Cardi B is the stage name of Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, born on October 11, 1992, in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. Raised in the South Bronx by her Dominican and Trinidadian parents, she became a transformative figure in hip-hop music and social media influence. Before launching her music career, Cardi B gained prominence as a social media influencer on Instagram and Vine, where her candid, outspoken personality went viral. She starred on VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York from 2015 to 2017, establishing herself as the show's breakout star. Transitioning fully to music in 2017, she released her breakthrough single "Bodak Yellow," making history as the first female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 without a featured artist since 1998. Her debut album "Invasion of Privacy" (2018) became the best-selling female rap album of the 21st century and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the first solo female rapper to win in that category. With over 164 million Instagram followers (@iamcardib), she has released multiple chart-topping hits including "WAP" and "I Like It." Recognized for her empowering lyrics, energetic rap flow, and political activism, Cardi B has won numerous awards and maintains significant cultural influence Watch Cardi B's exclusive content in HD on OnlyFre, updated 2026.