Lasting Legacy of Cardi B: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Cardi B—a timeline of influence.

Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Cephus, is a prominent American rapper recognized for her candid persona and lyrical content. She rose to fame between 2015 and 2017 through her presence on Vine and Instagram, her role in VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York, and the release of her two mixtapes. She has become one of the most successful female artists in the music industry.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

2017: "Bodak Yellow" Certified Diamond

In 2017, "Bodak Yellow" made Cardi B the first female rapper to have a song certified Diamond.

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2017: "Bodak Yellow"'s Commercial Success

In 2017, Billboard editors stated that with "Bodak Yellow"'s commercial success, "she left an indelible mark on the summer of 2017, not only because she rewrote history, but she gave hope to the have nots..."

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2017: 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's "first historic run".

September 2018: Release of Tom Ford's 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.

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. She ranked fifth on the Billboard Year-End Top Artists chart, and Invasion of Privacy ranked sixth. She was the most-streamed female artist of the year in the US on Spotify. Time included her in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

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2018: First Female Rapper on Vogue Cover

In 2018, Cardi B became the first female rapper in the U.S. to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.

Michael Kors Women's Denim Pleated Shirt Dress, Rosewater

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2018: Demanding Transparency on Tax Policy and Praising Franklin D. Roosevelt

In 2018, Cardi B used social media to demand transparency on tax policy in New York, criticizing the state's spending. Also in 2018, she praised President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his advocacy of Social Security and the New Deal, highlighting his efforts to "make America great again" despite his battle with polio.

2018: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2018, Cardi B was listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, marking a significant recognition of her impact.

2018: Inclusion in Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2018, Time included Cardi B on their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

January 2019: Vogue Cover Appearance

In January 2019, Cardi B appeared on one of four covers for Vogue magazine, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. She was featured in a red and white Michael Kors dress and matching red Jimmy Choo shoes, holding her daughter, Kulture.

Michael Kors Women's Denim Pleated Shirt Dress, Rosewater

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2019: Influence on TV Series and Ghana's GDP

In 2019, Bloomberg News reported that her data bill helped to boost Ghana's GDP growth, after it was part of a concert tour. She inspired the creation of the sitcom Partners in Rhyme, executively produced by MC Lyte about a young woman in high school who "aspires to be the next Cardi B." P-Valley creator and executive producer Katori Hall cited her an inspiration for the TV series, and credited her for "helping prepare the public" for its storyline.

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2019: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award

In 2019, Cardi B received the ASCAP award for Songwriter of the Year, becoming the first female rapper to win the award.

2019: Sculpture at the Brooklyn Museum

In 2019, a life-sized sculpture of Cardi B was on display at the Brooklyn Museum, as part of Spotify's RapCaviar "Pantheon".

2019: Recognition by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Anna Wintour

In 2019, the Council of Fashion Designers of America included Cardi B on their list of "28 Black Fashion Forces". 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.

2019: Most Streamed Album Record

In 2019, the record that Cardi B held for Invasion of Privacy as the largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album by a woman on Apple Music, was broken.

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August 2020: "WAP" Sets Streaming Record

Since August 2020, the song "WAP" holds the record of the biggest first-week streams for a song in the United States.

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2020: Billboard's Woman of the Year

In 2020, Billboard named Cardi B as Woman of the Year, further solidifying her influence and success in the music industry.

2020: Face of Balenciaga's Ad Campaign

In 2020, Cardi B became the face of Balenciaga's ad campaign for the winter season. The campaign included billboards in international locations, such as the Louvre museum.

2020: Endorsing Bernie Sanders for President

In 2020, Cardi B endorsed Bernie Sanders for president for his second bid, citing his long-term support for underprivileged minorities and Medicare access. Politico highlighted her potential as one of Sanders' strongest allies in 2020.

2020: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and Billboard Woman of the Year

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. Cardi B became the first female rapper to be named Woman of the Year at the Billboard Women in Music Awards in 2020.

2020: Raising Awareness and Influencing the 2020 Presidential Election

In 2020, Cardi B utilized her social media to advocate for victims of police brutality and encouraged voting in local elections. During a conversation with Joe Biden for Elle, they discussed topics such as Medicare, free college tuition, and racial equality. In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Cardi B as the fifth most influential celebrity for the presidential election, and fourth among Generation Z.

2020: Style Influencer of the Year

In 2020, Cardi B was awarded Style Influencer of the Year by the FN Achievement Awards, presented by Christian Louboutin. In 2020, Cardi B was called an "influence just about everything in pop culture—from music, fashion and style to social media, politics and even public service".

2020: Top Songs of the Year

In 2020, Cardi B's music topped Pitchfork's annual list of best songs of the year.

2020: "I Like It" Named Best Summer Song

In 2020, Rolling Stone named Cardi B's "I Like It" the "best summer song of all time", cementing its legacy as a standout hit.

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2020: Influence on Female-Rap Renaissance

In 2020, The Wall Street Journal's Neil Shah stated that her breakthrough and success influenced "today's female-rap renaissance."

August 2021: "Bodak Yellow" reaches 1 billion views

In August 2021, Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" became the first song by a female rapper to have two videos on her YouTube channel with over 1 billion views, joining "I Like It," and became the fastest solo female rap song to reach that mark on the platform.

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2021: Invasion of Privacy and New Era for Women Rappers

In 2021, Clover Hope's book The Motherlode stated that Invasion of Privacy "jump-started a new era for women rappers in which success felt much more tangible" as Cardi B "multiplied the wealth of talent and resurrected the idea that numerous women who controlled their own stories could dominate rap at once."

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October 2022: 100 Million Units Sold in RIAA Certifications

In October 2022, five years after her major-label debut, Cardi B reached 100 million units sold in RIAA certifications, across her album, singles and guest appearances.

2022: Creative Director of Playboy

In 2022, Cardi B became the creative director of entertainment magazine Playboy, taking on a significant role in the media industry.

2022: Ranked as One of the Most Stylish Women in Music

In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Cardi B as the second most-stylish woman in music, behind Lady Gaga, and GQ considered her "one of fashion's preeminent risk-takers."

2023: Withdrawal of Support for Joe Biden

In late 2023, Cardi B announced she no longer supports Joe Biden for president due to his spending on wars.

September 2024: YouTube views milestone

As of September 2024, Cardi B has one music video with over 3 billion views ("Girls Like You"), one video with over 2 billion views ("Taki Taki"), and three videos with over a billion views ("I Like It", "Bodak Yellow", "Girls Like You (Volume 2)") on YouTube.

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2024: Billboard Recognizes Cardi B as One of the Greatest Pop Stars

In 2024, Billboard included Cardi B among the honorable mentions of its "25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century". The magazine called her one of the "most influential female rappers ever, and one of the most bankable hit-makers across all of hip-hop".