Cardi B

Cardi B Hospitalized: Rapper Cancels ONE MusicFest Appearance Due to Medical Emergency

Cardi B has announced that she will be unable to perform at the ONE Musicfest in Atlanta, scheduled for October 26, due to a medical emergency. The Grammy-winning rapper shared the news on Instagram just days before the festival, revealing that she had been hospitalized and was in the process of recovering.

“I am so sad to share this news, but I’ve been in the hospital recovering from a medical emergency the last couple of days, and I won’t be able to perform at ONE MusicFest,” Cardi B wrote. “It breaks my heart that I won’t get to see my fans this weekend, and I really wish I could be there.”

This health scare comes less than two months after Cardi B welcomed her third child in early September. The 32-year-old has not experienced any previous public health issues.

Who Is Cardi B?

Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar on October 11, 1992, is a Grammy-winning rapper recognized for hits such as “Bodak Yellow,” “I Like It,” and “WAP.” She first gained attention for her candid persona on social media, offering an unapologetic view of her life as a stripper. Her breakthrough into the entertainment industry came with her appearance on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York, but she left the reality series in 2017 to focus on music full-time.

That year, she released her smash hit “Bodak Yellow,” which became the first diamond-certified single by a female rapper. In 2018, Cardi B made history as the only solo woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album for her debut album Invasion of Privacy.

Cardi B’s personal life has also made headlines, particularly her ongoing divorce from Migos member Offset, with whom she shares three children.

Early Life and Career

Raised in the Bronx, Cardi B hails from a mixed Caribbean heritage, with a Trinidadian mother and Dominican father. She spent her early years in the Bronx and with her grandmother in Washington Heights. As a teenager, she was affiliated with the Bloods gang and attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology. To escape an abusive relationship and poverty, she turned to stripping, a decision she has openly discussed and defended as a means of survival.

Although she dropped out of school, Cardi B’s social media presence, particularly on Vine and Instagram, set the stage for her rise to fame. Her bold, authentic voice eventually led her to Love & Hip Hop before transitioning into a music career.

Her stage name, Cardi B, originated from the alcohol brand Bacardi, a playful nod to her sister Hennessy’s name. Cardi B explained, “Everybody used to be like Bacardi, and then I shortened it to Cardi B, and the ‘B’ stands for whatever… depending on the day.”

A Controversial Admission

In 2019, an Instagram Live video surfaced where Cardi B admitted to drugging and robbing men during her time as a stripper. She addressed the issue publicly, but chose not to apologize, stating, “I did what I had to do to survive.”

Breakthrough and Chart Success

Cardi B’s musical journey took off in 2015, when she collaborated with Jamaican artist Shaggy on the remixed single “Boom Boom.” In 2016, she released her first mixtape, Gangsta B–– Music Vol. 1, followed by a second mixtape in 2017. That same year, she signed with Atlantic Records, a major turning point in her career.

Her 2017 breakout single “Bodak Yellow” skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi B only the second solo female rapper to achieve this feat after Lauryn Hill in 1998. By 2021, the song was certified diamond, cementing her place in music history.

Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” became a cultural phenomenon and earned her two Grammy nominations in 2018 for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, though she did not win in those categories.

Cardi B continues to dominate the music scene with her bold, unapologetic style, her chart-topping tracks, and her unapologetic personal brand, remaining one of the most influential figures in contemporary hip-hop.

Invasion of Privacy

Building on her successful year in 2017, Cardi B further solidified her place in the music industry through collaborations on G-Eazy’s “No Limit,” Migos’ “MotorSport,” and Ozuna’s “La Modelo.” In December, she released her second single, “Bartier Cardi” featuring 21 Savage, which teased her highly anticipated debut album, Invasion of Privacy.

Released in April 2018, the album featured familiar hits such as “Bodak Yellow” and “Bartier Cardi,” as well as fresh tracks and collaborations with artists like Migos, Chance the Rapper, and SZA. Invasion of Privacy quickly broke records, surpassing Taylor Swift’s Reputation for the most streams by a female artist in its first week on Apple Music.

Cardi’s success continued as the album garnered eight nominations at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, where she won Top Rap Female Artist. By July of that year, Invasion of Privacy was certified platinum, and the song “I Like It,” a collaboration with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi B the first female rapper to achieve this feat twice. The album also led to four Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “I Like It.” In February 2019, Cardi B became the first solo woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album.

In addition to her music career, Cardi B made her film debut in 2019’s Hustlers, where she played a stripper named Diamond alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu.

More No. 1 Songs and New Album

Since the release of Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B has continued to release a variety of successful tracks, including the chart-topping remix of Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You,” “Clout” with her husband Offset, and collaborations with Bruno Mars on “Please Me,” and Lizzo on “Rumors.” Notable songs also include “Money,” “Press,” “Up,” and the hit single “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion, which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Despite this success, Cardi B has been hesitant about the release of her sophomore album. While she initially promised it would be out by the end of 2024, she later stated that the album was still in progress, with the release delayed partially due to her pregnancy. In October 2024, Cardi B confirmed that work on the album was continuing and teased more details would be announced soon.

Estranged Husband Offset and Children

Cardi B’s personal life has also been a subject of public interest, particularly her relationship with rapper Offset, whom she married in a private ceremony in September 2017. They share three children together, including their daughter Kulture, born in July 2018, and a son, Wave, born in September 2021. In September 2024, they welcomed a third child, although details about their youngest child’s gender or name remain private.

Despite their growing family, the couple’s relationship has been tumultuous, with infidelity and personal struggles affecting their marriage. In December 2018, Cardi B announced a temporary separation, citing ongoing issues in their relationship. However, they reconciled in 2019, only for Cardi to file for divorce again in September 2020, though they later reconciled once more. In late July 2024, Cardi B filed for divorce from Offset for the second time, and in a September Instagram post, she expressed her frustration with the relationship, calling it a mistake while also acknowledging Offset’s role as a father.

2018 Arrest and Assault Conviction

Cardi B’s legal troubles also made headlines when, in October 2018, she turned herself in to New York City police in connection with a fight at a Queens strip club. Cardi allegedly ordered her entourage to attack two bartenders, resulting in charges of assault and reckless endangerment.

After rejecting a plea deal, Cardi faced a grand jury indictment in June 2019, which included felony charges and several misdemeanors. During a trial involving rapper 6ix9ine, Cardi B was accused of being affiliated with the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, though she denied any connection to the gang.

In September 2022, ahead of her trial, Cardi B pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges related to the 2018 altercation. She expressed accountability for her actions, stating that part of maturing was owning up to past mistakes. Cardi B was sentenced to 15 days of community service, was prohibited from contacting the victims for three years, and was ordered to pay their court fees.