Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus 

(/ˈbɛlkəliːz ɑːlˈmænzɑːr/, Spanish: [alˈmansaɾ]; born October

11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper.[2] She first gained popularity as
an influencer on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to early 2017, she appeared as a regular cast
member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, which depicted her pursuit
of her music aspirations, and earned further recognition with the release of her
two mixtapes: Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 (2016) and Vol. 2 (2017).
Cardi B's first studio album, Invasion of Privacy (2018), debuted at number one on the
U.S. Billboard 200 With the album receiving critical acclaim, it made her the first and only woman to
win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album as a solo artist, and marked the second female rap
album nominated for Album of the Year. It spawned two number-one singles on the
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the lead single, "Bodak Yellow" made her become the second female rapper
to top the Hot 100 with a solo song and the first to achieve a diamond-certified song by the RIAA.
The fourth single, "I Like It" (with Bad Bunny and J Balvin), marked the first time a female rapper
attained multiple number-one songs on the Hot 100. Her third Hot 100 number-one was her feature
on "Girls Like You" by pop rock band Maroon 5. It made her the only female rapper to achieve
multiple diamond-certified songs by the RIAA.
She has since released three singles from her upcoming second studio album — 2020's "WAP"
(featuring Megan Thee Stallion), 2021's "Up", and 2022's "Hot Shit" (featuring Kanye West and Lil
Durk), with the first two topping the Hot 100 and other charts worldwide. She holds various records
among female rappers as she has the most number-one singles (five) on the Billboard Hot 100 and
was the first and only female rapper to have multiple solo number ones. Additionally, she has the
most songs with a billion streams on Spotify for a female rapper.
Her accolades include a Grammy Award, eight Billboard Music Awards, six Guinness World
Records, six American Music Awards, 14 BET Hip Hop Awards, and two ASCAP Songwriter of the
Year awards. In 2018, Time magazine included her on its annual list of the 100 most influential
people in the world, and in 2020, Billboard honored her as Woman of the Year. Outside of music,
she became the creative director of entertainment magazine Playboy in 2022.

Early life
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, on October 11, 1992.[3]
[4]
 She has a Dominican father and a Trinidadian mother of African and Spanish descent.[3][5][6]
[7]
 Almánzar was raised in the Highbridge neighborhood of the South Bronx,[8][9][10] and spent much time
at her paternal grandmother's home in Washington Heights, which she credits with giving her "such
a thick accent."[11] Almánzar developed the stage name "Cardi B" as a derivation of Bacardi, a rum
brand that was formerly her nickname.[12] She has a younger sister, Hennessy Carolina, who was
born in 1995. She has said she was a gang member with the Bloods in her youth, since age 16,[13]
[14]
 but stated she would not encourage joining a gang.[15] She attended Renaissance High School for
Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High
School campus.[16]
During her teens, Cardi B was employed at an Amish deli in Tribeca.[17] She was fired and became a
dancer at a strip club across the street.[18][19] Cardi B has said that 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."[20][21][22] She stated that she became a stripper to escape poverty and domestic violence,
having been in an abusive relationship at the time after being kicked out of her mother's house,[23]
[24]
 and that stripping was her only way to earn enough money to escape the situation and get an
education.[25] She attended Borough of Manhattan Community College[26] before eventually dropping
out.[27] While stripping, Cardi B lied to her mother by telling her she was making money
by babysitting.[28]
In 2013, she began to gain publicity due to several of her videos spreading on social media,
on Vine and her Instagram page.[29]

Career
2015–2016: Career beginnings

Cardi B being interviewed on Street Soldiers with Lisa Evers in January 2016

In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York,
debuting in season six.[30] Jezebel considered her the breakout star of the show's sixth season.[31] The
New York Times wrote that she garnered popularity with "her ability to rattle off one-liners".[32] 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.[33]
In November 2015, Cardi B made her musical debut on Jamaican reggae fusion singer Shaggy's
remix to his single "Boom Boom", alongside fellow Jamaican dancehall singer Popcaan.[34] She made
her music video debut on December 15, 2015, with the song "Cheap Ass Weave", her rendition of
British rapper Lady Leshurr's "Queen's Speech 4".[35][36] On March 7, 2016, Cardi B released her first
full-length project, a mixtape titled Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.[37][38] In November 2016, she was
featured on the digital cover of Vibe magazine's "Viva" issue.[39][23]
On September 12, 2016, KSR Group released the compilation Underestimated: The Album, which is
a collaboration between KSR Group artists Cardi B, HoodCelebrityy, 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, twerk and at the
same time encourage them to go get that Shmoney," in regard to the compilation's single "What a
Girl Likes".[40]
She appeared on the December 9, 2015, episode of Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne.[41] On
April 6, 2016, she was on the twelfth episode of Khloé Kardashian's Kocktails with Khloé: in this
episode, 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 oversize, ratchet personality."[44][45][46]
In 2016, Cardi B was featured in her first endorsement deal with Romantic Depot, a large New York
chain of lingerie stores that sell sexual health and wellness products. The ad campaign was featured
on radio and cable TV.[47][48]

2017–2018: Breakthrough with Invasion of Privacy

Cardi B at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards

On January 20, 2017, Cardi B released her second mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2.[49][50] In
February 2017, Cardi B partnered with MAC Cosmetics and Rio Uribe's Gypsy Sport for an event
for New York Fashion Week.[51] In late February, Cardi B signed her first major record label recording
contract with Atlantic Records.[52][53] 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.[54][55] In April 2017, she was featured in i-D's "A-Z of Music"
video sponsored by Marc Jacobs.[56] Cardi guest-starred on the celebrity panel show Hip Hop
Squares, appearing on the March 13 and April 3, 2017, episodes.[57][58] She also released
the freestyle "Red Barz".[59]
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.[60][61] Although Chance the
Rapper and Remy Ma won those categories, respectively, Cardi B performed at the BET
Awards Afterparty show.[62][63] 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.[64][65] 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.[66] She performed at MoMA
PS1 on August 19 to a crowd of 4,000.[67]
On June 16, 2017, Atlantic Records released Cardi B's commercial debut single, "Bodak Yellow",
via digital distribution.[68][69] She performed the single on The Wendy Williams Show[70] and Jimmy
Kimmel Live![71] 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.[72] 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.[73][74]
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.[75] An editor of The New York Times called it "the rap anthem of
the summer".[67] Selected by The Washington Post and Pitchfork music critics as the best song of
2017,[76][77] "Bodak Yellow" was eventually certified Diamond 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.[78] It won Single of the Year at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards.[79]
With her collaborations "No Limit" and "MotorSport", she became the first female rapper to land her
first three entries in the top 10 of the Hot 100,[80] and the first female artist to achieve the same on
the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[81] 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.[82] In December, she released two songs: a collaboration with Puerto
Rican singer Ozuna titled "La Modelo",[83] and "Bartier Cardi", the second single from her debut
album.[84]

Cardi B backstage at the 2018 Jingle Ball

On January 3, 2018, Cardi B was featured on Bruno Mars' remix version of "Finesse",[85] and

appeared in the 90s inspired video. It reached the top three on the Hot 100, Canada and New
Zealand. 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 Songs chart.[86] She released another single, "Be
Careful", on March 30, 2018, a week before her album's release.[87]
Her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, was released on April 6, 2018, to universal acclaim
from music critics.[88][89] 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.[90][91] 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.[92] It became the most streamed album by a female artist in a single week in Apple
Music,[93] and the largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album by a woman.[94] Cardi
held the latter record until 2019.[95] The album's title reflects Cardi B's feeling that as she gained
popularity her privacy was being invaded in a variety of ways.[17] Following the album's release,
during a performance on Saturday Night Live, Cardi B officially announced her pregnancy, after
much media speculation.[96] She also co-hosted an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy
Fallon.[97]
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.[98] It received
critical acclaim,[99] with Rolling Stone naming it "the best summer song of all time" in 2020.[100] Her
collaboration with Maroon 5, "Girls Like You", also reached number one on the Hot 100 chart,
extending her record among female rappers[101] and also making her the sixth female artist to achieve
three number-one singles on the chart during the 2010s.[102] The song's music video has received
more than 3 billion views on YouTube and was the fifth-best selling song of the year globally.[103]
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.[104] The single
spent seven weeks atop the Hot 100, making Cardi the female rapper with the most cumulative
weeks atop the chart, with eleven weeks.[105][106] It spent 33 weeks in the top 10, tying both Ed
Sheeran's "Shape of You" and Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower" for the longest top 10 run in
the chart's archives at the time.[107][108] In October 2018, Invasion of Privacy was certified double
platinum by the RIAA, and the following year it was updated to triple platinum. With the thirteen
tracks, she became the first female artist to have all songs from an album certified gold or higher in
the US.[109]
Cardi B received the most nominations for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards with 12 mentions—
including for Video of the Year, winning three awards.[110] She tied with Drake for the most
nominations at the 2018 American Music Awards. She won three AMAs and performed at the
ceremony.[111][112] Her single "Money" earned her a fourth Video Music Award, with visuals that feature
Cardi playing characters in different locations, including in an art museum, a bank and a strip club.
[109]
 Her collaboration with DJ Snake "Taki Taki" topped the charts in a number of Hispanic countries,
made Cardi B the first female rapper to top the Spotify Global 50 chart,[113] and has garnered more
than 2 billion views. Both singles were certified multiple-platinum by the RIAA.[114] People en
Español named her Star of the Year,[115] and Entertainment Weekly deemed her "a pop culture
phenomenon", as she was named one of "2018 Entertainers of the Year".[116]
On November 30, 2018, Cardi B was honored at Ebony's annual Power 100 Gala.[117] Cardi ranked
fifth on the 2018 Billboard Year-End Top Artists chart, while Invasion of Privacy ranked sixth. She
achieved the most-streamed album of the year by a female artist globally in Apple Music,[118] and
ranked as the most streamed female artist of the year in the United States in Spotify.[119] Editorial staff
from Apple Music and Billboard named "I Like It" the best song of 2018,[120]
[121]
 while Time magazine and Rolling Stone named Invasion of Privacy the best album of the year.[122]
[123]
 Also in 2018, Time included her on their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
[124]
 In its decade-end review article, NME stated that the era secured "her crown as the new Queen
of Rap."[125]

2019–present: Hustlers, Rhythm + Flow and upcoming second

studio album

Cardi B performing at the Openair Frauenfeld in July 2019

Cardi B 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").[126] She became the third female rapper to be
nominated for Album of the Year, following Lauryn Hill (1999) and Missy Elliott (2004).[127] On
February 10, 2019, she then performed at the award ceremony, where she wore three
vintage Thierry Mugler couture looks during the telecast and became the first female rapper to
win Best Rap Album as a solo artist.[128]
Cardi B led the 2019 Billboard Music Awards nominations, with 21, the most nominations in a single
year ever by a woman and the third most nominations in a year ever (behind Drake and The
Chainsmokers, who both had 22 in a year).[129] She ended up winning six awards, including for Top
Hot 100 Song, bringing her career total wins to seven—the most of any female rapper in history.
[130]
 An article by Omaha World-Herald called her "the biggest rapper in the world."[131]
On February 15, 2019, Cardi B released "Please Me", a collaboration with Bruno Mars, which
became her seventh top-ten song on the Hot 100, reaching number three.[132] The song marked Cardi
and Bruno's second collaboration, following "Finesse" in 2018. The official music video was released
two weeks later.[133] On March 1, Cardi set a new attendance record at the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo, with 75,580 fans in the audience.[134] With "Backin' It Up", "Twerk" and "Money", Cardi
became the first female artist to occupy the top three on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop
airplay chart.[135]
Her following single titled "Press" was released on May 31, 2019.[136] The parental-advisory labeled
music video marked her directorial debut—being credited as co-director, and was released on June
26, 2019.[137] It had its debut performance at the 2019 BET Awards, where she received the most
nominations with seven, and won Album of the Year.[138] During the summer of 2019, she embarked
on an arena tour.[139] In September, she led the BET Hip Hop Awards nominations with ten.[140]
Cardi B made her film debut in Hustlers directed by Lorene Scafaria, opposite Jennifer
Lopez, Constance Wu, and Lili Reinhart.[141] The film was released on September 13, 2019.[142] Cardi
B, along with Chance the Rapper and T.I., were confirmed as judges for the Netflix series Rhythm +
Flow, a ten-part hip-hop talent search that premiered on October 9, 2019, which she also executive
produced.[143][144]
In December 2019, Cardi B embarked on her first tour of Africa, performing in Nigeria and Ghana.
[145]
 Her collaboration "Clout" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.[146] She
was the most streamed female rapper of 2019 in the US, according to Spotify.[147] Consequence of
Sound deemed her "one of the most formidable hip-hop artists of the decade."[148] In March 2020,
Cardi B created a reaction video about the coronavirus pandemic. DJ iMarkkeyz, a Brooklyn DJ
known for turning memes and online moments into full-length songs, created a track, based on her
reaction titled "Coronavirus", which became an internet meme and was released to music platforms.
[149]
 Netflix announced the return of Rhythm + Flow for 2021.[150]
Cardi B released the single "WAP" featuring American rapper Megan Thee Stallion on August 7,
2020, as the lead single off her forthcoming second studio album.[151] The song received critical
acclaim and was praised for its sex positive messages.[152] The Colin Tilley-directed music video
accompanied the song itself, and broke the record for the biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female
collaboration on YouTube.[153] She became the only female rap artist to top the Global Spotify chart
multiple times.[154] "WAP" debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, garnering Cardi B
her fourth chart-topper in the US, extending her record as the female rapper with the most number-
one singles, and also making her the first female rapper to achieve Hot 100 number one singles in
two different decades (2010s and 2020s).[155][154]
With 93 million streaming units, it became the largest first-week streams for a song, breaking the all-
time record held by Ariana Grande's "7 Rings".[156] It has spent four weeks atop the Hot 100. The
single has also spent multiple weeks at number one in seven other countries, including Australia and
the United Kingdom. Neil Shah of The Wall Street Journal deemed it "a big moment for female
rappers" and "a historic sign that women artists are making their mark on hip-hop like never before".
[157]
 "WAP" became the first number one single on the inaugural Billboard Global 200 chart.[158]
It became critics' best song of the year according to a compilation of rankings made by the BBC,
[159]
 with publications such as Pitchfork[160] and Rolling Stone[161] placing it at number one. Cardi B won
the Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Female Artist for the third time at the 2020 ceremony.[162] In
December 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to be named Woman of the Year at
the Billboard Women in Music Awards.[163] With her win for "WAP" at the American Music Awards,
she became the first artist to win the American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song multiple
times, following her win for "Bodak Yellow" in 2018.[164]
On February 5, 2021, Cardi B released "Up", the second single from her upcoming studio album. A
music video for the single was released alongside it. The song was praised by NME magazine for its
lyricism and fresh approach as a successor to "WAP".[165] "Up" debuted at number two on the
US Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the highest debut for a solo female rap song since Lauryn Hill's
"Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.[166] The song debuted at number one on the Rolling Stone Top 100,
becoming both Cardi B's second number-one single and second number-one debut, as well as the
first time a female rapper debuts atop the chart with a solo song.[167]
Cardi B became the first female artist and first lead artist with consecutive number-one debuts on the
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and second overall performer following Drake in 2016.[168] "Up"
reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 after her Grammy Awards performance, making Cardi
B the only female rapper to reach number one multiple times with solo songs, following "Bodak
Yellow", and extended her record as the female rapper with the most number-one songs on the Hot
100 as her fifth chart-topper.[169] Cardi B received a second nomination for the Brit Award for
International Female Solo Artist.[170]
Cardi B made a last-minute appearance in "Big Paper", from DJ Khaled's album Khaled
Khaled released on April 30, 2021.[171] Cardi received two nominations for the BET Award for Video of
the Year, for the videos "Up" and "WAP", winning for the latter and becoming the first female rapper
to win Video of the Year as a lead artist. This became the 10th time that an artist has had two
nominated videos in this category as a lead artist, and the second time for her, following her
nominations for "Money" and "Please Me" in 2019.[172]
She announced her second pregnancy during the performance of her Migos collaboration "Type
Shit" at the 2021 ceremony.[173] She also appeared in F9, which was released on June 25, 2021,
by Universal Pictures.[174] On July 16, 2021, Cardi B was featured on the Normani single "Wild Side".
[175]
 Cardi collaborated with Lizzo on "Rumors", which debuted at number four on the Billboard Hot
100, becoming Cardi B's tenth top 10 single on the chart, and her seventh number-one on the Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[176]
Cardi B received six nominations at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, including her second
nomination for Video of the Year.[177] She also led the nominations for the 2021 BET Hip Hop
Awards along with Megan Thee Stallion, with nine each;[178] both rappers won the most awards during
the ceremony with three for "WAP", with Cardi becoming the first female artist to win Best Hip Hop
Video twice (2019 and 2021).[179]
On October 28, 2021, Cardi B previewed her sophomore album to Atlantic Records via her
Instagram Story. She captioned "The money people liking the album sounds".[180] On November 2,
Cardi B was announced as the host of the 2021 American Music Awards (AMAs). The award show
was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 21,[181] and marked the most social
telecast of the year per interactions across social media.[182] During the ceremony, "Up" won the
award for Favorite Hip Hop Song, making Cardi B the first artist to win the category three times.
[183]
 Cardi B featured on Summer Walker's 2021 album Still Over It on the opening track "Bitter".
[184]
 Warner Records released the soundtrack for Halle Berry's directorial debut film Bruised on
November 19. Selected by executive producers Berry and Cardi B, the Netflix film's soundtrack
features six original songs by female artists, including Cardi, H.E.R., City Girls, Flo Milli, Saweetie,
and Latto, and seven additional female rap songs inspired by the film.[185]
In September 2022, Cardi B worked with rapper GloRilla on the official remix to her song "Tomorrow"
titled "Tomorrow 2", the remix peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cardi's
eleventh top 10 single on the chart.[186][187][188]

Artistry
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.[11] She has credited Puerto Rican
rapper Ivy Queen[189] and Jamaican dancehall artist Spice[190] as influences, as well as Beyoncé,
  Lady Gaga,[192] Lil' Kim,[193] Madonna,[17] and Selena.[194] She has mentioned Chicago drill music as
[191]

an important influence.[195] 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 cannot afford red bottoms, a lot of girls
they cannot 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.'"[196][197]
She also credits growing up in the South Bronx and real life experiences as influences for her
songwriting; "I wouldn't be able to rap about the things that I rap about now [if I hadn't grown up
there]."[17]

Musical style
Her first studio album, Invasion of Privacy, is primarily a hip hop record, which comprises elements
of trap, Latin music, and R&B.[91][198] Consequence of Sound described her flow as "acrobatic and
nimble."[199] AllMusic editor David Jeffries called Cardi B "a raw and aggressive rapper".
[5]
 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."[200]
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."[201] Her flow has been described as aggressive[202][203] In
2019, NME described her lyrics as "sexually free" performed with "rapid" flow,[125] and other
publications have further described her lyrics as outspoken,[204] while her punchlines have been
praised, by such publications as Pitchfork and The Source, as clever and quotable.[205][206] She
possesses a New York-Dominican accent.[207]
Cardi B has defended her musical content featuring sexually-charged lyrics—like most contemporary
female rappers; she stated that the content "seems like that's what people want to hear", since she
faced negative reactions after releasing her more emotional song, "Be Careful".[208][209] She has
declared, "[Drill music] is the type of artist I always wanted to be: I like to rap about the streets, and I
like to rap about my pussy. I don't give a fuck about it."[195] She has stated that writing and performing
songs about her personal life and relationships initially caused her a "weird and uncomfortable"
feeling and shyness.[195]
Cardi B employs different vocal styles in her music; in "WAP" her vocal performance has been
described as "throaty"[210] and "staccato",[211] while in "Up" she raps with alliteration, a tongue twister-
run, and "some classically comedic Cardi" punch lines.[212]

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.[51] Her April appearance in i-D's "A-Z of Music" video was sponsored by
designer Marc Jacobs,[56] and she made the cover of The Fader's July/August 2017 Summer Music
issue.[70] Tom Ford's Cardi B-inspired lipstick, and named after her, was released in September 2018.
It sold out within 24 hours.[213] In November, she released a clothing line collection with Fashion Nova.
[214]
 The same month she partnered with Reebok, promoting the brand's Aztrek sneaker.[215] In
partnership with Reebok, she released a footwear and apparel collection in 2020, inspired by her
personal style and paying homage to "classic 80s styling" and motifs.[216] She released her second
collection with Reebok in 2021, including sneakers, tracksuits and corsets, inspired by everyday life
in New York City.[217]
Cardi B teamed up with Pepsi for three television commercials, which aired during the Super Bowl
LIII, the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, and Christmas.[218][219] In early 2019, Cardi also joined other hip
hop artists (including her husband Offset, as part of Migos) in releasing her flavors of snack food
Rap Snacks: two flavors of chips, and two of popcorn. The bags' artwork were designed by Jai
Manselle and inspired by the cover of Invasion of Privacy.[220][221]
She premiered the series Cardi Tries via Facebook Messenger in December 2020, with herself as
one of the executive producers.[222]
In December 2021, Cardi B partnered with PLBY Group Inc. as creative director in residence
for Playboy and founding member of Centerfold, a creator-driven website in the works. The
partnership also includes fashion and sexual-wellness products.[223] In collaboration with a company,
she released a vodka-infused, vegan whipped cream "Whipshots" the same month.[224]

Public image
Political statements
Cardi B identifies as a feminist.[225] The rapper has been called "unabashedly, directly political"[15] and
often uses social media to advocate for causes she believes in, such as gun control.[226] During
the 2016 presidential primaries, she warned her fans of President Trump's immigration policies and
encouraged them to vote for Senator Bernie Sanders.[227][228] At the 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 Trump's administration, and stated "Why am I even reading this shit? I can't
believe this. I can't believe—this is how he really lives his life?"[229]
Early in 2018 she used her social media to demand transparency on tax policy, asking for detailed
information on how her taxpayer dollars are being spent in New York state and criticizing the
maintenance of its streets, prisons, and public transportation.[230] Cardi B endorsed Sanders once
again in his second bid for the presidency in the 2020 United States presidential election, while
praising U.S. Representative Tim Ryan.[231] She stated that one of the reasons for her endorsement is
Sanders' long-time involvement in supporting underprivileged minorities and "people
getting Medicare because he knows they can't afford it,"[4] while Politico argued that she "might be
one of Bernie's most powerful 2020 allies."[232]
She has used her social pages to raise awareness for victims of police brutality, and has
encouraged people to vote for mayors, judges and district attorneys in local elections.[233] In a
conversation with Democratic candidate Joe Biden for Elle, they discussed Medicare, free college
tuition, and racial equality.[234] According to a study published by The Hollywood Reporter, Cardi B
ranked as the fifth most influential celebrity, and fourth among Generation Z, for the 2020
presidential election.[235]
She has praised President Franklin D. Roosevelt for advocating for the Social Security program and
the New Deal project.[236] She said of President 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."[237] Sanders has praised her for her "leading role" in calling attention to Social
Security.[238]

Fashion
Cardi B doing ASMR during a interview with Vogue

Cardi has a noted affinity for Christian Louboutin heels, a running theme in her song "Bodak Yellow".
[67]
 She has also mentioned her affinity for cheap, fast fashion brands stating "I don't care if it cost $20
or $15. If it looks good on me, it looks good on me".[239] During an interview in early 2017, Cardi B
spoke on being rejected by some fashion designers.[240] Cardi wore vintage Thierry Mugler to
the 2019 Grammy Awards, with an i-D article stating that the fashion house's "resurgence onto the
fashion scene can almost single-handedly be attributed" to the Swarovski crystal-embroidered
crinoline sheath gown she wore at the ceremony.[241]
Mugler's collaboration with Cardi B marked the second time in 25 years that the Paris house opened
its archives to dress a celebrity, the first being Beyoncé for her 2009 concert tour.[241] W magazine
credited the "WAP" music video for popularizing the Mugler bodysuit in the mainstream.[242] Cardi has
acknowledged Mugler as one of the first designers to "take a major chance on [her]" for their fashion
collaborations.[243]
Vogue, The Telegraph, Time, and Vibe have referred to her as a fashion icon.[244][245][246][247] An article
from Vogue noted she "is famous for her statement getups—whether she's rocking archival Mugler
on the red carpet, or dripping in Chanel while sitting courtside at a basketball game."[248] Her over-the-
top manicures, designed by nail artist Jenny Bui and studded with Swarovski crystals, has become a
part of her signature look.[249] Editor Christian Allaire from the magazine in 2021 commented that her
signature "bold" ensembles "create a spectacle" during fashion weeks.[250]
In 2018, she became the first female rapper in the US to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, the cover, one of four for the January 2019 issue that
included Stella McCartney,[251] features her in a red and white Michael Kors dress and matching
red Jimmy Choo shoes, while holding her daughter, Kulture.[252]
In 2019, the Council of Fashion Designers of America included her on their list of "28 Black Fashion
Forces".[253] Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour commended her fashion sense, declaring that she
"completely rethought [her] opinion of Cardi B's style" after the 2019 Met Gala, where the rapper
wore a Thom Browne-designed burgundy gown that extends outward in concentric circles for about
ten feet and was inspired by the female form.[254][255]
Cardi B became the face of Balenciaga's ad campaign for the winter 2020 season. The campaign
includes billboards in several international locations, such as the Louvre museum. Vogue's Brooke
Bobb commented, "This is Cardi's first campaign for a luxury fashion house, though she's definitely
no stranger to the Parisian style scene", citing her floral printed Richard Quinn ensemble "that
literally covered her from head to toe" and her being "a front row fixture" at high fashion shows,
adding, "She and her stylist Kollin Carter have been wildly successful in carving out a much-needed
space for Cardi within the fashion industry, and they've cultivated a personal style that is all her own
while being inspiring to all".[256]
In 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to be awarded by the FN Achievement
Awards when she won the Style Influencer of the Year award, which was presented to her
by Christian Louboutin. In a press release for the awards show, she was called an "influence just
about everything in pop culture—from music, fashion and style to social media, politics and even
public service".[257] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked her as the second most-stylish woman in music,
behind Lady Gaga,[258] and GQ considered her "one of fashion's preeminent risk-takers."[259]

Impact
Cardi B has been referred to as the "Reigning Queen of Hip Hop" by multiple publications,
including Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Omaha World-Herald, Black
Enterprise, Newsweek, and The A.V. Club,[143][260] and as the "Queen of Rap"
by NME, Essence, Harper's Bazaar Malaysia, The Jakarta Post, Uproxx, iHeartRadio, Geo
TV, Vanity Fair, Joe, Boston Herald, Refinery 29, France 24, and Nigerian media The
Guardian, BBC News, and Daily Trust.[261][125]
Spin staff credited her for opening "the table to a new generation of pop artists remaking American
music in their own image and accents," as Cardi B "recognized that POC artists no longer need to
pander or soften themselves in order to become household names."[262] Billboard editors stated that
with "Bodak Yellow"'s commercial success, "she left an indelible mark on the summer of 2017, not
only because she rewrote history, but she gave hope to the have nots...".[263] Several publications
have credited "I Like It", the first Latin trap song to reach number one on the Hot 100, for introducing
the "musical movement" to a mainstream, massive audience.[264][265] Billboard's Carl Lamarre
considered "WAP"'s achievements "a clever Trojan horse for the myriad ways Cardi influences the
culture with every move she makes."[195]
The Wall Street Journal's Neil Shah stated in 2020 that her breakthrough and success influenced
"today's female-rap renaissance," while Genius staff credited her for "helping jumpstart a new wave
of female hip-hop signings and promotion at labels,"[157][266] and NPR Music commented that the
"renaissance" of the dynamism of women in rap grew "in enthusiasm and breadth" since Cardi's "first
historic run" in 2017.[267] Similarly, Clover Hope's book The Motherlode (2021) stated that Invasion of
Privacy "jump-started a new era for women rappers in which success felt much more tangible" as
Cardi B "multiplied the wealth of talent and resurrected the idea that numerous women who
controlled their own stories could dominate rap at once."[268]
The New Yorker has credited her for "changing a genre that has rarely allowed for more than one
female superstar at a time."[269] Uproxx noted Cardi B for promoting up-and-coming female rappers;
"[she is] choosing to use her position at the height of stardom to open doors for other women to
flourish in hip-hop at a greater level than any since the Golden Era and 'Ladies First'," considering it
"something of a departure from tradition; for the decade previous to Cardi's precipitous come-up, it
seemed hip-hop had an unspoken, Highlander-esque rule in place regarding
women."[270] Variety deemed her a "hip-hop icon",[271] and The Independent called her "the people's
pop culture icon", writing that she "has become one of the most recognisable cultural figures of the
past 10 years".[272]
NPR defined "Cardi B effect" as "a branding power rooted in specific authenticity, created and
permeated by rapper Cardi B" and noticed that with her breakthrough, "brands finally started to
become hip to [her] effect, noticing the cultural markers outside of the rap world that were proving it
wasn't limited to clubs, concerts and radio."[273] Business magazine Inc. stated that her success
"shows how social media changed everything we knew about traditional marketing and media",
which no longer relies on a "well-thought marketing scheme or millions of dollars in advertising."[274] In
2019, a life-sized sculpture of her was on display at the Brooklyn Museum, as part of Spotify's
RapCaviar "Pantheon".[275]
Bloomberg reported that her data bill helped to boost Ghana's GDP growth in 2019, after it was part
of a concert tour.[276] She inspired the creation of the sitcom Partners in Rhyme, executively produced
by MC Lyte about a young woman in high school who "aspires to be the next Cardi B."[277] P-
Valley creator and executive producer Katori Hall cited her an inspiration for the TV series, and
credited her for "helping prepare the public" for its storyline.[278][279]
Several artists have cited Cardi B's work as an inspiration, including Rosalía,[280] Olivia Rodrigo,
[281]
 Jazmine Sullivan,[282] Selena Gomez,[283] Blackpink,[284] Spice,[190] Greta Gerwig,[285] Nathy Peluso,
[286]
 Rubi Rose,[287] María Becerra,[288] and Abigail Asante.[289] Cardi B has been credited for supporting
and uniting female rappers in the industry,[290][291][292] with a writer from Uproxx considering her co-sign
"the new Drake effect" for women in hip hop.[270]
CREDITS TO WIKIPEDIA