The Shady Past Of Cardi B
Unless you've been living under a rock since 2016, you've at least heard whispers of the name "Cardi B." The sassy New York native is one of the biggest females in rap, regularly tops the music charts, and is beloved by millions of young fans. Everyone from Beyoncé to Oprah and even Green Day are fans of Cardi B's "tell it like it is" vibe.
But before she was making money move, Cardi had her share of ups and downs. Read on to find out how Cardi went from working in an Amish market, to dancing on a pole, to winning a Grammy.
Her Real Name Is Belcalis Almanzar
To no one's surprise, "Cardi B" isn't the name her parents gave her when she was born. Cardi's real name is Belcalis Almanzar. Both of the names are Spanish translations of Arabic words. Almanzar of the Arabis "al mandhar" means "lookout point" or "watchtower."
Cardi says Belcalis is supposed to be a reference to the Queen of Sheba. The Queen of Sheba was one of the Bible's earliest powerful women, so we think the name fits Cardi just fine.
She Picked Up The Name Cardi B Later On
So how exactly did Cardi go from Belcalis to Cardi B? That came when she hit the stage as a young woman. Her sister's real name is Hennessey, like the brandy, so when the two started performing Cardi earned the alcohol-related nickname Bacardi.
When Cardi started rapping, she realized that keeping the moniker "Bacardi" might land in in legal troubles, so she moved the 'B' to the end and her stage name was set.
Her First Job Was At An Amish Market
Being the daughter of two full-time working parents, Cardi and her sister both had to get jobs early on in life. Cardi B's first job was working as a register clerk at an Amish food market in TriBeCa.
She earned about $250 a week and admits that bringing in money led her to drop out of school. She was eventually fired from the supermarket at the age of 19 which led her to the most influential, and controversial, job of her life.
She Became And Adult Dancer To Escape Abuse
Cardi B has never been shy about her past life as a stripper. She began working as a stripper when she was 19-years-old after the manager who fired her from the Amish Market suggested it. At the time, Cardi was in an abusive and violent relationship. She credits stripping with saving her life.
Cardi B has said that stripping was her only way to make enough money to escape her relationship and get an education. In many ways, it was the most positive change in her life.
A Dark History Of Gang Connections And Abuse
Cardi has admitted that her teenage years were difficult. Cardi became a member of the United Blood Nation when she was only 16 and even has a song about it, "Red Barz." Also known as the East Coast Bloods, the gang has 7,000 members active in the New York area.
While the gang's primary source of income is trafficking and selling illegal substances, Cardi admits she stayed away from dealing and was mostly a casual member of the Hispanic part of the gang.
She Had Plastic Surgery When She Was 19
Even though Cardi found a lot of positives from her experience as a stripper, she also saw a negative side to it. Not long after she began stripping, Cardi admits she became much more insecure with her body and wanted to use the money she was making to change it.
Only a few months after she began, the pressure got to be too much and Cardi underwent her first plastic surgery by getting breast enhancement surgery.
She Makes Money Move By Smart Investments
Cardi didn't just blow all the money she made from the Amish Market or from stripping. Once she was making enough money to support herself, Cardi began investing and saving her extra cash with the intentions of one day starting a music career.
Her investment strategy was actually successful. She ended up being able to fund, produce, and distribute both her first mixtape and her first EP with her own money.
She Doesn't Have A Drivers License
For people who were born and raised in New York, not having a drivers license is no big deal. Cardi is no exception and admitted that she doesn't have a license and she doesn't have a clue how to drive.
Some of her fans were quick to criticize the rapper for being unable to drive but she quickly clapped back, saying "how do you expect me to know how to drive when I've taken the train my whole life?" City kids know what she means.
Her Big Break Came From VH1
Cardi's big break came when she was cast on the VH1 show Love & Hip Hop: New York. The show followed the lives of several people that are involved in hip hop music. The New York version particularly focused on women trying to make it in the male-dominated field, which led Cardi to become the perfect breakout star.
She was considered the frontrunner of the show for her eccentric personality and rapping abilities. Cardi left the show after two seasons to pursue music full-time.
Becoming A Social Media Star
Thanks to her antics on Love & Hip Hop: New York, Cardi B was able to build an impressive social media following. She often posted videos on Vine and Instagram that got millions of views. Thanks to her "humungous personality" and "stream-of-consciousness genius"
Cardi was able to amass more than 24 million followers on Instagram. When asked about her huge following, Cardi says it keeps her humble and that she "can't believe they love me."
Her First Single Made History
In 2016, Cardi B released her first single with a major label. "Bodak Yellow" was an instant success and soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. While people were focused on her success, the women in music were applauding Cardi B for becoming the first solo female rapper to have a number one hit since Lauryn Hill's 1998 single "Doo Wop (That Thing)."
The record led many women in music to publicly congratulate Cardi and Taylor Swift even sent her a massive bouquet of roses.
She Knows Some Russian
How does a girl from the Bronx pick up the Russian language? Once again, Cardi can thank stripping for that. The club that Cardi used to work at was mostly staffed with Russian women and men. Her long nights at the club meant Cardi began to learn the Russian language, listen to their music, and even pronounce English words differently.
Since she left that life behind, Cardi has stopped using the language but says she still has some understanding of it.
She Gets Down And Dirty With Politics
Cardi B has recently been making headlines for her political comments and they have been widening her fan base even more. She's a strong advocate for gun control, Medicare, and supported many Democratic candidates in 2016 and 2018.
After posting a viral video supporting Medicare for all, Stephen Colbert tried to get Cardi to be the official Democrat response to the 2019 State of the Union. Cardi has also ended up in spats on Twitter with other political commentators, like right-wing Barbie Tomi Lahren.
In Fact, She's "Obsessed" With Presidents
It's not just general politics that Cardi is a fan of. The rapped told GQ that she loves government, political science, and that's she's "obsessed with presidents." One president Cardi really admires was Franklin D. Rosevelt.
Cardi continued by praising FDR for "suffering from polio at the time of his presidency, and yet all he was worried about was trying to make America great...for real." Her love of FDR has made Cardi a huge supporter of Social Security. #Cardi2020?
What Happened With Nicki Minaj At Fashion Week?
Rumors began to swirl on the internet after a video was posted online of Cardi B throwing a shoe and attempting to fight fellow female rapper, Nicki Minaj. Both were escorted out of New York Fashion Week 2018 and took to social media to defend their positions.
Cardi claimed that Minaj had "liked" negative comments about her on social media and criticized Cardi's abilities as a mother. Minaj denied all the accusations but it still left people wondering.
So Does Nicki Have Beef With Cardi?
The shoe-throwing incident was just one of many times Cardi's fans have been left wondering whether or not the two rappers hate each other. People think Minaj has been critical of Cardi but the evidence on the internet says otherwise. Minaj has posted videos of her dancing to Cardi's "Bodak Yellow" and she was one of many to congratulate Cardi for reaching number one.
On the flip side, Minaj has definitely called out Cardi's ex-fiancé Offset on numerous occasions, which led Cardi to stand up for her man.
Her All-Time Idol Is Madonna
Cardi has a lot of eccentric music influences but her all-time idol is none other than Madonna. The rapper gushed in an Instagram post after performing in front of Madonna at an event.
Cardi went on to say that she grew up with her mom "listening to Madonna for hours." Apparently, she even performed "Material Girl" at her high school talent show in her freshman year. When they met, Cardi said Madge was the "liberal...feminist" that she thought she'd be.
She's A Member Of The Bey Hive
Like all of us, Cardi is a huge fan of the one and only, Beyoncé. The rapper has referenced a lot of strong females in her music but Queen Bey seems to make more appearances than most. In her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, Cardi references Beyoncé four times.
Someone did the math and that means she talks about Bey once every 12 minutes. Other female artists who got shoutouts in her album include Tina Turner, TLC, and Rihanna.
She's A Devout Catholic
While some people might not think Cardi B is a saint from her lyrics, she's a self-professed devout Catholic. Cardi was raised a Catholic and frequently attended church services as a child.
She often mentions how she feels she has a "strong relationship with God." Cardi has even claimed to directly communicate with God when needed. The rapper says her faith increased while she was stripping and fleeing her abusive relationship.
She's LBGT+ Positive
In 2018, Cardi joined forces with Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX for the release of the single "Girls." The song was criticized by fans for trivialized and over-sexualizing LGBT relationships.
Cardi was one of the first to respond to fans, and she said the group never meant to cause harm or had any bad intentions. She also added in that she understood because she "had experiences with other women."
Getting Her Teeth Fixed Helped Out Her Dentist
Cardi has repeatedly mentioned how one of the first thing she did when she began making money was fix her teeth. As a child, her parents couldn't afford regular dentlal visits or braces. On her track "Bodak Yellow" she even said "Got a bag and fixed my teeth."
Apparently just dropping that one verse left people calling up Cardi's dentist. Her dentist has said business tripled after the rapper gave them a shoutout.
She's A Fan Girl Of Fast Food
Despite having a rockin' body, Cardi B indulges in some unhealthy food every once in a while. The rapper has documented her love of McDonald's on more than one occasion. One video showcased her jumping for joy after getting a gift card for the fast food joint.
Another video had her telling fans she was going to buy "a hunned chicken nuggets, bro" with her new fortune.
She's A Daughter Of Immigrants
Both of Cardi's parents immigrated to the United States before she was born. The rapper's mother is from Trinidad, while her father is from the Dominican Republic. They immigrated to New York City separately, met, and fell in love.
Both her parents worked full-time jobs so Cardi spent a lot of her childhood with her paternal grandmother. Cardi says her grandmother is the reason she has such a thick accent.
A Bronx Girl Through And Through
Cardi was born and raised in Highbridge, which is a neighborhood in the central section of the Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is predominantly Latino and immigrant-based. Cardi has said that she wouldn't be able to appreciate music if she hadn't been raised there.
Cardi told AM New York that growing up in the Bronx was "a great experience" and that it allowed her to "rap about the things" she does.
She Lied To Her Mom About Her Work
Now when she looks back, Cardi admits that stripping was a "very positive" thing in her life but at the time, she didn't feel comfortable sharing the truth. In an interview with Khloé Kardashian, Cardi says that she lied to her mom for years about how she was making so much money.
The rapper said she was babysitting for "white people that are so rich" and pay her $100 a day." Apparently, her mom was oblivious to the truth for years.
Cardi Won't Work With Just Anyone
It's no surprise that an artist so used to having her privacy invaded has begun to get very picky with who she works with. While she's always open to female collaborations, she's begun to steer clear of collaborating with just any male artist.
Cardi has said she is fearful of the rumors that can spread from her spending too much time with men in the rap game. She's also said working on her own or with other women has got her ahead of the game, so she doesn't worry too much about it.
She's Dealt With A Lot Of Harassment
Cardi has said that her album title "Invasion of Privacy" was inspired by her actual lack of privacy. After her song "Bodak Yellow" became a hit, Cardi says she had people harassing and stalking her. Things got even worse after she announced her pregnancy and engagement.
The rapper said that it feels like she gives people a lot "and people still want more." The harassment has continued and Cardi even shut down her Instagram account after people began threatening her after her 2019 Grammy win.
Cardi And Rapper Offse Had A Secret Marriage
Cardi began dating fellow rapper Offset—a member of the hip hop group Migos—in early 2017. He proposed to her on October 27, 2017, in front of thousands of fans at one of his concerts. The two didn't discuss wedding plans publicly until TMZ unearthed a marriage license dated to September 2017, before their engagement.
Cardi took to her Instagram to confirm that the couple had secretly wed in September 2017 in their bedroom.
Jewelry Matters More Than Clothes
Despite having a net worth of more than $8 million, Cardi still famously buys whatever cheap clothes she can. She's been quoted as saying she doesn't care if a dress is $50 or $15, if it looks good on her she'll buy it. Cardi still frequently shops in the Bronx and at Fordham mall.
Cardi does shell out the cash on her accessories though. She likes to drip in diamonds and famously said "$100,000 on the wrist but my outfit costs like $60."
Now She's A Proud Mommy
On April 7, 2018, Cardi B showed off her baby bump during her performance on Saturday Night Live. The official pregnancy announcement came later that night on social media and finally put an end to her fans speculating for months that she was pregnant.
Three months later in July 2018, Cardi B gave birth to a daughter named Kulture. Despite her desire for privacy, ex-fiancé Offset shared a video of the birth for their fans.
