Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper and songwriter. She is known for her aggressive flow and candid lyrics. Born and raised in New York City, she became an internet celebrity by achieving popularity on Vine and Instagram.
Cardi B has achieved the milestone of being the top artist of the hip hop and R&B genre to have her five songs in the top 10 list. Cardi B is popular for endorsing her friend Bernie Sander in the 2020’s Presidential elections. In 2013, Cardi B was widely acclaimed for her music career and top trending vine on her Instagram. In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, debuting in season six. Jezebel considered her the breakout star of the show's sixth season. The New York Times wrote that she garnered popularity with "her ability to rattle off one-liners".The sixth and seventh seasons chronicle her rise to stardom and her turbulent relationship with her incarcerated fiancé. On December 30, 2016, after two seasons, she announced that she would be leaving the show to further pursue a career in music.