2018, a week before her album's release.[82]

Her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, was released on April 6, 2018, to universal acclaim from music critics.[83][84] Editors from Variety and The New York Times called it "one of the most powerful debuts of this millennium" and "a hip-hop album that doesn't sound like any of its temporal peers," respectively.[85][86] Time magazine named it the best album of 2018.[87] The album entered at number one in the United States, while she became the first female artist to chart 13 entries simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100, on the chart issue dated April 21.[88] It also became the most streamed album by a female artist in a single week in Apple Music,[89] and the largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album by a woman.[90] Following the album's release, during a performance on Saturday Night Live, Cardi B officially announced her pregnancy after much media speculation.[91] She also co-hosted an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[92]

Several months later, in July 2018, the album's fourth single, "I Like It", which features vocals from Bad Bunny and J Balvin, reached number one on the Hot 100; this marked her second number one on the chart and made her the first female rapper to achieve multiple chart-toppers.[93] Her collaboration with Maroon 5, "Girls Like You," also reached number one the Hot 100 chart, extending her record among female rappers.[5] The song's music video reached 1 billion views on YouTube.[94] With "Girls Like You" following "I Like It" at the top of the Billboard Radio Songs chart, Cardi B became the first female rapper to ever replace herself at number one on that chart.[95] It spent sixteen weeks atop the Radio Songs chart, tying Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" as the longest-leading number one this century.[96] The single spent seven weeks atop the Hot 100, making Cardi the female rapper with most cumulative weeks atop the chart, with eleven weeks.[97][98] In October 2018, Invasion of Privacy was certified double platinum by the RIAA, while 12 from the 13 tracks were certified gold or higher.[99]

Cardi B received the most nominations for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awardswith 12 mentions, winning three awards.[100] She also tied with Drake for the most nominations at the 2018 American Music Awards. She won three AMAs and performed at the ceremony.[101][102] Her single "Money" and her collaboration with DJ Snake "Taki Taki" entered the top 20 on the Hot 100.[98]"Taki Taki" topped the charts in a number of Hispanic countries. People en Español named her Star of the Year.[103] Entertainment Weekly deemed her "a pop culture phenomenon", as she was named one of "2018 Entertainers of the Year."[104] On November 30 2018 Cardi B was honored at Ebony's annual Power 100 Gala [105] Cardi ranked fifth on the 2018 Billboard Year-End Top Artists chart, while Invasion of Privacy ranked sixth. Apple Music selected "I Like It" as 2018's Song of the Year,[106] and named her album the most-streamed of the year by a female artist globally.[107] Spotify named her the most streamed female artist of the year in the United States.[108] A The Hollywood Reporter article called her "hip-hop's current reigning queen."[109] Cardi received five nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Record of the Year ("I Like It").[110] She became the third female rapper to be nominated for Album of the Year, following Lauryn Hill (1999) and Missy Elliott(2004).[111]

Cardi B, along with Chance the Rapper and T.I., will be a judge for Netflix's Rhythm + Flow, a 10-part hip-hop talent search that is set to debut in 2019.[109]

Influences
In Billboard's "You Should Know" series, Cardi B said the first albums she ever purchased were by American entertainers Missy Elliott and Tweet, respectively.[15] She has credited Puerto Rican rapper Ivy Queen[112] and Jamaican dancehall artist Spice[113] as influences as well.

When asked about the initial direction for her music, Cardi B said in an interview, "When I first started rapping [...] I liked certain songs from Khia and Trina, and they [were] fighting songs. I haven't heard fighting songs for a very long time," crediting the two female rappers for her aggressive rap style. She continued saying "a lot of girls they can not afford red bottoms, a lot of girls they can not afford foreign cars [...] but I know that every girl has beef with a girl [...] I know that every bitch don't like some bitch, and it's like 'that's what I wanna rap about.'"[114][115]

Musical style
AllMusic editor David Jeffries called Cardi B "a raw and aggressive rapper in the style of Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown."[9] Stereogum called her voice "a full-bodied New Yawk nasal bleat, the sort of thing that you've heard if someone has ever told you that you stupid for taking too long at swiping your MetroCard." They continued to call her voice "an unabashedly loud and sexual fuck-you New York honk—that translates perfectly to rap."[116] In a 2017 Complex article about her, the editor wrote "unapologetic does not begin to describe the totally unfiltered and sheer Cardi B-ness of Cardi B's personality. She's a hood chick who's not afraid to be hood no matter the setting. Cardi B is Cardi B 24/7, 365, this is why she resonates with people, and that same energy comes out in her music."[117]Her first studio album Invasion of Privacy is primarily a hip hop record, which comprises elements of trap, Latin music and R&B.[86][118] Consequence of Sounddescribed her flow as "acrobatic and nimble."[119]

Other ventures
In February 2017, she partnered with M.A.C and Rio Uribe's Gypsy Sport for an event for New York Fashion Week.[49] During an April 2017 interview with HotNewHipHop, Cardi B spoke on being rejected by fashion designers.[120] Her April appearance in i-D's "A-Z of Music" video was sponsored by designer Marc Jacobs,[54] and she made the cover of The Fader 's July/August 2017 Summer Music issue.[67]

In August 2017, the Style section of The New York Times ' Sunday edition did a half-page story on her. The writer reported on her preparations for her first public performance in New York City, at MoMA PS1, describing her appearance as she arrived to the interview in "leggings, an Atlanta Braves 'Los Bravos' logo jersey and white Adidas Yeezy sneakers". She also covered Cardi's affinity for Christian Louboutin heels (a running theme in her song "Bodak Yellow"), and the custom local designer, LaQuan Smith, whose red dress she wore to perform.[64]

Tom Ford's Cardi B-inspired lipstick, and named after her, was released in September 2018. It sold out within 24 hours.[121] In November, she partnered with Reebok, promoting the brand's Aztrek sneaker.[122] The same month she released a clothing line collection with Fashion Nova.[123]

Public image
Cardi B identifies as a feminist.[124][125] The New York Times wrote "on Love & Hip Hop: New York some viewers saw her as a hero of female empowerment, as she made pronouncements like

When commenting on her rise to stardom The Fader wrote "one video in particular tipped her popularity over the edge. It was a 13-second clip that doubles as a neat précis of her ethos:

Cardi B was a member of the Bloods, and has said she became a gang member at the age of 16.[17][18] However, she since has stated that she would not encourage joining a gang.[128]

Political statements
Cardi B has been called "unabashedly, directly political"[128] and often uses social media to advocate for causes she believes in, such as gun control.[129]During the 2016 presidential primaries, she warned her fans of Donald Trump's immigration policies and encouraged them to "vote for daddy Bernie[Sanders]."[130] At the 60th annual Grammy Awards in 2018, she appeared in a video along with Hillary Clinton to narrate a portion of Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff's insider's account of Donald Trump's administration, and stated "“Why am I even reading this s–t? I can’t believe this. I can’t believe — this is how he really lives his life?”[131]

She has praised president Franklin D. Roosevelt as the "real 'Make America Great Again'" for advocating for the Social Security program and the New Dealproject in general,[132] and has noted her admiration for his wife Eleanor Roosevelt's humanitarianism and advocacy for African-Americans.[133] She said of Franklin D. Roosevelt, "he helped us get over the Depression, all while he was in a wheelchair. Like, this man was suffering from polio at the time of his presidency, and yet all he was worried about was trying to make America great—make America great again for real. He's the real 'Make America Great Again,' because if it wasn't for him, old people wouldn't even get Social Security."[134]Senator Bernie Sanders has praised Cardi B for her "leading role" in calling attention to Social Security.[135]

Controversy
Cardi B caused significant controversy after throwing one of her shoes at, and attempting to physically fight, fellow rapper Nicki Minaj at an after party hosted by Harper's Bazaar during New York Fashion Week 2018.[136] She later stated that Minaj had previously "liked" comments made by other users on social media, who spoke negatively about Cardi B's abilities to take care of her newly born daughter.[137] Minaj denied the accusations and called the altercation "humiliating".[138][139]

Personal life
Cardi B is Catholic;[140] she has mentioned her "strong relationship" with God in interviews, often saying that she directly communicates with God.[141][142][143][144]

As of early 2017, Cardi B began publicly dating fellow American rapper Offset, of the southern hip hop group Migos.[64] When speaking on her relationship with Offset, Cardi B told The Fader, "It's been a blessing, me meeting him and meeting his friends. I see how hard they work. And that motivated me to work even harder. And I see how good things are going for them and how popping it is to be number one. And I'm like, I want that. A lot of people just see they jewelry and they money, but I don't think a lot of people see how hard they work for that shit every single day."[3] Cardi B and Offset became engaged on October 27, after Offset proposed to Cardi B at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, during the Power 99 Powerhouse concert.[145] On April 7, 2018, Cardi B revealed that she was pregnant with Offset's child on Saturday Night Live.[146] On June 25, 2018, TMZ found a marriage license revealing Cardi B and Offset had secretly gotten married in September 2017 privately in their bedroom. Cardi B later went on to confirm this revelation in a social media post.[147] On December 5, 2018 she announced on Instagram that she and Offset had broken up.[148]

On July 10, 2018, Cardi B gave birth to her first child, Kulture Kiari Cephus, a daughter.[149]

Cardi B's younger sister, Hennessy Carolina, also has a strong following on social media and has accompanied her to award shows, such as the 2017 Grammy Awards.[150]

Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Cardi B

Cardi B received her first two nominations at the 2017 BET Awards.[151] She won five awards at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards and four more awards at 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards.[152][153] She has received seven Grammy Awardnominations.[154][110] She has won three American Music Awards,[102] three MTV Video Music Awards,[100] a NRJ Music Award,[155] two iHeartRadio Music Awards,[156] two BET Awards,[157] and a Billboard Music Award.[158]

Discography
Main article: Cardi B discography
 * Studio albums
 * Invasion of Privacy (2018)

Concert tours

 * Supporting
 * The Lox – Filthy America... It's Beautiful (2017)