Cardi B has no documented IQ score, and no reliable number circulates. She's talked about wanting to be a history teacher, and her record books are the ones she rewrote.
Every stop on the way up
Born in Manhattan on 11 October 1992 to a Dominican father and a Trinidadian mother, and raised in the Highbridge section of the South Bronx, with long stretches at her grandmother's in Washington Heights.
Grew up with her parents and younger sister, Hennessy, in a neighbourhood she has described as tough.
Spent much of her childhood at her grandmother's, where she picked up Spanish and the Dominican side of her upbringing.
A performing-arts public high school in the Bronx, where she took part in music and theatre.
Worked as a cashier; after being let go, a manager suggested she try dancing.
Blunt, funny videos made her a social-media star before she ever released a song.
Education, itemised
She worked the register at a Tribeca supermarket as a teenager. Here's her schooling, rung up the same way.
She has said she took up dancing partly to afford college tuition, and has often talked about her interest in US history and politics, enough to interview Bernie Sanders in 2019 and Joe Biden in 2020.
The record book, before and after
Flip each card to see what the record looked like before she broke it.
“Bodak Yellow” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2017, ending the 19-year wait.
With “I Like It” (with Bad Bunny and J Balvin) she became the first, following it with more.
Invasion of Privacy made her the first solo female artist to win Best Rap Album.
“WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion debuted at No. 1 with 93 million US streams, still the biggest first week for any song.
Mixtapes, albums, singles and screen
Two seasons on the VH1 reality show brought her a national audience.
Her first mixtape, followed by Vol. 2 in 2017.
Her breakout; nominated for two Grammys.
Debut studio album, with “I Like It” and “Be Careful”.
Acting role alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu.
With Megan Thee Stallion.
Another Hot 100 No. 1.
A cameo in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Her long-awaited second studio album.
Sources
- Billboard Hot 100 chart archives (2017–2021)
- Recording Academy Grammy Awards records (2019)
- Luminate (formerly Nielsen Music) streaming data, “WAP” debut week (2020)
- Interviews: Bernie Sanders (2019), Joe Biden for Elle (2020)
- What's Your IQ editorial review of circulated figures