Love her or hate her, there's no doubt that rapper Cardi B is one of the biggest names in rap music today. Seemingly shotting to fame overnight, the 26-year-old has surely come a long way from her beginnings at New York City's The Bronx neighborhood.
Chart Topper
A still from the 'Bodak Yellow' music video which was shot in Dubai.
While Cardi B first gained fame in 2015 as the 'breakout star' of the reality show 'Love & Hip Hop: New York', the rapper broke out into the music scene two years later with the release of her debut single, 'Bodak Yellow'. Topping the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks straight, the song went on to become the second single by a solo rapper to ever top the said music chart. The first spot is held by Lauryn Hill whose song 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' topped the chart in 1998.
But her success didn't stop there. Her debut single then received numerous nominations at different award-giving bodies. 'Bodak Yellow' was nominated for the Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance awards at the following year's Grammy Awards. While Cardi B, didn't win there, the single was awarded the favorite rap song honor at the 2018 American Music Awards.
Fast Growth
Cardi B eventually won a Grammy for Best Rap Album at this year's ceremony and thanked her daughter Kulture in her speech
During the early days of her entertainment career in 2016, it's estimated that the rapper and now mother of one had $400,000 to her name. In a year, she managed to turn that into $1.5 million come February of 2017.
But what's even more impressive is that she was able to multiply that amount just months after. By September of the same year, AOL reported that Cardi B was worth around $4 to $5 million. Her current fortune is believed to be at $8 million as of latest estimates. According to sources, the rapper's income comes from a variety of sources. Of course, there are her profits from her music. Then there are her earnings from various partnerships and endorsements.
Given the upward trajectory that her career seems to be heading at, it's safe to assume that Cardi's fortune will only continue to multiply in the future. She's already got gigs lined up beginning from her recent gig having a Las Vegas residency at the KAOS day and night club last spring.
Long Way
Photos of a young Cardi B
Considering the singer's humble beginnings, her impressive rise to the life of fame and fortune becomes even more impressive. Born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, to a Dominican father and a Trinidadian-Spanish mother, the young musician had a rough start at life. According to sources, she was a member of a gang in her mid to late teens and had to dance for a living to escape poverty and domestic violence from her then-relationship.
She got her stage name 'Cardi B' from the popular alcoholic drink 'Bacardi' which was her former nickname.