Who Is Cardi B, Rapper Who Bumped Taylor Swift From No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 Spot?

Cardi B is an up and coming female rapper who just unseated Taylor Swift at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with her debut hit single “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves).”

WHO IS CARDI B?

Cardi B, whose was born Belcalis Almanzar, is the first solo female rapper to hit the No. 1 spot since Lauryn Hill in 1998. Since hitting the rap scene, Cardi has become recognized as a hot new act. She earned nine nominations at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, tying both DJ Khaled and Kendrick Lamar for the most nominations. Her nods include best new artist and single of the year.

Cardi began as an exotic dancer with a powerful social media presence, as she is not shy about presenting her plastic-surgery-enhanced body to her fans. She is open about her sexuality, uses profanity often, and makes it known that her aspiration is to get famous and make a lot of money.

She secured a spot on VH1’s Love & Hip Hio: New York during season 6 in 2015. She and the girlfriend of fellow cast member DJ Self became stars of the show as tensions flared between the two. “A girl have beef with me, she gonna have beef with me…forever,” she said in an iconic line.

Cardi B was born in the Bronx to Dominican and Trinidadian parents, and paid homage to her roots by releasing a Spanish version of her hit song. “A lot of my family members on my dad[‘s] side of the family don’t understand English,” she wrote on Instagram. “I wanted to make them proud. Sooooo I did BODAK YELLOW IN SPANISH!!!” Spanish rapper Messiah is featured on the track.

Other artists such as Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott have praised Cardi B for her rap game. “Congratulations to a fellow NEW YAWKA on a RECORD BREAKING achievement. Bardi, this is the only thing that matters!!! Enjoy it,” Minaj wrote on Twitter. Elliott similarly wrote, “Congratulations @iamcardib for having a #1 record in the country that’s not as easy as it seems this is huge. May u have continued blessings.”

Cardi B was particularly touched by that comment, and wrote about it on Instagram. “The first album I ever bought.I didn’t even really understand what she was saying cause I was soo young .I would never though of this son !!! I love you !!!!” the rapper said.