Cardi B Biography: Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar’s Early Life, Career, and Family
Discover the full biography of Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, including her early life in the Bronx, Caribbean heritage, gang affiliation, rise from stripping to social media fame on Vine and Instagram, reality TV on Love & Hip Hop, music career, personal relationships, children, and public controversies.
Basic Information on Cardi B
Full Name: Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar
Stage Name: Cardi B
Date of Birth: October 11, 1992
Age: 33
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Other Names: Belcalis Almánzar-Cephus
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Ethnicity: Dominican (father) and Trinidadian (mother)
Education: Borough of Manhattan Community College (dropped out)
Occupation: Rapper, Media Personality
Years Active: 2015–present
Genres: East Coast Hip Hop, Trap, Dirty Rap
Label: Atlantic Records
Website: cardib.com
Early Life and Background
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known professionally as Cardi B, was born on October 11, 1992, in New York City. She grew up mainly in the Bronx, one of the city’s poorest and roughest boroughs, and also spent time in Washington Heights with her grandmother.
Cardi B’s background is Caribbean — her mother is Trinidadian, and her father is Dominican. She attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater and the Arts, where she began showing interest in performance but didn’t pursue formal training afterward.
As a teenager, Cardi B was affiliated with the Bloods gang, something she has openly admitted in multiple interviews. Struggling with poverty and an abusive relationship, she turned to stripping as a means of survival. According to her own statements, becoming a stripper was a choice she made to gain financial independence and leave an unsafe situation.
She later enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College, but dropped out before earning a degree.
Social Media Rise
Before fame, Cardi B built an audience online through Vine and Instagram, posting comedic and explicit videos that went viral for their bluntness and street authenticity. Her social media presence led to her being cast on VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: New York” during Seasons 6 and 7, which documented her attempt to start a rap career.
These appearances gave Cardi B national exposure and helped her gain a fanbase before releasing any mainstream music.
Music Career of Cardi B: The hood star female rapper
Cardi B’s first mixtape, “Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1,” was released in 2016, followed by “Vol. 2” in 2017. Both projects showcased her aggressive rap style and explicit lyrics that reflected her Bronx upbringing.
In 2017, she signed with Atlantic Records, marking the start of her professional rap career. Her debut single “Bodak Yellow” became a major commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and earning multi-platinum status.
Her first studio album, “Invasion of Privacy”, dropped in 2018 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Since then, she’s released multiple singles and collaborations but has been criticized for lyrical content focused on sexual themes and materialism.
Cardi B’s primary music genres are East Coast hip hop, trap, and dirty rap.
Personal Life
Cardi B married Offset, a member of the rap group Migos, in 2017. The two share three children — Kulture, Wave, and Blossom — but have had a highly public and unstable relationship, marked by repeated separations and infidelity rumors. The couple officially separated in 2023.
In 2025, Cardi B began dating NFL player Stefon Diggs.
She maintains close ties with her sister, Hennessy Carolina, who is active on social media, and her cousin GloRilla, who is also a rapper.
Name Origin
Her stage name, Cardi B, came from a play on her sister’s name, Hennessy, and the liquor brand Bacardi. As she once explained, “People used to call me Bacardi, so I shortened it to Cardi B. The ‘B’ stands for whatever, depending on the day.”
Facts Summary
- Real Name: Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar
- Stage Name: Cardi B
- Born: October 11, 1992 – Bronx, New York
- Ethnicity: Trinidadian and Dominican
- Education: Dropped out of Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Gangs: Associated with the Bloods in youth
- Career Start: Stripping and social media content creator
- TV Debut: Love & Hip Hop: New York (VH1)
- Music Debut: Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1 (2016)
- Major Label: Atlantic Records
- Marriage: Offset (2017–2023, separated)
- Partner: Stefon Diggs (2025–present)
- Children: 3 — Kulture, Wave, and Blossom
- Family: Hennessy Carolina (sister), GloRilla (cousin)
- Genre: East Coast Hip Hop, Trap, Dirty Rap
Overview
Cardi B’s life and career have been marked by controversy, public exposure, and constant media attention. From her strip club beginnings to her social media rise, and eventual mainstream success, she remains one of the most talked-about and polarizing figures in modern hip hop.
Her story reflects both survival and spectacle — a Bronx-born performer who built fame through raw personality, explicit lyrics, and viral moments, and Industry beefs with Nicki Minaj rather than traditional artistry or industry grooming.
Thanks for reviewing. All information was fact checked and verified. “Some facts were verified via public sources, including Wikipedia.”
Suggested Articles to Explore Next
If you're interested in more topics about Cardi B try reading our Suggested reads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardi B (2025-2026)
Who is Cardi B married to?
Kiari Kendrell Cephus aka Offset from the Migos. She and he are still married but estranged.
Who is Cardi B in a relationship with now in 2025-2026?
She is currently with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
How many kids does Cardi B have?
3 by Offset and she's pregnant now with current boyfriend Stefon Diggs baby.
Who does Cardi B beef with the most and why?
Cardi B beefs with a few artists from Nicki Minaj, JT, Bia, Ice-Spice and others. She is most known for her beef with Nicki Minaj which has been explosive since 2017 and has exploded more in 2025 with a twitter war.
Who started the Nicki Minaj and Cardi Beef in the beginning?
The world blamed Nicki Minaj but when the truth came out By Cardi B’s own admission in an Instagram post on October 29, 2018: In a series of 10 Instagram videos, Cardi laid out her rebuttal. One with her copping to demanding that Nicki change her verse on “Motorsport,” saying that she refused to shoot the video unless the now-infamous “Nick Lombardi” line was changed. So Nicki had to change her verse–meaning Nicki’s statement about what happened in the beginning was truthful but yet no one had believed her.
Is Cardi B Black?
Cardi B is Trinidadian and Dominican. Both nations have significant populations of African descent: A large portion of the population in both countries has Sub-Saharan African ancestry, brought to the islands during the transatlantic slave trade. People in these groups are Black. She would be considered Afro-Latina by most which is a combination of both races.
Other Cardi B Topics to Explore
Curious about more Cardi B content or want to fact-check a viral post you were skeptical about? Check out the topics below for the latest insights and stories.
I can also make it a bit punchier and more engaging if you want it to feel more clickable. Do you want me to do that?
Add comment
Comments