by Born Belcalis Almanzar in 1992, Cardi B is now one of the biggest stars in hip hop. However, her rise to fame was not easy.
At 18 years old, she was just starting out on her journey to become the superstar rapper she is today. Let’s take a look at some of the potential struggles Cardi B may have faced as a young artist trying to break into the music industry.
Breaking Into the Music Industry
The music industry is notoriously difficult to break into, especially for new and unsigned artists. At 18, Cardi B was likely facing an uphill battle just to get her music heard. As an unknown artist without industry connections, she probably struggled to get meetings with record labels, producers, managers, and other gatekeepers who could help further her career.
Labels may have viewed her as too inexperienced or not polished enough yet. Producers may not have wanted to invest their time and resources in an unproven artist. Managers probably saw little upside in taking a chance on an unknown 18-year-old. Without industry support or funding behind her, Cardi B’s music may have gotten lost in the noise without a major push.
Distributing and promoting music as an independent artist is also challenging. At 18, Cardi likely had limited financial means and technical skills to properly record, produce, market and distribute her own music. Getting her songs onto streaming platforms and into the hands of listeners would have required hustle with few established industry connections to rely on. Breaking through the saturation of content online would have been an uphill battle without major label backing or resources.
Financial Struggles
In addition to facing rejection in the music industry, Cardi B’s financial situation was probably precarious at 18 years old. As an unsigned artist just starting out, she likely had little to no income coming in from her music. Supporting herself financially must have been a daily struggle and source of stress.
Cardi has spoken about holding down multiple jobs like working at a grocery store before achieving fame. Juggling music pursuits with low-paying service jobs is challenging, leaving little time or energy for artistic development. Financial pressures could have forced Cardi to take on more work hours, limiting time spent in the studio or promoting her brand online. Living paycheck to paycheck also doesn’t allow for important investments in professional equipment, studio time, travel expenses and other costs needed to advance a career.
Gaining Respect as a Female Rapper
Even today, the rap industry remains male-dominated with few female artists achieving mainstream success. The challenges are multiplied for women of color like Cardi B. As a young female rapper breaking in at 18, she probably faced an extra layer of doubt, dismissal and disrespect compared to male peers.
In the hyper-masculine world of hip hop, Cardi’s femininity may have been perceived as a weakness rather than strength. Her artistic vision and skills could have been underestimated or overlooked due to her gender. She may have struggled to gain the respect of male rappers, producers and other gatekeepers, making professional partnerships and collaborations more difficult to secure.
Online Negativity and Scrutiny
In addition to industry biases, Cardi B’s personal life was open to judgment and criticism as she pursued her music dreams. As a young woman living in the public eye through social media, every aspect of her life and image was up for online debate.
Her personal style, relationships, lyrics or any misstep real or perceived could invite a torrent of online harassment and toxicity. In the age before “cancel culture,” negative comments may have felt even more damaging without today’s support structures. The non-stop criticism and judgment likely took an emotional toll that few at the time understood or cared to address.
Navigating social media attention while forging an artistic identity is challenging for any young person. For Cardi B as a female artist of color, the scrutiny was probably magnified and internalized at times. Harnessing social platforms to promote her brand while avoiding being defined by online negativity would have required mental strength beyond her years.
Breaking Through Despite the Odds
Despite all the potential struggles of breaking into the male-dominated music industry as a young, unknown female artist of color, Cardi B’s determination and talent pushed her through. She harnessed social media to build buzz for her distinctive persona and hard-hitting lyrics. Slowly but surely, her star power gained momentum through platforms like Instagram.
While juggling service jobs, Cardi continued honing her craft and developing relationships in the industry through grit and charisma. Breakout hits like “Bodak Yellow” in 2017 showcased her skills and connected her to a massive new fanbase. Major labels and collaborators took notice of her commercial viability, opening new industry doors.
Today at 28, Cardi B has cemented her status as a hip hop icon and role model for women everywhere. She continues blazing her own trail by controlling her narrative and pushing boundaries. Through it all, her authenticity and work ethic have empowered fans globally.
Looking back, the struggles of her early career at 18 likely seemed insurmountable. Yet Cardi’s raw talent and determination to succeed against the odds ultimately triumphed. She rose to the top not in spite of challenges as a young female artist of color, but because she continuously overcame them. Cardi B’s story serves as an inspiration for underdogs everywhere to never give up on their dreams.
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