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 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.
1998: Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998 was mentioned as it related to Cardi B's song.
1999: Lauryn Hill nominated for Album of the Year
In 1999, Lauryn Hill was nominated for Album of the Year.
2004: Missy Elliott nominated for Album of the Year
In 2004, Missy Elliott was nominated for Album of the Year.
2005: Akon's "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"
Akon's 2005 song "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" was sampled in Kay Flock's song, "Shake It" which featured Cardi B in April 2022.
2016: Admission of Past Actions
In 2016, Cardi B admitted to drugging and robbing men when she worked as a stripper.
2016: Drake's achievements on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
In 2016, Drake was mentioned as it related to Cardi B's achievements on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
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".
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: Best-Performing Song of the Year
In 2018, Cardi B has achieved the best-performing song of the year by a female artist.
2018: Time 100 Most Influential People
In 2018, Cardi B was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
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.
2019: Defense of Past Actions
Following controversies in 2019, Cardi B defended her past actions, stating she did what she had to do to survive.
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: 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: RapCaviar "Pantheon" Display
In 2019, a life-sized sculpture of Cardi B was displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, as part of Spotify's RapCaviar "Pantheon".
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 2020: "WAP" Streams Record
Since August 2020, "WAP" holds the record of the biggest first-week streams for a song in the United States.
2020: Pitchfork's Best Songs of the Year
In 2020 Cardi B topped Pitchfork's annual list of best songs of the year.
2020: Billboard's Woman of the Year
In 2020, Billboard named Cardi B Woman of the Year.
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: 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: 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."
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.
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".
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.
2022: Rolling Stone Ranking
In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Cardi B as the second most-stylish woman in music.
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.
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 Speaks on Past Again
In 2024, Cardi B spoke on the matter again, saying she "doesn't feel bad" about drugging and robbing men regarding her past, and would have done it again.
