by Cardi B: How Hard Work and Embracing Opportunities Led to Success
Cardi B has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame over the past few years, becoming one of the biggest stars in music. However, her journey was far from easy. Through her willingness to take on opportunities, try new things, collaborate with others, and put in relentless hard work, Cardi B was able to break through barriers and achieve mainstream success.
Embracing Early Opportunities
One of the keys to Cardi B’s success has been her willingness to embrace opportunities that came her way, even if they weren’t necessarily glamorous or traditional paths to fame. Early on, this included appearing on reality television shows to gain exposure. In 2015, she was featured on the VH1 show Love & Hip Hop: New York, providing viewers with a glimpse into her life and burgeoning music career.
While reality TV isn’t usually seen as a springboard to a serious music career, Cardi saw it as a chance to get her name and personality in front of audiences. “I knew I wanted to be in the music industry, but I didn’t know how to break through,” she said in a 2019 interview with Billboard. “The show was a way for me to get exposure and connect with fans.”
Appearing on a major cable network, even in an unscripted role, allowed Cardi’s charisma and authentic personality to shine. Fans responded positively to her blunt honesty and humor, which helped her amass a loyal following on social media even before she dropped any music. By putting herself out there in nontraditional ways, Cardi gained valuable exposure and experience dealing with the spotlight.
Willingness to Try New Things
In addition to embracing opportunities, Cardi B’s rise can also be attributed to her willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles. Early in her career, she dabbled in a variety of genres beyond hip hop, including pop, R&B, and Latin music. This helped her appeal to a wider audience and avoid being pigeonholed into one niche.
Her breakout single “Bodak Yellow” in 2017 brought her mainstream success with its booming hip hop sound. However, she followed that up with collaborations like “I Like It” with J Balvin and Bad Bunny, blending English and Spanish lyrics over a Latin trap beat. The crossover hit reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, showing Cardi’s ability to reach new audiences.
In 2020, she released “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion, a sexually empowering hip hop banger. But just months later, she put out the pop ballad “Up” to showcase her vocal abilities. Willingness to try new styles of music has allowed Cardi to stay fresh and appeal to a wide range of demographics. As she told Billboard, “I’m always open to new sounds and collaborating with different artists, because you never know what’s going to work.”
Building Connections Through Collaboration
Part of Cardi B’s success can also be attributed to her collaborative nature. She has shown a knack for teaming up with established artists to reach new fans, as well as using collaborations to boost the careers of up-and-coming talents. Early on, she worked with artists like G-Eazy and YG to raise her profile in the rap scene.
Her breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” was followed by the J Balvin and Bad Bunny assisted “I Like It,” exposing her to Latin audiences. She joined Maroon 5 for the hit “Girls Like You” to reach pop radio. More recently, she teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion on “WAP,” helping introduce the new star to the mainstream.
These high profile collaborations allowed Cardi’s star power to shine a light on her partners as well. They’ve proven mutually beneficial again and again. As she told Billboard, “I love collaborating because you learn so much from being in the studio with different artists. It’s also a chance to reach new fans that maybe haven’t heard of you before.” Her openness to collaboration has been a key part of her success.
Relentless Work Ethic
Perhaps the biggest driving force behind Cardi B’s rise has been her unmatched work ethic and dedication. She has shown a relentless drive to achieve her goals through hard work and perseverance. Even after breaking through, she maintains a grueling schedule to stay on top.
In a 2021 interview, Cardi recalled working regular jobs like a cashier and stocking shelves while pursuing her music dreams. “I used to work 12-hour shifts on my feet,” she said. “So when it comes to working hard in the studio or on videos now, it doesn’t feel like work to me.”
After gaining fame on reality TV, she spent countless hours in the studio perfecting her craft. She would record dozens of songs between each release to find the right material. For her debut album Invasion of Privacy, she worked with high-profile hitmakers like DJ Snake, J White, and others to achieve mainstream success.
To this day, Cardi maintains a hectic schedule of recording music, shooting videos, live performances, press appearances, and more – all while raising two young children. She told Billboard that even with all her success, she’s constantly pushing to reach new heights. “I’m always trying to outdo myself and level up. I want to keep making history in my career.” That unmatched drive and work ethic have defined her rise.
In summary, Cardi B’s path to stardom can be attributed to her willingness to embrace opportunities that came her way early on, her openness to experimenting with different sounds and styles of music, her collaborative nature that exposed her to new audiences, and most importantly, her relentless work ethic and dedication to her craft. By staying true to herself and refusing to be boxed into any niche, as well as maintaining an unmatched drive, Cardi B has achieved mainstream success that has expanded the possibilities for women in hip hop. Her journey serves as an inspiration.
