Breakout Billboard Star and Superstar of 2017: Who Is Cardi B?

Cardi B should be on top of the world let alone the top of Billboard. Chilling in the Billboard clouds with the likes of The Beatles, Cardi B has really marked history, but where did she come from?

‘Belcalis Almanzar’, better known as Cardi B is an American Hip-Hop recording artist known for her high-profile relationship with ‘Offset’ from the group Migos, her strong New York street slang and her chart-topping hits. If you haven’t heard of ‘Bodak Yellow’ then you have either been living under a rock or in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no technology. There’s been no escaping Cardi B’s smash hit.

The rapper has had one crazy year, she’s even been nominated for two Grammy awards, yes two! The rapper was nominated for the ‘Best Rap Performance’ and ‘Best Rap Song’ awards, and is the only female in both 2018 categories. After getting engaged live on stage Cardi is now walking around with a $550,000 wedding ring slapped on her finger, I haven’t seen that much money in my life! I mean I’d be happy with a Haribo ring, but yet again I’m not a millionaire rapper…I can dream, right?

Cardi B’s life is changing rapidly. She put out her first mixtape, ‘Gangsta B**** Music’, Vol. 1, in March last year, back when she was still Love & Hip-Hop’s breakout star. She released Vol. 2 in January 2017, five months before announcing a major-label contract with Atlantic Records.

In her Fader feature, Cardi B explains why she went with that label. “I had a lot of deals on the table but like they gave me the best offer, the one that I don’t have to owe them much, and they just gave me a lot of money so I took it,” said the “Sauce Boyz” rapper. “They gave the right number, so I chose them. It was significantly more than other [deals]. I heard a lot of good things and they were really eager to work with me so I was just like, if they want to give this money then it’s because they’re really gonna work hard for me. People don’t understand that they signed me because I put out a free mixtape and it sold so much and it was free, like, the numbers don’t lie. It’s right there.”

Cardi really does make ‘Money Moves.’ Cardi’s original job was as an exotic dancer. She’s always planned her future, thanks to fellow dancers who would warn her about still being 31 and working in the club, and repeat customers who would become tired of her. As a dancer, she intended to save $100,000 by the time she was 25, buy a house and rent it out. Due to her success, she didn’t need to worry…

​The first solo female MC to top the chart since Lauryn Hill did with ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ in 1998, Cardi B is also quick to praise the previous top charter, “Lauryn Hill is like a goddess. For me to be in the same sentence as her is crazy. One day there will be a new female rapper to be in the same sentence as me.”As she is the first female rapper to top the charts in nineteen years, could there be a rap battle brewing between Cardi B and the queen of rap herself, Nicki Minaj? I’m sorry to get your hopes up but there won’t be any rap battles between the girls in some stingy underground building anytime soon, but maybe in the future who knows?

The girls both featured on the single ‘Motorsport’ by Migos which Cardi is dating a member from. Nicki and Cardi’s relationship is complicated. With two of the most iconic female rappers in the game, with both of them featuring on the same track, of course, the internet was going to blow up…and it did. From every corner of the world wide web, people were tweeting about the girls claiming that there was some rivalry going on and that they were dissing each other on the track. However, Nicki was quick to snap back claiming,”I was on the song w/Quavo. No one else was on it. He called & asked if I think we should put Cardi on it, I said: “ok let’s do it”. That’s it, no drama.

Like me, you may be wondering when Cardi B’s album will be out. There are even rumours going around that she’s recorded a song with Beyonce…I mean if they want to invite me to a session where I can be the first person to hear that, I’d be cool with it. Unfortunately, we’re still going to be waiting a while to hear that track as Cardi is unsure when she’s going to release it because she’s not sure if she thinks the album is ready yet.

From Dancer to comedian, actress to rapper, Cardi B is the girl for you. With so many talents and a huge fan base, her name won’t be disappearing anytime soon. Could 2018 be her year again?