Taken from this week’s Future Pop mailer. Click here to subscribe.
Cardi B is Belcalis Almanzar, a 24-year-old rapper from the Bronx, who is best known for appearing on reality show Love & Hip Hop New York. She has done what many reality stars have failed to do, and successfully translated her popularity on the series into a burgeoning music career. She quit after two seasons to focus on music, and the gamble has paid off. Her latest single Bodak Yellow is her first to break the Billboard Hot 100, with 14 million YouTube views in the month since release. She recently appeared on the Wendy Williams Show to perform the track, which tells of how she was able to give up her job as a stripper when she became famous and started “making money moves.” Cardi became a fan favourite on Love & Hip Hop thanks to her sassy personality and drama-filled life. The series charted her relationship with jailed rapper Tommy Geez, thought she’s since switched him for a much more successful hip-hop boyfriend, Offset from Migos, who she collaborated with on her previous single, Lick. Her catchphrase (“owww!”) was getting on my nerves after watching just one interview, but she’s certainly an entertaining addition to the rap scene. Whether or not she becomes a mainstream star, she’s certainly made her name among hip-hop fans, and has a huge social media fanbase ready to hear what she does next.