Sydney Shuler | Staff Writer
Okurrrrrr! Cardi B’s hustle took her straight to the top. You can do that, too.
Rapper Belcalis “Cardi B” Almánzar’s Grammy win for Best Rap Album calls for a time of reflection on the Cinderella story that has become her career. Feb. 10, the 25-year-old rapper took home her first Grammy—an award for her debut album, Invasion of Privacy.
Cardi B’s success story is one for the books. The Bronx native originally made a name for herself by gaining popularity on Instagram, documenting her stripper lifestyle. She then became a cast member on the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2015. She left the show after two years and went on to produce the No. 1 single Bodak Yellow, was signed to Atlantic Records and received her first two Grammy nominations.
After skyrocketing to stardom, Cardi B is now among legends in Billboard No. 1 singles, music streams and overall influence. If she can do it, so can you.
Cardi B’s success story is unique, but it can be picked apart to be applied to any situation. Let’s review how the rapper achieved greatness:
1. Owning every part of her journey.
Cardi B responded happily when asked if she enjoyed her three-year stint as a stripper during an appearance on Ellen.
“Everybody wants me to be like, ‘I hated it,’ but…it made me money, it paid my bills, it got me my own apartment…It just helped me a lot,” the rapper said.
In the same interview, the rapper revealed that she was a disruptive student in school because of her goofy personality. “It was so hard not to tell jokes,” she said.
Cardi openly discusses the times in her life that are not shiny and glamourous without shame. Recognizing that you could not have ended up where you are today without going through the obstacles that you have encountered is crucial to any success story. Being honest about how far you have come also shows how much closer you are to achieving your goals.
2. Staying true to herself.
Although her personality got her in trouble in school, she did not sacrifice it one bit for the fame. From her first 10,000 followers on Instagram to the nearly 41 million that she carries today, she has maintained the same hilarious and loud energy that her fans know and love.
“If @cardib doesn’t show you that you can be yourself & WIN,” rapper Fabolous posted on Instagram after the Grammys, “no one will.”
Many of us have been told that we need to change some of our defining characteristics to be accepted or in order to achieve our own goals. Sometimes, those things are the very things that allow us to stand out in a crowd. Instead of molding yourself into what you think will be easier for others to accept, it could be even more beneficial to learn how to use those traits to your advantage. Besides, Cardi seems to be having a ton of fun being herself, and people adore her for it!
3. Growing at her own pace.
Her former occupation and personality type gave people reason to criticize her, but she recognizes it as part of her growth. Cardi B took the necessary steps, specific to her goals and abilities at the moment, to making her dream come true.
While she was stripping, she used her money to invest in her music career, she explained in her Ellen interview. She used Love & Hip Hop to put a face to the name that was growing in recognition, as well as debut her music on a larger platform. Cardi B quickly became a household name but waited an entire year to release her debut album, and it won her a Grammy.
Your journey is just that: a journey; it is not a race.
So, whoever you are and wherever you came from, take some notes on Ms. Almánzar’s story. You’ll likely get more out of it than you think.
The Hampton Script 