Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar[a] (formerlyCephus; born October 11, 1992), known professionally asCardi B, is an American rapper. Born and raised inNew York City, she is noted for her unfiltered public image and lyrics. First gaining recognition onVine,Instagram, and as a cast member onVH1'sLove & Hip Hop: New York, Cardi B released hertwo mixtapes between 2016 and 2017.
Her first studio album,Invasion of Privacy (2018), debuted atop theBillboard 200 with the largest female rap album streaming week of all time and became the best-selling and the highest-certified female rap album of the 21st century. Ranked byRolling Stone as the best debut album of all time by a female rapper, it made Cardi B the first solo female artist in history to win theGrammy Award for Best Rap Album. Its singles "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It" both topped the Billboard Hot 100 and were certifieddiamond by theRIAA; the former made Cardi B the first female rapper to top the Hot 100 with a solo song in the 21st century and the first to achieve a diamond-certified song, while the latter made her the first with multiple number-one songs. Her third US number-one, the collaboration "Girls Like You" in 2018, made her the first female rapper to earn multiple RIAA diamond-certified songs.
Cardi B's second album,Am I the Drama? (2025), made her the only female rapper in history to have her first two albums debut atop theBillboard 200 and is the highest-certified female rap album of the 2020s. It became the female rap album with the most charting songs (18) inBillboard Hot 100 history and the fastest album in history to be certified platinum. Including the US top-ten song "Outside" and US number-ones "WAP" and "Up", it tied with her ownInvasion of Privacy as the female rap album with the most Hot 100 number-one songs (two each). "WAP" is the only female rap collaboration to debut atop the Hot 100 and had a large cultural impact.
Cardi B was born and raised in the southern part of theSouth Bronx.
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar was born on October 11, 1992, in theWashington Heights neighborhood ofManhattan, New York City.[1][2] Her father Carlos isDominican and her mother Clara is aTrinidadian ofmixed descent; Almánzar identifies as anAfro-Caribbean.[1][3][4][5][6] Almánzar was raised in theHighbridge neighborhood of theSouth Bronx,[7][8][9] and spent much time at her paternal grandmother's home in Washington Heights, which she credits with giving her "such a thick accent."[10] Almánzar developed the stage name "Cardi B" as a derivation ofBacardi, arum brand that was formerly her nickname.[11] She has a younger sister,Hennessy Carolina, who was born in 1995. She has said she was a gang member with theBloods in her youth, since age 16,[12][13] but stated she would not encourage joining a gang.[14] She attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, avocational high school on theHerbert H. Lehman High School campus.[15] Belcalis speaksDominican Spanish, English as well as a smidgen ofRussian and French.[16]
During her teens, Cardi B was employed at a grocery store inTribeca.[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 anddomestic 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 attendedBorough 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 bybabysitting.[28]
In 2013, she began to gain publicity due to several of her videos spreading on social media, onVine and herInstagram page.[29]
In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of theVH1 reality television seriesLove & 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 Jamaicanreggae fusion singerShaggy's remix to his single "Boom Boom", alongside fellow Jamaicandancehall singerPopcaan.[34] She made her music video debut on December 15, 2015, with the song "Cheap Ass Weave", her rendition of BritishrapperLady Leshurr's "Queen's Speech 4".[35][36] On March 7, 2016, Cardi B released her first full-length project, amixtape titledGangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.[37][38] In November 2016, she was featured on the digital cover ofVibe magazine's "Viva" issue.[39][23]
On September 12, 2016, KSR Group released the compilationUnderestimated: The Album, which is a collaboration between KSR Group artists Cardi B,HoodCelebrityy, SwiftOnDemand, Cashflow Harlem, andJosh X. It was previously released only to attendees of their U.S. tour. the label'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 ofUncommon Sense with Charlamagne.[41] On April 6, 2016, she was on the twelfth episode ofKhloé Kardashian'sKocktails 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 theBET seriesBeing 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 withRomantic 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]
On January 3, 2018, Cardi B was featured on the remix ofBruno Mars' single "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 female rapper to have five top 10 singles simultaneously on theBillboard 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 fromVariety andThe 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 theBillboard Hot 100, on the chart issue dated April 21.[92] It became the moststreamed album by a female artist in a single week inApple Music,[93] and the largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album by a woman.[94] Cardi held the latter recorduntil 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 onSaturday Night Live, Cardi B officially announced her pregnancy, after much media speculation.[96] She also co-hosted an episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[97]
After the release of "Girls" in May 2018, a collaboration where she had a featured verse, Cardi B responded to accusations of the song trivializingLGBT relationships; she tweeted, "We never try to cause harm or had bad intentions with the song." She went on to add, "I personally myself had experiences with other women."[98] Several months later, in July 2018,Invasion's fourth single, "I Like It", which features vocals fromBad Bunny andJ Balvin, reached number one on theHot 100; this marked her second number one on the chart and made her the first female rapper to achieve multiple chart-toppers.[99] It received critical acclaim,[100] withRolling Stone naming it "thebest summer song of all time" in 2020.[101] Her collaboration withMaroon 5, "Girls Like You", also reached number one on the Hot 100 chart, extending her record among female rappers[102] and also making her the sixth female artist to achieve three number-one singles on the chart during the 2010s.[103] The song's music video has received more than 3.8 billion views onYouTube and was thefifth-best selling song of the year globally.[104]
With "Girls Like You" following "I Like It" at the top of theBillboardRadio Songs chart, Cardi B became thefirst female rapper to replace herself at number one on the chart.[105] 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.[106][107] It spent 33 weeks in the top 10, tying bothEd Sheeran's "Shape of You" andPost Malone andSwae Lee's "Sunflower" for the longest top 10 run in the chart's archives at the time.[108][109] In September 2025,Invasion of Privacy was certifiedsix-times platinum by the RIAA. With the thirteen tracks, it became the first album in history to have all of its songs certified platinum or higher in the US.[110]
Cardi B threw a shoe at and attempted to physically attack fellow rapperNicki Minaj at aNew York Fashion Week after-party in September 2018; bodyguards intervened before she could reach Minaj, leaving her a large bump on her forehead.[111][112][113] Cardi B alleged on Instagram that Minaj had "liked" social media comments that spoke negatively of Cardi B's ability to take care of her newborn daughter.[114] Minaj denied the allegations,[115] and she accused Cardi B ofpayola and bribing DJs and radio outlets with sex to play her records.[116] The incident became part of a largerfeud between the two.[117] Cardi B was on the cover of the 2019 spring fashion issue ofHarper's Bazaar, which featured her in aCinderella-themed photo shoot wearing a red gown and leaving a shoe behind. Some interpreted this as a reference to the incident.[118][excessive detail?]
Cardi B received the most nominations for the2018 MTV Video Music Awards with 12 mentions—including forVideo of the Year, winning three awards.[119] She tied withDrake for the most nominations at the2018 American Music Awards. She won three AMAs and performed at the ceremony.[120][121] 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.[122] Her collaboration withDJ Snake "Taki Taki" topped the charts in a number of Hispanic countries, made Cardi B the first female rapper to top the SpotifyGlobal 50 chart,[123] and has garnered more than 2 billion views. Both singles were certified multiple-platinum by the RIAA.[124]People en Español named her Star of the Year,[125] andEntertainment Weekly deemed her "a pop culture phenomenon", as she was named one of "2018 Entertainers of the Year".[126]
On November 30, 2018, Cardi B was honored atEbony's annual Power 100 Gala.[127] Cardi ranked fifth on the 2018Billboard Year-End Top Artists chart, whileInvasion of Privacy ranked sixth. She achieved the most-streamed album of the year by a female artist globally inApple Music,[128] and ranked as the most streamed female artist of the year in the United States inSpotify.[129] Editorial staff from Apple Music andBillboard named "I Like It" the best song of 2018,[130][131] whileTime magazine andRolling Stone namedInvasion of Privacy the best album of the year.[132][133] Also in 2018,Time included her on theirannual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[134] In its decade-end review article,NME stated that the era secured "her crown as the newQueen of Rap."[135]
Cardi B received five nominations at the61st Grammy Awards, including forAlbum of the Year,Best Rap Album andRecord of the Year ("I Like It").[136] She became the third female rapper to be nominated for Album of the Year, followingLauryn Hill (1999) andMissy Elliott (2004).[137] On February 10, 2019, she then performed at the award ceremony, where she wore three vintageThierry Mugler couture looks during the telecast and became the first female rapper to winBest Rap Album as a solo artist.[138] Cardi B led the2019 Billboard Music Awards nominations, with 21, earning the most nominations in a single year by a female artist and the third most nominations in a year (behind Drake and The Chainsmokers, who both had 22 in a year).[139] She ended up winning six awards, including forTop Hot 100 Song, bringing her career total wins to seven—the most of any female rapper in history.[140] An article byOmaha World-Herald called her "the biggest rapper in the world."[141]
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.[142] The song marked Cardi and Bruno's second collaboration, following "Finesse" in 2018. The official music video was released two weeks later.[143] On March 1, Cardi set a new attendance record at theHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with 75,580 fans in the audience.[144] With "Backin' It Up", "Twerk" and "Money", Cardi became the first female artist to occupy the top three on theBillboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.[145]
Her following single titled "Press" was released on May 31, 2019.[146] Theparental-advisory labeled music video marked her directorial debut—being credited as co-director, and was released on June 26, 2019.[147] It had its debut performance at the2019 BET Awards, where she received the most nominations with seven, and wonAlbum of the Year.[148] During the summer of 2019, she embarked on an arena tour.[149] In September, she led theBET Hip Hop Awards nominations with ten.[150]
Cardi B made her film debut inHustlers directed byLorene Scafaria, oppositeJennifer Lopez,Constance Wu, andLili Reinhart.[151] The film was released on September 13, 2019.[152] Cardi B, along withChance the Rapper andT.I., were confirmed as judges for theNetflix seriesRhythm + Flow, a ten-part hip-hop talent search that premiered on October 9, 2019, which she alsoexecutive produced.[153][154] In December 2019, Cardi B embarked on her first tour of Africa, performing in Nigeria and Ghana.[155] Her collaboration "Clout" was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Rap Performance.[156] She was the most streamed female rapper of 2019 in the US, according to Spotify.[157]Consequence of Sound deemed her "one of the most formidable hip-hop artists of the decade."[158] In March 2020, Cardi B created a reaction video about thecoronavirus 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 aninternet meme and was released to music platforms.[159] Netflix announced the return ofRhythm + Flow for 2021.[160]
Cardi B released the single "WAP" featuring American rapperMegan Thee Stallion on August 7, 2020, as the lead single off her forthcoming second studio album.[161] The song received critical acclaim and was praised for itssex positive messages.[162] TheColin 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.[163] She became the only female rap artist to top the Global Spotify chart multiple times.[164] "WAP" debuted at number-one on theBillboard 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).[165][164]
With 93 million streaming units, it became the largest first-week streams for a song, breaking the all-time record held byAriana Grande's "7 Rings".[166] 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 ofThe 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".[167] "WAP" became the first number one single on the inauguralBillboard Global 200 chart.[168]
On February 5, 2021, Cardi B released "Up". The song was praised byNME magazine for its lyricism and fresh approach as a successor to "WAP".[175] "Up" debuted at number two on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart, marking the highest debut for a solo female rap song sinceLauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.[176] It debuted at number one on theRolling 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 debuted atop the chart with a solo song.[177] Cardi B became the first female artist and first lead artist with consecutive number-one debuts on the USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and second overall performer followingDrake in 2016.[178] "Up" reached number one on theBillboard Hot 100 after herGrammy Awards performance, making her the only female rapper to reach the summit 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.[179] Cardi B received a second nomination for theBrit Award for International Female Solo Artist.[180]
Cardi B made a last-minute appearance in "Big Paper", from DJ Khaled's albumKhaled Khaled released on April 30, 2021.[181] She received two nominations for theBET Award for Video of the Year, for the music videos of "Up" and "WAP", winning for the latter and becoming the first female rapper to win Video of the Year as a lead artist. It marked the tenth time that an artist had two nominated videos in this category as a lead act, and the second time for her, following her nominations for "Money" and "Please Me" in 2019.[182] Cardi played a brief role inF9, which was released on June 25, 2021, byUniversal Pictures.[183] On July 16, she was featured on theNormani single "Wild Side".[184] Cardi collaborated withLizzo on "Rumors", which debuted at number four on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming her tenth top-ten single on the chart, and her seventh number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[185] She received six nominations at the2021 MTV Video Music Awards, including her second nomination for Video of the Year.[186] Cardi also led the nominations for the2021 BET Hip Hop Awards along with Megan Thee Stallion, with nine each;[187] 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).[188] On November 21, Cardi B hosted the2021 American Music Awards (AMAs). The award show was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles,[189] and marked the most social telecast of the year per interactions across social media.[190] During the ceremony, "Up" won the award forFavorite Hip Hop Song, making Cardi the first artist to win the category three times.[191] She featured onSummer Walker's second studio albumStill Over It on the opening track "Bitter", released on November 5, 2021.[192] Cardi co-executive producedHalle Berry's directorial debut, the sports dramaBruised, released via Netflix on November 17. She also performed an original song "Bet It" for the film's soundtrack, released buWarner Records two days after.[193]
In March 2022, Cardi B appeared on the extended version of Summer Walker andSZA's collaboration, "No Love".[194] The following month, she featured on rapper Kay Flock's song, "Shake It"; it samplesAkon's 2005 song "Belly Dancer (Bananza)".[195] Also in April, Cardi guest-voiced as Sharki B, her "aquatic alter ego", on "The Seaweed Sway" episode of theNickelodeon animated seriesBaby Shark's Big Show!—and performed a song of the same name.[196] She appeared alongside Offset and her daughter.[197] On July 1, 2022, Cardi B released "Hot Shit", featuring rappersKanye West andLil Durk.[198] The song was first announced during aBET Awards 2022 commercial break.[199] On July 8 and 9, she headlined the 2022Wireless Festival in London andBirmingham.[200] Cardi B worked with cousin and fellow rapperGloRilla on the remix to her song "Tomorrow", titled "Tomorrow 2", which was released in September 2022.[201][202] The remix peaked at number nine on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Cardi's eleventh top-ten single.[203]HipHopDX listed it as the "Best Hip-Hop Collaboration" of 2022 while it was also the highest-listed song by a female rapper onBillboard's 100 Best Songs of 2022 list.[204][205] On October 1, Cardi B made a surprise appearance at theInglewood show of Puerto Rican rapperBad Bunny's concert tour, theWorld's Hottest Tour.[206] In November, she signed with entertainment executiveIrving Azoff's Full Stop Management.[207] In December 2022, she gave a 35-minute private performance at theMiami Art Basel for which she was paid $1 million.[208][209] Later that month, a remix of Spanish artistRosalía's song "Despechá" featuring Cardi, was released.[210]
Cardi B appeared as a surprise performer at the New York City shows of SZA and GloRilla's tours: theSOS Tour and Anyways, Life's Great Tour, in early 2023.[211][212] In April, she served as one of three headliners of the inauguralRolling Loud Thailand festival inPattaya, along withTravis Scott andChris Brown.[213] In June, she featured on "Put It on da Floor Again", the remix to rapper Latto's "Put It on da Floor".[214] It peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100, becoming Cardi's 20th top-twenty single.[215] On June 4, Cardi B headlined the 2023Summer Jam festival inElmont, New York.[216] ln July, she featured on "Point Me 2", the remix to drill rapper FendiDa Rappa's single "Point Me to the Slut's".[217] Later that month, she collaborated with Offset on two tracks of his second solo album,Set It Off (2023): "Freaky" and "Jealousy".[218] The latter was released as the lead single of the record; it samplesThree 6 Mafia's "Jealous Ass Bitches".[219] On September 8, 2023, Cardi released "Bongos" featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which marks the pair's second collaboration after "WAP" (2020).[220] The music video, directed byTanu Muino,[221] cost over $2 million.[222] "Bongos" reached number 14 in the US.[223] Cardi led the2023 BET Hip Hop Awards nominations with21 Savage, with twelve each.[224] She reprised her voice role as Sharki B for the children's animated film,Baby Shark's Big Movie!, in which ch she appeared alongside Offset and their two children. It premiered in December onParamount+ and Nickelodeon.[225] Cardi B co-headlinedTikTok's inaugural In the Mix festival on December 10 inMesa, Arizona,[226] which was released as a concert special on Disney+ and Hulu on December 15.[227] She performed at theFontainebleau Miami Beach, accompanied by DJGryffin, on December 31, 2023, which aired live for the 2024 edition ofDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.[228][229]
On February 7, 2025, Cardi andPardison Fontaine released "Toot It Up".[246] She then featured alongsideDJ Khaled,Natania, and Subhi on Desi Trill's "Higher Love", released on February 21 as the lead single of theSmurfs soundtrack.[247] In June 2025, Cardi B headlined the 2025 LadyLand music festival along withFKA Twigs in Brooklyn.[248] She hostedWWE's2025 SummerSlam event on August 2 and 3 at theMetLife Stadium inEast Rutherford, New Jersey.[249] Cardi's second studio albumAm I the Drama?, was released on September 19, 2025, over seven years after her debut album.[250] The project was delayed numerous times over multiple years after the release ofInvasion of Privacy, citing perfectionism and pressure to live up to expectations.[251][252][253][254] Recorded over a six-year period,[255] the album features 23 tracks, including her previous singles "WAP" and "Up".[256]
It was preceded by the singles "Outside" on June 20 and "Imaginary Playerz" on August 15.[257][258] The former debuted at number ten on theBillboard Hot 100 and made Cardi the female rapper with the most top-ten debuts on the chart (3),[259][260] while the latter samplesJay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Players".[261] "Safe", featuringKehlani, was released as the third single in tandem with the album.[262]Am I the Drama? was met with positive reviews from critics,[263] withRob Sheffield ofRolling Stone describing it as a "massive comeback triumph".[264] It debuted atop theBillboard 200 with 200,000 album-equivalent units, marking Cardi's second number-one album and achieving 2025's biggest sales week for an R&B/hip-hop album by a woman.[265] She became the only female rapper in history to have her first two albums debut atop theBillboard 200.[266] The record earned the most entries for a female rap album in Hot 100 history (18 songs).[267] It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA, becoming the highest-certified female rap album of the 2020s decade and the fastest female album in history to achieve the feat.[268][269] It was also the fastest album to be certified double platinum in history.[269] On September 27, Cardi co-headlined the Global Citizen Festival 2025 in New York City.[270] In support ofAm I the Drama?, she will conduct theLittle Miss Drama Tour, consisting of 34 arena shows across the US and Canada, from February to April 2026.[271]
"When I first started rapping [...] I liked certain songs fromKhia andTrina, 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 affordred 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.'"[279][280]
She credits her experiences growing up in the South Bronx for her success, stating: "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 debut studio album,Invasion of Privacy, is primarily ahip hop record, which comprises elements oftrap,Latin music, andR&B.[91][281] Herflow was described as "acrobatic and nimble" byConsequence of Sound,[282] and "aggressive" byNewsweek andAllMusic.[283][4]Stereogum called her vocals an "unabashedly loud and sexual fuck-you New York honk" and "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 yourMetroCard."[284]Pitchfork wrote that her vocal performance in "WAP" is in "her classic throaty style",[285] whileLos Angeles Times characterized it as a "staccato bark".[286]
NME described her album as "sexually free" and performed with "rapid" flow.[135]Pitchfork andThe Source highlighted the album's punchlines as clever and quotable,[287][288] andThe New York Times called them "classically comedic".[289] In a 2017Complex article, 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 ... this is why she resonates with people, and that same energy comes out in her music."[290] She possesses aNew York-Dominican accent.[291]
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".[292][293] 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."[278] She has stated that writing and performing songs about her personal life and relationships initially caused her a "weird and uncomfortable" feeling and shyness.[278]
Other ventures
Products and endorsements
In February 2017, she partnered withM.A.C and Rio Uribe's Gypsy Sport for aNew York Fashion Week event.[51] Her April appearance ini-D's "A-Z of Music" video was sponsored by designerMarc Jacobs,[56] and she made the cover ofThe Fader's July/August 2017 Summer Music issue.[70]Tom Ford's Cardi B-inspired lipstick, named after her, was released in September 2018. It sold out within 24 hours.[294] In November, she released a clothing line collection withFashion Nova.[295] The same month she partnered withReebok, promoting the brand's Aztrek sneaker.[296]
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.[297] She released her second collection with Reebok in 2021, titled "Let Me Be...In My World", comprising sneakers, tracksuits, and corsets, inspired by everyday life in New York City.[298] The third collection with the brand, "Mommy & Me", was released in May 2021 in recognition ofMother's Day, which includes Cardi's iteration of Club C shoes for adults, children, and infants.[299] The next, titled "Let Me Be...Enchanted" was released in two parts in June and July 2022; it was revealed to be inspired by "a state of enchantment and euphoria" and included crop tops, faux fur jackets, and leotards along with footwear.[300][301] The fifth and final collection, "Let Me Be...Next Level Energy", was also released in two parts in September and December 2022, concluding her four-year partnership with Reebok.[302][303] Inspired by Cardi B's "unmatched energy", the collection consisted of bodysuits, crop tops, footwear, leggings, and woven jackets—of a color palette based oncrystals.[302]
Cardi B teamed up withPepsi for three television commercials, which aired during theSuper Bowl LIII, the61st Annual Grammy Awards, and Christmas.[304][305] In early 2019, Cardi also joined other hip hop artists (including her husbandOffset, as part ofMigos) in releasing her flavors of snack food Rap Snacks: two flavors of chips, and two of popcorn. The bags' artwork was designed by Jai Manselle and inspired by the cover ofInvasion of Privacy.[306][307] In December 2021, Cardi B partnered withPLBY Group Inc. ascreative director in residence forPlayboy and founding member of Centerfold, a creator-driven website in the works. The partnership also includes fashion and sexual wellness products.[308]
In February 2023, Cardi B and Offset partnered withMcDonald's to create the Cardi B and Offset meal, which was launched onValentine's Day.[309] The meal was first announced in the2023 McDonald'sSuper Bowl commercial which the couple appeared in.[310] In October, she fronted the campaign forSkims' Cotton Collection.[311] The campaign generated over $4 million in media impact value (MIV).[312] In December 2023, she made her runway debut at the Balenciaga fall 2024 show in Los Angeles.[313] In February 2024, Cardi B starred inNYX Cosmetics' inaugural Super Bowl commercial forSuper Bowl LVIII, titled "Lips Only".[314][315] An edited version of the advert—centered around the company's Duck Plump lip gloss—was broadcast during the commercial break, due toribald themes of humor.[316] In May 2024, she appeared alongside sprinterSha'Carri Richardson in a commercial for the2024 Summer Olympics.[317] In July, Cardi fronted theMarc Jacobs fall 2024 campaign.[318] In September 2025, Cardi B recorded public service announcements forMTANew York City Transit'ssubway system.[319]
Whipshots
In collaboration with Starco Brands, Cardi B launched avodka-infused,vegan whipped cream, called Whipshots, in the US in December 2021.[320] It has sold over five million cans as of March 2024.[321]
Cardi Tries
She premiered the seriesCardi Tries viaFacebook Messenger in December 2020, with herself as one of the executive producers.[322] The web series ran for three seasons until April 2023.[323][324]
Philanthropy
In 2022, Cardi B donated $100,000 to the elementary school she attended, I.S. 232 inThe Bronx.[325] In the same year, Cardi B pledged to cover the funeral expenses of all 17 victims of the2022 Bronx apartment fire, as well as repatriation costs for a number of the victims who are to be buried inGambia.[326][327][328]
Public image
Political statements
Cardi B identifies as afeminist.[329] The rapper has been called "unabashedly, directly political"[14] and often uses social media to advocate for causes she believes in, such asgun control.[330] During the2016 presidential primaries, she warned her fans ofDonald Trump's immigration policies and encouraged them to vote for SenatorBernie Sanders.[331][332] At theGrammy Awards in 2018, she appeared in a video along withHillary Clinton to narrate a portion ofFire 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?"[333]
Early in 2018, she used her social media to demand transparency ontax 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, andpublic transportation.[334] Also in 2018, she praised PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt for advocating for theSocial Security program and theNew Deal project.[335] She said of Roosevelt, "he helped us get over theDepression, all while he was in a wheelchair. Like, this man was suffering frompolio 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."[336] Sanders has praised her for her "leading role" in calling attention to Social Security.[337]
Cardi B endorsed Sanders once again in hissecond bid for the presidency in the2020 United States presidential election, while praising U.S. RepresentativeTim Ryan.[338] She stated that one of the reasons for her endorsement is Sanders' long-time involvement in supporting underprivileged minorities and "people gettingMedicare because he knows they can't afford it,"[2] whilePolitico argued that she "might be one of Bernie's most powerful 2020 allies."[339]
In 2020, Cardi B used her social pages to raise awareness for victims ofpolice brutality, and has encouraged people to vote for mayors, judges anddistrict attorneys in local elections.[340] In a conversation with Democratic candidateJoe Biden forElle, they discussed Medicare,free college tuition, and racial equality.[341] According to a study published byThe Hollywood Reporter, Cardi B ranked as the fifth most influential celebrity, and fourth amongGeneration Z, for the 2020 presidential election.[342]
In late 2023, Cardi B stated she no longer supports Joe Biden for president,[343] saying that she would "not [be] endorsing no fucking presidents no more" as a result of Biden's "spending on wars".[344][345] In 2024, she endorsedKamala Harris.[346]
Fashion
Cardi has a noted affinity forChristian 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".[347] During an interview in early 2017, Cardi B spoke on being rejected by some fashion designers.[348] Cardi wore vintageThierry Mugler to the2019 Grammy Awards, with ani-D article stating that the fashion house's "resurgence onto the fashion scene can almost single-handedly be attributed" to theSwarovski crystal-embroidered crinoline sheath gown she wore at the ceremony.[349]
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 beingBeyoncé for her 2009 concert tour.[349]W magazine credited the "WAP" music video for popularizing the Mugler bodysuit in the mainstream.[350] Cardi has acknowledged Mugler as one of the first designers to "take a major chance on [her]" for their fashion collaborations.[351]
Vogue,The Telegraph,Time, andVibe have referred to her as afashion icon.[352][353][354][355] An article fromVogue 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."[356] Her over-the-top manicures, designed bynail artistJenny Bui and studded withSwarovski crystals, has become a part of her signature look.[357] EditorChristian Allaire from the magazine in 2021 commented that her signature "bold" ensembles "create a spectacle" duringfashion weeks.[358]
In 2018, she became the first female rapper in the U.S. to appear on the cover ofVogue magazine. Photographed byAnnie Leibovitz, the cover, one of four for the January 2019 issue that includedStella McCartney, features her in a red and whiteMichael Kors dress and matching redJimmy Choo shoes, while holding her daughter, Kulture.[359][360]
In 2019, theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America included her on their list of "28 Black Fashion Forces".[361]Vogue editor-in-chiefAnna Wintour commended her fashion sense, declaring that she "completely rethought [her] opinion of Cardi B's style" after the 2019Met Gala, where the rapper wore aThom Browne-designed burgundy gown that extends outward in concentric circles for about ten feet and was inspired by thefemale form.[362][363]
Cardi B became the face ofBalenciaga's ad campaign for the winter 2020 season. The campaign includes billboards in several international locations, such as theLouvre 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 printedRichard Quinn ensemble "that literally covered her from head to toe" and her being "a front row fixture" athigh 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".[364]
In 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to be awarded by theFN Achievement Awards when she won the Style Influencer of the Year award, which was presented to her byChristian 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".[365] In 2022,Rolling Stone ranked her as the second most-stylish woman in music, behindLady Gaga,[366] andGQ considered her "one of fashion's preeminent risk-takers."[367]
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 thatPOC artists no longer need to pander or soften themselves in order to become household names."[370]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...".[371] Several publications have credited "I Like It", the firstLatin trap song to reach number one on theHot 100, for introducing the "musical movement" to a mainstream, massive audience.[372][373]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."[278]Billboard noted that from the late 2010s to the early 2020s, "Cardi kept cranking out hits that either crossed over to pop radio (like "Girls Like You" with Maroon 5) or exploded across hip-hop culture (like "WAP" with Megan Thee Stallion), while also dabbling in Hollywood projects and brand deals".[374]
The Wall Street Journal's Neil Shah stated in 2020 that her breakthrough and success influenced "today's female-rap renaissance," whileGenius staff credited her for "helping jumpstart a new wave of female hip-hop signings and promotion at labels,"[167][375] andNPR 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.[376] Similarly,Clover Hope's bookThe Motherlode (2021) stated thatInvasion 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."[377]
The New Yorker has credited her for "changing a genre that has rarely allowed for more than one female superstar at a time."[378]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 theGolden 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."[379]Variety deemed her a "hip-hop icon",[380] andThe 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".[381] In 2024,Billboard included Cardi B among the honorable mentions of its "25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century" listicle. The magazine called her one of the "most influential female rappers ever, and one of the most bankable hit-makers across all of hip-hop".[374]
NPR defined "Cardi B effect" as "abranding 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."[382] Business magazineInc. stated that her success "shows how social media changed everything we knew abouttraditional marketing and media", which no longer relies on a "well-thought marketing scheme or millions of dollars in advertising."[383] In 2019, a life-sized sculpture of her was on display at theBrooklyn Museum, as part ofSpotify's RapCaviar "Pantheon".[384]
Bloomberg News reported that her data bill helped to boost Ghana's GDP growth in 2019, after it was part of a concert tour.[385] She inspired the creation of the sitcomPartners in Rhyme, executively produced byMC Lyte about a young woman in high school who "aspires to be the next Cardi B."[386]P-Valley creator and executive producerKatori Hall cited her an inspiration for the TV series, and credited her for "helping prepare the public" for its storyline.[387][388]
Time included her on theirannual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.[134] She received theASCAP award forSongwriter of the Year in 2019, becoming the first female rapper to win the award.[404] She received the honor for the second time in 2020, making her the first female songwriter to win the award twice.[405] In 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to be namedWoman of the Year at theBillboard Women in Music Awards.[173]
Cardi B is the female rapper with the mostBillboard Hot 100 number one singles (5)[179] and the one with the most total weeks on the top position (16).[106][179] "I Like It" became the first song led by a female rapper to surpassa billion streams onSpotify, making her the first woman in hip hop with multiple billion-streamers on the service, and the female rapper with the second-most, with a total of four so far.[406] With the singles "Taki Taki" and "WAP" she became the only female rapper to top the global Spotify chart multiple times.[164] Since August 2020, "WAP" holds the record of the biggest first-week streams for a song in the United States.[164]Invasion of Privacy was the top female rap album of the 2010s, according to theBillboard 200 decade-end chart.[407] It became the longest-charting album by a female rapper on theBillboard 200,[408] and the most-streamed female rap album on Spotify.[409]
Cardi is the first female rapper with at least threeDiamond-certified songs by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA): "Bodak Yellow", which made her the first female rapper to have a song certified Diamond; "Girls Like You", which made her the only female rapper to achieve multiple Diamond-certified songs; and "I Like It", a tie for the second-most among women artists.[410][124][411][412] Cardi B has topped twicePitchfork'sannual list of best songs of the year (2017 and 2020).[77][413]Billboard staff andRolling Stone ranked her debut album number 13 and 34 on their critics' lists of the best albums of the 2010s respectively, both the highest rank for a female rapper for the decade.[414][415] Cardi B has become the highest-certified female rapper of all time on theRIAA's Top Artists (Digital Singles) ranking, with 69 million certified units, also being among the highest-certified female artists overall.[124] In October 2022, five years after her major-label debut, she reached 100 million units sold in RIAA certifications, across her album, singles and guest appearances.[416]
In the US, Cardi has achieved three times the best-performing song of the year by a female artist—the first act to do so this century—in 2017, 2018, and 2020.[417] As of 2021, "I Like It" is the most-streamed song by a female rapper in the United Kingdom.[418] In August 2021, "Bodak Yellow" made Cardi B the first female rapper to have two videos on herYouTube channel with more than 1 billion views, joining "I Like It", and became the fastest solo female rap song to reach that mark on the platform.[419][420] She has the most-viewed music videos on YouTube, both as a solo act and feature, among female rappers ("Bodak Yellow"; "Girls Like You"). As of September 2024, she has one music video with over 3 billion views ("Girls Like You"); one video with over 2 billion views ("Taki Taki"); and three videos with over a billion views ("I Like It", "Bodak Yellow", "Girls Like You (Volume 2)") on YouTube. Cardi is the only female rapper ranked onBillboard's Greatest Hot 100 Hits of All Time, with "Girls Like You" at number 30.[421]
Personal life
Cardi B defined herself as a practicingCatholic.[422]
In 2016, Cardi B said that when working as a stripper, she used to drug and rob men for their money.[423][424][425] Following controversies on the matter, sparked in 2019, she defended herself, saying, "whether or not they were poor choices at the time, I did what I had to do to survive." She explains: "I never glorified the things I brought up in that live [video], I never even put those things in my music because I'm not proud of it and feel a responsibility not to glorify it. I made the choices that I did at the time because I had very limited options."[426][427] In 2024, Cardi B spoke on the matter again, saying she "doesn't feel bad" about drugging and robbing men regarding her past, and would have done it again.[428]
We are Caribbean people. [...] Some people want to decide if you're black or not, depending on your skin complexion, because they don't understand Caribbean people or our culture. [...] I don't got to tell you that I'm black. I expect you to know about it. When my father taught me about Caribbean countries, he told me that Europeans took over our lands. That's why we all speak different languages. [...] Just like everybody else, we came over here the same way. I hate when people try to take my roots from me. Because we know that there's African roots inside of us.[436]
RapperGloRilla is Cardi's biological first cousin due to Glorilla's father being a half-sibling to one of Cardi's parents, but referred to her as her “half-niece”. Glorilla also confirmed they are cousins.[437]
Relationships
In early 2017, Cardi B began dating fellow rapperOffset.[67][29] They became engaged on October 27, 2017.[438] On April 7, 2018, during her second performance onSaturday Night Live, Cardi B revealed her pregnancy; she was about six months (24 weeks) pregnant at the time.[439] On June 25, 2018,TMZ found a marriage license revealing Cardi B and Offset had actually secretly married in September 2017, one month before the public proposal. She later confirmed this in a social media post.[440]
Cardi B gave birth to a daughter on July 10, 2018.[441] In December 2018, she announced on Instagram that she and Offset had separated, though the pair later reunited.[442][443] In February 2019, the couple made a public appearance for the Grammys.[444] He accompanied her onstage during her acceptance speech forBest Rap Album.[445]
In September 2020, it was reported that Cardi B had filed for divorce from Offset,[446][447] but the following month it was revealed they were back together.[448] In June 2021, Cardi B revealed she was pregnant with her second child, a boy.[449] She gave birth to a son on September 4, 2021.[450] On the fifth anniversary of her marriage, Cardi B announced she was planning her official wedding.[451] In December 2023, Cardi shared via Instagram that she had been "single for a minute," confirming that she and Offset were no longer together.[452] However, as of March 2024, the current status of their marriage became unclear as they were still working together, with Offset having directed a music video for Cardi B.[453] In July 2024, Cardi officially filed for divorce from Offset.[454] She announced her third pregnancy the day after.[455] She gave birth to her third child, a daughter, on September 7, 2024.[456][457][458]
In October 2024, Cardi was rumored to be in a relationship with NFL playerStefon Diggs.[459] On June 1, 2025, she publicly confirmed her relationship with Diggs in an Instagram post with photos with them together.[459] On September 17, 2025, in an interview withGayle King, Cardi confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child, also her first with Diggs.[460][461] She gave birth to a son in November of that year.[462]
Legal issues
On October 1, 2018, Cardi B was accused of an alleged assault of two female bartenders.[463][464] The victims claimed that Cardi B and her entourage "threw bottles and alcohol at them."[465] She denied involvement.[466] She was charged with twomisdemeanors: assault and reckless endangerment.[467] Cardi B appeared in court for her arraignment on December 7, 2018, after she did not show up for the originally scheduled date due to a scheduling conflict, according to her attorney.[468][469] On June 21, 2019, a jury indicted Cardi B on 14 charges, including two counts of felony assault with intent to cause serious physical injury, stemming from the incident.[470][471] She was arraigned on June 25, 2019, and pleaded not guilty on all charges.[472] On September 15, 2022, she pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment, resulting in a sentence of 15 days of community service.[473][474]
On January 24, 2022, Cardi won a million-dollar defamation verdict against YouTuber Latasha Kebe (Tasha K) for waging a "malicious campaign" to hurt her reputation by posting false rumors. She stated that the lies had led her to contemplate suicide in 2019.[475][476] The jury issued a verdict that Cardi B had been defamed and awarded $1.25 million in damages.[477] Further proceedings brought the total fine against Kebe to $3.82 million.[478]
On March 25, 2022, Cardi, her sister Hennessy, and Hennessy's girlfriend won a defamation lawsuit filed against them by three men over an incident at a Suffolk County beach.[479]
In July 2023, Cardi B threw her microphone into the crowd at aLas Vegas concert of hers after a fan threw a liquid at her. Subsequently, one fan attempted to press charges but theClark County Police Department following an investigation decided not to move forward with a case.[480][481]
^Saporana, Michael (March 1, 2024)."Watch Cardi B Channel Missy Elliott in Sexy 'Like What (Freestyle)' Video Directed by Offset".Billboard.After confirming their split last year, things might be OK between Cardi B and husband Offset as well, since the Grammy-winning rapper tapped the father of her two children to use his vision and direct the music video for 'Like What (Freestyle).'
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