Top 5 Must-Know Facts about Cardi B

Top 5 Facts About Cardi B

#5: Cardi B Isn't Her Real Name

Singers have been adopting stage names since the dawn of the entertainment industry; and Cardi B is no exception. The burgeoning hip-hop star was born Belcalis Almanzar to Trinidadian and Dominican parents. In fact, they are partially responsible for coming up with her future stage name, as they playfully nicknamed her Bacardi – like the rum –, which she later reinterpreted as Cardi B when she became a singer. She claims that the “B” in Cardi B shifts its meaning depending on her mood. Some days it stands for beautiful, while other days it stands for bully.

#4: Rapper Kodak Black Inspired Bodak Yellow

If you still haven’t heard Cardi B’s breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” you seriously need to come out from under that rock. The song wasted little time climbing all the way to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart; and actually made Cardi B the first female rapper to have their breakout single top the chart since Lauryn Hill did in 1998. Eagle eared listeners will be quick to point out that the songs title doesn’t appear in the lyrics, but that’s because “Bodak Yellow” is a shout out to rapper Kodak Black, whose song “No Flockin” provided the inspiration for “Bodak Yellow’s” ridiculously addictive flow.

#3: She Started off as an Instagram Star

Like many up and coming stars, Cardi B made her first impression with the public on social media. The Bronx native quickly became an Internet celebrity thanks to the hilarious videos posted regularly to her Instagram and Vine accounts; and if you think we’re exaggerating go check out how many Insta followers she has. Yeah, it’s well over 10 million. Two things that stand out from her many posts are her thick accent and complete lack of a filter; which anyone who’s ever been on social media knows is a recipe for stardom. Go check her out, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

#2: She Rose to Fame on the Reality TV Show “Love & Hip Hop”

Next up for Cardi B was a stint on the VH1 reality TV series “Love & Hip Hop”. The show chronicles the lives of members of the New York City hip hop scene. Cardi B was a member of the cast for the shows 6th and 7th seasons before backing out to focus on her music. Cardi B is often credited with being the 6th season’s breakout star thanks to her obvious musical talent as well as for her tumultuous relationship with her then fiancé Tommy, who was in prison at the time. It wasn’t long after her departure that “Bodak Yellow” made her a household name!

#1: She Used to Work as a Stripper

Cardi B took an unconventional path to becoming a hip-hop superstar in that she once worked as an exotic dancer in New York City. While some people will look down on Cardi B’s past with disdain, they likely don’t know the whole story. Cardi B turned to stripping because she was living in poverty with an abusive boyfriend. She took the job as a way of distancing herself from that world, hoping that by making more money she’d finally be able to escape. The singer hasn’t shied away from discussing her checkered past in interviews and in fact, credits her time as a stripper as the reason for why she is now so successful.