Cardi B (born October 11, 1992, Bronx, , U.S.) is an American who vaulted onto the scene in the late 2010s with the release of the hit single “Bodak Yellow” (2017). With her spirited and unapologetic personality and empowering lyrics, she was especially popular among young women. In 2019 she became the first solo female rapper to win a for best album. Early life and career Cardi B was born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar in the , New York. Her mother was from , and her father was from the . Her younger sister, Hennessy, was named after a brand of , and Almánzar was called Bacardi, a brand of , to match. She eventually shortened the nickname to Cardi B. Her parents separated when she was a preteen, but she had a large that often supported her. From a young age Cardi B was interested in performing, and she later attended the Renaissance High School for Musical Theater and Technology in the Bronx. After graduating she enrolled in college but struggled to balance classes with a low-paying job at a deli. At age 19 Cardi B started working as a stripper in order to earn money quickly and escape an abusive relationship. Love & Hip Hop: New York and first mixtapes Cardi B often posted on , sharing candid, no-nonsense conversations about her experiences, many of which went viral. She leveraged her social media fame to become an influencer. In 2015 Cardi B joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York, a series following aspiring rappers. She was on the show for two seasons, through early 2017, before leaving to concentrate on her music. In the meantime, she made her musical debut in 2015 with Jamaican singer Popcaan on reggae singer ’s song “Boom Boom.” The following year she released her first mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1, which included one of her first hits, “Foreva.” Her next mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 2, was released in 2017 and featured rapper Offset (Kiari Kendrell Cephus), who was part of the group Migos, on “Lick.” Cardi B married him that same year and gave birth to their daughter, Kulture Kiari, in 2018, and son, Wave, in 2021., Belcalis Marlenis Cephus (née Almánzar; [a] born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper. Noted for her unfiltered public image and lyrics, Cardi B is one of the most successful female artists., Cardi B is raising eyebrows as fans begin to question her relationship status. One month after going Instagram official with NFL player Stefon Diggs, the Grammy winner, 32, seemingly deleted all .