Cardi B’s Success is more than Just her Own
“Bite down, bite down, it was crunch time
Yeah I skip all of them bi***** in the lunch line
I put in work, now I'm here at the front line” - Cardi B
On Monday, Sept. 25, Cardi B's Bodak Yellow reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list, marking the second time that a solo female rap single has reached the top spot. In 1998, Lauryn Hill was the first to do this with her single, "Doo Wop (That Thing)." Photo Retrieved from Billboard.
If you don’t know by now, Cardi B topped the Hot 100 chart with Bodak Yellow at No. 1 on Sept. 25. You might be wondering what’s the big deal, but that could only be if you slept on her story for far too long.
Born Belcalis Almanzar, the 24-year-old artist from the Bronx has been “hustlin” in the music industry since 2015. She dropped her first project, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 featuring hits like On Fleek and Washpoppin in 2016. Shortly after on January 20, 2017 Cardi B released Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol.2.
“Dropped two mixtapes in six months what b**** working as hard as me.” #WhatsThatFacts
Cardi B was in a domestic abusive relationship and used stripping as a means to provide for herself. She stuck to her plan, and with persistence, diligence and discipline, she was able to leave the stip club and pursue her career in music.
She has always been authentic. She’s not afraid of her past and she acknowledges that her trials and tribulations have contributed to her success. Whether it be her music, her instagram videos, or her interviews she exuberates realness.
Black girls get criticized all the time for their loudness, boldness, and unfiltered persona and
Cardi B has yet to cease any of those characteristics. She is not afraid to flaunt her sensuality, sexuality or love for her body. It’s proving that we can have it all and be true to ourselves.
Her “topping the charts” isn’t just a symbol of strength, but also a testament to women. She’s encouraging women to believe in their dreams regardless of their past and that they can achieve all goals despite having the odds stacked against them.
It’s either you're a fan or you're a hater because Cardi B is putting in work. She deserves the recognition and support from not only her fans, but her colleagues in the music industry. She’s not the only female rap artist on the rise, but is definitely leading the way.
Let's really #GetIntoIt. Even though we have had legends who have come before Cardi B, such as Lil Kim, Eve, Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj just to name a few, but acknowledging Cardi’s success does not take away from other artists.
I felt that it was important to highlight Cardi B, because there has been a lot of debate around her success and while I can not cover every topic this week, I would like to encourage readers to really understand the importance of Cardi B’s role within the art industry period. Some topics that revolve around the icon are colorism, black love, hood success stories and how her stripper background and body may have played a role in her success.
I would love to get into some of these ideas, but more importantly I would love to hear your thoughts!
Call into The Snack Break on WMUC Digital Radio and let me know how you really feel. Let’s #GetIntoIt
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