Cardi B, and her hit single “Bodak Yellow,” seemed to skyrocket to fame overnight. Last month, the former stripper-turned-reality-TV-star-turned-rapper made pop music history and became the first female rapper in 20 years to earn the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart without the help of a featured artist on her debut single. Subsequently, Cardi B teamed up with Lyft on a promotion that benefitted New York City ride sharers and — if rumors are to be believed — she may soon team up with Queen Bey herself.
While Cardi B has proven that she doesn’t need an assist from pop stars like Beyonce, who can say no to Beyonce?
Though she’s new to the limelight, the rapper is already making a huge impact. Many of Cardi’s lyrics are filled with profanity, but they also incorporate personal details about her own life. For instance, one song mentions that she had her teeth fixed. Around 32% of people say they’re concerned about the look of their teeth, and listeners were eager to find out who exactly was behind her veneers. Once they found out that the rapper can thank Dr. Catrise Austin for her gorgeous smile, the dentist’s appointment book filled up just as quickly as Cardi rose to fame. Dr. Austin, whose other clients include DR Khaled, Common, Toni Braxton, Busta Rhymes, and Omarosa, told TMZ that her business has nearly tripled.
It’s easy to see why Lyft is so eager to collaborate with Cardi B.
A few weeks ago, she teamed up with Lyft on a special feature that would allow users to “ride with” the rapper when they used the code “BardiGang.” The code showed Cardi’s face on a platinum record instead of the usual Lyft logo. It may not have been quite as good as a ride credit, but it was a fun way to celebrate her success.
And speaking of success, the rapper might be working with one of the most revered artists in the business: Beyonce. Cardi’s engineer, Michel Ashby, recently posted an Instagram story that hinted at a future collaboration. The snap showed a screen with a mix entitled “Cardi B and Beyonce” with text imposed over the image that read, “Wow, this feature is big.” Ashby did not reveal anything further, but it’ll certainly keep fans guessing — and the Beehive buzzing.
Although some may not be fans of the outspoken rap artist, those in the industry think she has staying power. Chuck Creekmur, CEO of AllHipHop.com, told NBC News: “The rise of Cardi B is really remarkable. I know a lot of rap purists have issues with her, but I think she is funny, relatable, engaging and even sweet to a certain degree. Quite frankly, the fact that she causes people to talk about her so much almost insures that she will be successful.”
