: the second letter of the English alphabet. 2. : a musical note referred to by the letter B : the seventh tone of a C-major scale. 3. : a grade rating a student's work as good.

Cardi B was born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar in the Bronx, New York. Her mother was from Trinidad, and her father was from the Dominican Republic. Her younger sister, Hennessy, was named after a brand of cognac, and Almánzar was called Bacardi, a brand of rum, to match. She eventually shortened the nickname to Cardi B.

On June 16, 2017, Atlantic Records released Cardi B's commercial debut single, "Bodak Yellow", via digital distribution. She performed the single on The Wendy Williams Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!