New York rap newcomer Cardi B, the female rapper of Dominican and Trinidadian descent whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, has shown promising signs of become a superstar.
Just 25 years old, Cardi truly broke through into the rap scene in 2017 with her first Atlantic single “Bodak Yellow.” Her success has skyrocketed recently, but her upbringing and how exactly she rose to the top is unknown to some. Here are 5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Cardi B.
1. Stripping Was Her First Profession
Having grown up in a tough Bronx environment that unfortunately led her to dealing with poverty and domestic abuse, Cardi turned to stripping when she turned 18. The money she earned from the pole helped her survive and try fund a college education, but in the end she dropped out. Nowadays she speaks highly on her time as a stripper and credits it with keeping her life on track, saying “It really saved me from a lot of things. When I started stripping I went back to school.” Also of the Christian faith, Cardi said “If you know me, you know that I have this deep connection to God. Is it crazy for me to say that I used to ask God to please help me? The strip club really helped me. I can say that it saved me…God put that in my way.”