"WAP" is the only female rap collaboration to debut atop the Hot 100, made Cardi B the first lead artist to top the Billboard Global 200, and had a large cultural impact.

[3][1][4][5][6] Almánzar was raised in the Highbridge neighborhood of the South Bronx,[7][8][9] and spent much time at her paternal grandmother's home in Washington Heights, which she credits with giving her "such a thick accent.

[34] She made her music video debut on December 15, 2015, with the song "Cheap Ass Weave", her rendition of British rapper Lady Leshurr's "Queen's Speech 4".

"[44][45][46] In 2016, Cardi B was featured in her first endorsement deal with Romantic Depot, a large New York chain of lingerie stores that sell sexual health and wellness products.

[72] The song stayed atop the charts for three consecutive weeks, tying with American pop singer Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" as the longest running female at the number one spot in 2017.

[67] Selected by The Washington Post and Pitchfork music critics as the best song of 2017,[76][77] "Bodak Yellow" was eventually certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[81] In October 2017, Cardi B headlined Power 105.1's annual Powerhouse music celebration, alongside the Weeknd, Migos, and Lil Uzi Vert, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

[82] In December, she released two songs: a collaboration with Puerto Rican singer Ozuna titled "La Modelo",[83] and "Bartier Cardi", the second single from her debut album.

[111][112] Her single "Money" earned her a fourth Video Music Award, with visuals that feature Cardi playing characters in different locations, including in an art museum, a bank and a strip club.

[127] On February 10, 2019, she then performed at the award ceremony, where she wore three vintage Thierry Mugler couture looks during the telecast and became the first female rapper to win Best Rap Album as a solo artist.

[142] Cardi B, along with Chance the Rapper and T.I., were confirmed as judges for the Netflix series Rhythm + Flow, a ten-part hip-hop talent search that premiered on October 9, 2019, which she also executive produced.

Neil Shah of The Wall Street Journal deemed it "a big moment for female rappers" and "a historic sign that women artists are making their mark on hip-hop like never before".

[187] Also in April, Cardi guest-voiced as Sharki B, her "aquatic alter ego", on "The Seaweed Sway" episode of the Nickelodeon animated series Baby Shark's Big Show!—and performed a song of the same name.

[219] She performed at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, accompanied by DJ Gryffin, on December 31, 2023, which aired live for the 2024 edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

[10] She has credited Puerto Rican rapper Ivy Queen[242] and Jamaican dancehall artist Spice[243] as influences, as well as Beyoncé,[244] Lady Gaga,[245] Lil' Kim,[246] Madonna,[17] and Selena.

[253][4] Stereogum called her vocals an "unabashedly loud and sexual fuck-you New York honk" and "a full-bodied New Yawk nasal bleat, the sort of thing that you've heard if someone has ever told you that you stupid for taking too long at swiping your MetroCard.

[272][273] Inspired by Cardi B's "unmatched energy", the collection consisted of bodysuits, crop tops, footwear, leggings, and woven jackets—of a color palette based on crystals.

[297][298] At the Grammy Awards in 2018, she appeared in a video along with Hillary Clinton to narrate a portion of Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff's insider's account of Trump's administration, and stated "Why am I even reading this shit?

"[299] Early in 2018, she used her social media to demand transparency on tax policy, asking for detailed information on how her taxpayer dollars are being spent in New York state and criticizing the maintenance of its streets, prisons, and public transportation.

[304] She stated that one of the reasons for her endorsement is Sanders' long-time involvement in supporting underprivileged minorities and "people getting Medicare because he knows they can't afford it,"[2] while Politico argued that she "might be one of Bernie's most powerful 2020 allies.

"[305] In 2020, Cardi B used her social pages to raise awareness for victims of police brutality, and has encouraged people to vote for mayors, judges and district attorneys in local elections.

[318][319][320][321] An article from Vogue noted she "is famous for her statement getups—whether she's rocking archival Mugler on the red carpet, or dripping in Chanel while sitting courtside at a basketball game.

[327] Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour commended her fashion sense, declaring that she "completely rethought [her] opinion of Cardi B's style" after the 2019 Met Gala, where the rapper wore a Thom Browne-designed burgundy gown that extends outward in concentric circles for about ten feet and was inspired by the female form.

"[333] Cardi B has been referred to as the "Reigning Queen of Hip Hop" by multiple publications, including Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Omaha World-Herald, Black Enterprise, Newsweek, and The A.V.

Club,[143][334] and as the "Queen of Rap" by NME, Essence, Harper's Bazaar Malaysia, The Jakarta Post, Uproxx, iHeartRadio, Geo TV, Vanity Fair, Joe, Boston Herald, Refinery 29, France 24, and Nigerian media The Guardian, BBC News, and Daily Trust.

[338][339] Billboard's Carl Lamarre considered "WAP"'s achievements "a clever Trojan horse for the myriad ways Cardi influences the culture with every move she makes.

[353][354] Several artists have cited Cardi B's work as an inspiration, including Rosalía,[355] Olivia Rodrigo,[356] Jazmine Sullivan,[357] Selena Gomez,[358] Blackpink,[359] Spice,[243] Greta Gerwig,[360] Nathy Peluso,[361] Rubi Rose,[362] María Becerra,[363] and Abigail Asante.

[364] Cardi B has been credited for supporting and uniting female rappers in the industry,[365][366][367] with a writer from Uproxx considering her co-sign "the new Drake effect" for women in hip hop.

[437][438] On January 24, 2022, Cardi won a million-dollar defamation verdict against YouTuber Latasha Kebe (Tasha K) for waging a "malicious campaign" to hurt her reputation by posting false rumors.

[446][447][448] Following the altercation, she alleged on Instagram that Minaj had previously "liked" social media comments that spoke negatively of Cardi B's ability to take care of her newborn daughter.