Career Timeline of Cardi B: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Cardi B built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Cephus, is a highly successful American rapper known for her candid public persona and explicit lyrics. She rose to fame between 2015 and 2017 through her presence on Vine and Instagram, participation in VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York, and the release of two mixtapes, marking the start of her career in the music industry.
2013: Gained Publicity on Social Media
In 2013, Cardi B began to gain publicity due to her videos spreading on social media platforms like Vine and Instagram.
November 2015: Musical Debut
In November 2015, Cardi B made her musical debut on Shaggy's remix of "Boom Boom" with Popcaan.
December 9, 2015: Appeared on Uncommon Sense
On December 9, 2015, Cardi B appeared on Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne.
December 15, 2015: Music Video Debut
On December 15, 2015, Cardi B made her music video debut with "Cheap Ass Weave".
2015: Gained Recognition
In 2015, Cardi B began to gain recognition on Vine and Instagram.
2015: Joined Love & Hip Hop: New York
In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York for season six.
March 7, 2016: Released Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1
On March 7, 2016, Cardi B released her first mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.
April 6, 2016: Appeared on Kocktails with Khloé
On April 6, 2016, Cardi B appeared on Khloé Kardashian's Kocktails with Khloé.
September 12, 2016: Release of Underestimated: The Album
On September 12, 2016, KSR Group released the compilation album Underestimated: The Album, featuring Cardi B and other artists.
November 2016: Joined Being Mary Jane Cast
In November 2016, Cardi B joined the cast of the BET series Being Mary Jane.
November 2016: Featured on Vibe Magazine Cover
In November 2016, Cardi B was featured on the digital cover of Vibe magazine's "Viva" issue.
December 30, 2016: Left Love & Hip Hop
On December 30, 2016, Cardi B announced her departure from Love & Hip Hop: New York after two seasons to further pursue her music career.
2016: Endorsement Deal with Romantic Depot
In 2016, Cardi B was featured in her first endorsement deal with Romantic Depot.
2016: Cardi B warns fans of Donald Trump's immigration policies
In 2016, during the presidential primaries, Cardi B warned her fans of Donald Trump's immigration policies and encouraged them to vote for Senator Bernie Sanders.
January 20, 2017: Released Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2
On January 20, 2017, Cardi B released her second mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2.
February 2017: Cardi B partners with M.A.C and Gypsy Sport
In February 2017, Cardi B partnered with M.A.C and Rio Uribe's Gypsy Sport for a New York Fashion Week event.
February 2017: Partnership with MAC Cosmetics and Gypsy Sport
In February 2017, Cardi B partnered with MAC Cosmetics and Gypsy Sport for an event for New York Fashion Week.
February 25, 2017: Opening Act for The Lox
On February 25, 2017, Cardi B was the opening act for The Lox's Filthy America... It's Beautiful Tour.
April 3, 2017: Guest Starred on Hip Hop Squares
On April 3, 2017, Cardi B guest-starred on the celebrity panel show Hip Hop Squares.
April 2017: Featured in i-D's "A-Z of Music" Video
In April 2017, Cardi B was featured in i-D's "A-Z of Music" video.
June 11, 2017: Summer Jam Performance
On June 11, 2017, Cardi B performed at Hot 97's Summer Jam music festival alongside other female rappers.
June 2017: Cover of The Fader
In June 2017, Cardi B was on the cover of The Fader's Summer Music issue.
June 16, 2017: Release of "Bodak Yellow"
On June 16, 2017, Atlantic Records released Cardi B's commercial debut single, "Bodak Yellow".
August 2017: Cardi B on the cover of The Fader's Summer Music issue
In August 2017, Cardi B appeared on the cover of The Fader's Summer Music issue.
August 2017: Performed at MoMA PS1
In August 2017, Cardi B performed at MoMA PS1.
September 25, 2017: "Bodak Yellow" Reaches Number One
On September 25, 2017, "Bodak Yellow" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi B the first female rapper to do so with a solo single since 1998.
October 2017: Headlined Powerhouse Music Celebration
In October 2017, Cardi B headlined Power 105.1's annual Powerhouse music celebration.
2017: Pitchfork's Best Songs of the Year
In 2017 Cardi B topped Pitchfork's annual list of best songs of the year.
2017: "Bodak Yellow"'s Impact
In 2017, "Bodak Yellow" achieved commercial success, leaving an indelible mark on the summer and giving hope to the have-nots, according to Billboard editors.
2017: Best-Performing Song of the Year
In 2017, Cardi B has achieved the best-performing song of the year by a female artist.
2017: Cardi B's First Historic Run
In 2017, NPR Music commented that the "renaissance" of the dynamism of women in rap grew "in enthusiasm and breadth" since Cardi B's "first historic run".
2017: Gained Recognition
In early 2017, Cardi B gained recognition as a cast member on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York and by releasing two mixtapes.
January 3, 2018: Featured on "Finesse" Remix
On January 3, 2018, Cardi B was featured on the remix of Bruno Mars' single "Finesse".
January 18, 2018: First Female Rapper with Five Top 10 Singles
On January 18, 2018, Cardi B became the first female rapper to have five top 10 singles simultaneously on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
March 30, 2018: Released "Be Careful"
On March 30, 2018, Cardi B released the single "Be Careful".
April 6, 2018: Released Invasion of Privacy
On April 6, 2018, Cardi B's debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, was released.
July 2018: "I Like It" Reaches Number One
In July 2018, "I Like It" reached number one on the Hot 100, marking Cardi B's second number one on the chart.
September 2018: Tom Ford releases Cardi B-inspired lipstick
In September 2018, Tom Ford's Cardi B-inspired lipstick, named after her, was released and sold out within 24 hours.
October 2018: Invasion of Privacy Certified Double Platinum
In October 2018, Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" was certified double platinum by the RIAA. It was updated to triple platinum the following year. Cardi B also became the first female artist to have all songs from an album certified gold or higher in the US in October 2018.
November 30, 2018: Honored at Ebony's Power 100 Gala
On November 30, 2018, Cardi B was honored at Ebony's annual Power 100 Gala. Cardi ranked fifth on the 2018 Billboard Year-End Top Artists chart, while Invasion of Privacy ranked sixth.
2018: Cardi B narrates Fire and Fury at the Grammy Awards
At the Grammy Awards in 2018, Cardi B appeared in a video with Hillary Clinton to narrate a portion of Fire and Fury, criticizing Trump's administration.
2018: Cardi B on Vogue Cover
In 2018, Cardi B became the first female rapper in the U.S. to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, photographed by Annie Leibovitz.
2018: "Finesse" collaboration with Bruno Mars
In 2018, Cardi B collaborated with Bruno Mars for "Finesse".
2018: Best-Performing Song of the Year
In 2018, Cardi B has achieved the best-performing song of the year by a female artist.
2018: MTV and American Music Awards Nominations and Wins
In 2018, Cardi B received 12 nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards and tied with Drake for the most nominations at the American Music Awards. She won three AMAs, performed at the ceremony and was named one of Entertainment Weekly's "2018 Entertainers of the Year".
2018: Cardi B demands tax policy transparency and praises Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 2018, Cardi B used social media to demand transparency on tax policy in New York and praised President Franklin D. Roosevelt for advocating for Social Security.
2018: American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song for "Bodak Yellow"
In 2018, Cardi B won the American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song for "Bodak Yellow".
2018: Invasion of Privacy Debut
In 2018, Cardi B's debut album, Invasion of Privacy, was released, which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200.
January 2019: Vogue Cover Release
In January 2019, Cardi B's Vogue cover was released as one of four for the January issue, featuring her holding her daughter, Kulture.
February 10, 2019: Grammy Awards Performance and Win
On February 10, 2019, Cardi B performed at the 61st Grammy Awards ceremony and won Best Rap Album as a solo artist.
February 15, 2019: Release of "Please Me" with Bruno Mars
On February 15, 2019, Cardi B released "Please Me", a collaboration with Bruno Mars, which became her seventh top-ten song on the Hot 100.
May 31, 2019: Release of "Press"
On May 31, 2019, Cardi B released her single titled "Press".
June 26, 2019: Release of "Press" Music Video and Directorial Debut
On June 26, 2019, Cardi B's music video for "Press" was released. It marked her directorial debut, being credited as co-director.
September 13, 2019: Film Debut in Hustlers
On September 13, 2019, Cardi B made her film debut in Hustlers.
October 9, 2019: Judge on Netflix's Rhythm + Flow
On October 9, 2019, Cardi B was confirmed as a judge for the Netflix series Rhythm + Flow, which she also executive produced.
2019: First win for Best Hip Hop Video
Cardi B won Best Hip Hop Video in 2019.
2019: Cardi B wears vintage Thierry Mugler to the Grammy Awards
Cardi B wore vintage Thierry Mugler to the 2019 Grammy Awards, which contributed to the fashion house's resurgence.
2019: Harper's Bazaar Cover
In 2019, Cardi B appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar's spring fashion issue, with a Cinderella-themed photo shoot interpreted as a reference to the September 2018 shoe-throwing incident with Nicki Minaj.
2019: Album Stream Record
In 2019, Cardi B held record for largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album by a woman.
2019: Billboard Music Awards Nominations and Wins
In 2019, Cardi B led the Billboard Music Awards nominations with 21 and won six awards, including Top Hot 100 Song.
2019: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year
In 2019, Cardi B received the ASCAP award for Songwriter of the Year, becoming the first female rapper to win the award.
2019: Judge on Rhythm + Flow
In 2019, Cardi B served as a judge on the music competition series Rhythm + Flow and appeared in the film Hustlers.
2019: Nominations for "Money" and "Please Me"
In 2019, Cardi B was nominated for two videos in the BET Award.
2019: Fashion Recognition by CFDA
In 2019, the Council of Fashion Designers of America included Cardi B on their list of "28 Black Fashion Forces," with Anna Wintour praising her style after the Met Gala.
August 7, 2020: Release of "WAP" featuring Megan Thee Stallion
On August 7, 2020, Cardi B released the single "WAP" featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which received critical acclaim.
August 2020: "WAP" Streams Record
Since August 2020, "WAP" holds the record of the biggest first-week streams for a song in the United States.
December 2020: Billboard's Woman of the Year
In December 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to be named Woman of the Year at the Billboard Women in Music Awards.
December 2020: Cardi B premieres Cardi Tries series
In December 2020, Cardi B premiered the series Cardi Tries via Facebook Messenger, serving as one of the executive producers.
2020: Pitchfork's Best Songs of the Year
In 2020 Cardi B topped Pitchfork's annual list of best songs of the year.
2020: "I Like It" Named Best Summer Song
In 2020, "I Like It" was named the best summer song of all time by Rolling Stone.
2020: Balenciaga Ad Campaign
In 2020, Cardi B became the face of Balenciaga's ad campaign for the winter season, marking her first campaign for a luxury fashion house.
2020: Style Influencer of the Year Award
In 2020, Cardi B became the first female rapper to win the Style Influencer of the Year award at the FN Achievement Awards.
2020: Cardi B endorses Bernie Sanders for president
In 2020, Cardi B endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, citing his support for underprivileged minorities and Medicare.
2020: Best-Performing Song of the Year
In 2020, Cardi B has achieved the best-performing song of the year by a female artist.
2020: Second ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award
In 2020, Cardi B received the ASCAP award for Songwriter of the Year for the second time, making her the first female songwriter to win the award twice.
2020: Release of "WAP"
In 2020, Cardi B released "WAP" with Megan Thee Stallion, which topped the Hot 100 chart.
2020: Cardi B raises awareness for victims of police brutality
In 2020, Cardi B used her social media to raise awareness for victims of police brutality and encouraged people to vote in local elections. She also discussed Medicare, free college tuition, and racial equality with Joe Biden.
2020: Influence on Female Rap Renaissance
In 2020, The Wall Street Journal stated that Cardi B's breakthrough and success influenced "today's female-rap renaissance."
February 5, 2021: Release of "Up"
On February 5, 2021, Cardi B released "Up", the second single from her upcoming studio album.
April 30, 2021: Appearance on DJ Khaled's "Big Paper"
On April 30, 2021, Cardi B made an appearance in "Big Paper", from DJ Khaled's album Khaled Khaled.
May 2021: Cardi B releases "Mommy & Me" collection with Reebok
In May 2021, Cardi B released the "Mommy & Me" collection with Reebok, including her iteration of Club C shoes for adults, children, and infants, in recognition of Mother's Day.
June 25, 2021: Appearance in F9
On June 25, 2021, Cardi B appeared in F9, which was released by Universal Pictures.
July 16, 2021: Featured on Normani's "Wild Side"
On July 16, 2021, Cardi B was featured on the Normani single "Wild Side".
August 2021: "Bodak Yellow" Reaches 1 Billion Views
In August 2021, "Bodak Yellow" made Cardi B the first female rapper to have two videos on her YouTube channel with more than 1 billion views.
October 28, 2021: Preview of Second Album to Atlantic Records
On October 28, 2021, Cardi B previewed her second album to Atlantic Records via her Instagram Story.
2021: MTV Video Music Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations and Wins
In 2021, Cardi B received six nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards and led the nominations for the BET Hip Hop Awards along with Megan Thee Stallion. She won the most awards during the ceremony with three for "WAP", with Cardi becoming the first female artist to win Best Hip Hop Video twice.
2021: Invasion of Privacy's Impact
In 2021, Clover Hope's book stated that Invasion of Privacy "jump-started a new era for women rappers in which success felt much more tangible".
2021: Netflix announced the return of Rhythm + Flow
In 2021, Netflix announced the return of Rhythm + Flow.
March 2022: Appeared on Summer Walker and SZA's collaboration, "No Love".
In March 2022, Cardi B appeared on the extended version of Summer Walker and SZA's collaboration, "No Love".
July 1, 2022: Release of "Hot Shit" featuring Kanye West and Lil Durk
On July 1, 2022, Cardi B released "Hot Shit", featuring rappers Kanye West and Lil Durk.
July 2022: Cardi B releases "Let Me Be...Enchanted" collection with Reebok
In July 2022, Cardi B's "Let Me Be...Enchanted" collection with Reebok, inspired by "a state of enchantment and euphoria", was released, including crop tops, faux fur jackets, and leotards along with footwear.
September 2022: Release of "Tomorrow 2" with GloRilla
In September 2022, Cardi B worked with cousin and fellow rapper GloRilla on the remix to her song "Tomorrow", titled "Tomorrow 2".
October 2022: 100 Million RIAA Units Sold
In October 2022, five years after her major-label debut, Cardi B reached 100 million units sold in RIAA certifications.
December 2022: Cardi B concludes Reebok partnership with "Let Me Be...Next Level Energy" collection
In December 2022, Cardi B concluded her four-year partnership with Reebok with the release of the second part of the "Let Me Be...Next Level Energy" collection, inspired by her "unmatched energy".
December 2022: $1 Million Private Performance at Miami Art Basel
In December 2022, Cardi B gave a 35-minute private performance at the Miami Art Basel for which she was paid $1 million.
2022: Creative Director of Playboy
In 2022, Cardi B became the creative director of Playboy magazine.
2022: Rolling Stone Ranking
In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Cardi B as the second most-stylish woman in music.
February 2023: Cardi B and Offset partner with McDonald's for a meal
In February 2023, Cardi B and Offset partnered with McDonald's to create the Cardi B and Offset Meal, launched on Valentine's Day.
September 8, 2023: Cardi B releases "Bongos" featuring Megan Thee Stallion
On September 8, 2023, Cardi B released "Bongos" featuring Megan Thee Stallion, marking their second collaboration after "WAP". The music video cost over $2 million, and the song reached number 14 in the US.
December 2023: Cardi B makes runway debut at Balenciaga show
In December 2023, Cardi B made her runway debut at the Balenciaga fall 2024 show in Los Angeles.
2023: Voice role in Baby Shark's Big Movie!
In 2023, Cardi B had a voice role in Baby Shark's Big Movie!
December 31, 2023: Cardi B performs at Fontainebleau Miami Beach for New Year's Rockin' Eve
On December 31, 2023, Cardi B performed at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach accompanied by DJ Gryffin, which was aired live for the 2024 edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
February 2024: Cardi B stars in NYX Cosmetics Super Bowl commercial
In February 2024, Cardi B starred in NYX Cosmetics' inaugural Super Bowl commercial for Super Bowl LVIII, titled "Lips Only".
March 1, 2024: Cardi B releases "Like What (Freestyle)"
On March 1, 2024, Cardi B released the promotional single "Like What (Freestyle)" with a music video directed by Offset. The track reached the top 40 in the US.
March 2024: Whipshots sales reach over five million cans
As of March 2024, Whipshots, the vodka-infused whipped cream launched by Cardi B, has sold over five million cans.
March 22, 2024: Cardi B appears on "Puntería" with Shakira
On March 22, 2024, Cardi B appeared on "Puntería" with Shakira, the opening track of Shakira's album. "Puntería" reached number one on the Latin Airplay chart.
May 2024: Cardi B appears in commercial for the 2024 Summer Olympics
In May 2024, Cardi B appeared alongside sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson in a commercial for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
September 2024: "Girls Like You" Views
As of September 2024, Cardi B has one music video with over 3 billion views ("Girls Like You") on YouTube.
November 2024: Cardi B confirms her second studio album release for 2025
In November 2024, Cardi B confirmed that her second studio album would be released in 2025, stating it was almost complete but missing a few elements.
2024: Billboard's 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century
In 2024, Billboard included Cardi B among the honorable mentions of its "25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century", calling her one of the "most influential female rappers ever".
2024: Cardi B endorses Kamala Harris
In 2024, Cardi B endorsed Kamala Harris.
