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Cardi B

Birth Name: Belcalis Almanzar
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, NY
October 11, 1992 – Present
Years Active: 2015 – Present

Rapper/Singer Cardi B grew up in the Latin neighborhood Highbridge in the South Bronx with a Dominican father and Trinidadian mother.  After growing up in the Bronx, she gained popularity after she had several videos go viral on Vine and Instagram in 2013.  In 2015, she joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York.

Cardi B made her music debut in the fall of 2015 in Jamaican singer Shaggy’s song “Boom, Boom”.  In 2017, she released her second mixtape and signed her first record deal with Atlantic Records.  Her first hit solo “Bodak Yellow” was released the same year, which earned the top spot on Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.  After collaborating with G-Eazy and A$AP Rocky on “No Limit” and with Migos and Nicky Minaj on “Motorsport”, Cardi B became the first female rapper with three songs in the top 10 of the Hot 100.  

In 2018, Cardi B released her first solo album Invasion of Privacy with the song “I Like It,” again reaching the top song on Billboard 100.  The album won rap album of the year at the 2019 Grammys.  Since then, the singer has released popular songs including “Up, “Money” and collaborated on a song with Megan Thee Stallion.  She has also collaborated on songs with Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars.

Since 2016, Cardi B has used her platform to talk about politics and social issues in the U.S. Before the 2020 election, she sat down with Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden to have a candid discussion about the 2020 presidential election.  She shared concerns about the Covid pandemic, police brutality, Medicare for all, immigration policy and many other topics that were on the minds of Americans.  During the pandemic, she partnered with FashionNova clothing brand to raise one million dollars for people affected by the pandemic. In 2022, she partnered with an organization where she gave $100,000 to her former middle school in the Bronx for art and after-school programs.

Cardi B cites Puerto Rican rapper Ivy Queen and Jamaican artist Spice as influences.  She is also a fan of Missy Elliot, Tweet, Madonna and Lady Gaga.