(MENAFN- Gulf Times) It's been a pretty wild ride to music stardom for Cardi B. The girl born Belcalis Almanzar on October 11, 1992, has found fame via gang membership, exotic dancing, cosmetic surgery, Internet celebrity and reality television. She is now riding high on Billboard's Hot 100 with her breakthrough hit single, Bodak Yellow.
'I named it Bodak Yellow because the flow of the song will remind you of a song Kodak Black did called No Flockin. He liked Bodak Yellow so had no problem about the flow being based around his track. I did the same sort of thing for my song, Foreva. That was based on Plies' song, Ran Off On Da Plug Twice.
Although Cardi's critics say her success is effectively stolen from the original work of others, the New York native is unapologetic about this or any other aspect of her life.
'I might have been inspired by the flow of Kodak Black's song but the lyrics, presentation and performance are all my own work. Haters can say what they like. I don't pay any attention to them.
Like her music, the path of Cardi's life seems to have been criticised and praised in equal measures. While there are those who condemn the road she has taken, others are fulsome in their admiration for a girl who has dragged herself out of poverty and abusive relationships to a comfortable environment and acceptance in mainstream America.
As a teenager, Cardi became a member of the notorious Bloods street gang. She has not replied to any specific question about her initiation but has referred to herself as having been a gangbanger since the age of 16.
Despite her involvement with the Bloods, there was an indication of how her life might change when she attended the Renaissance High School for Musical Theater and Technology.
'I used to get cast in the lead parts when we did musicals but usually got kicked off the show because I got bad grades. I'd go to daytime parties in friends' apartments when their parents were at work. I spent more time doing these things than schoolwork.
For a time, she mixed college with work as a cashier in a delicatessen. But Cardi dropped out of college and got fired from her job. She was also the victim of domestic violence. She claims becoming an exotic dancer saved her life.
'I was financially dependent on this boyfriend who kept beating me. We were living with two pitbulls in a room at his mama's house. It was crazy. I started stripping as a way to earn enough money to leave my boyfriend and become independent.
'People think of stripping as a negative thing but it's not. Most of the guys in the audience are very respectful. You're not their wife or their girlfriend, you're their fantasy or illusion. They understand and respect that.
'If I have a date now, I would much rather we go to the club than a restaurant or a movie. I enjoy watching the girls perform and will always throw money for them if they put on a good show.
Despite her positive comments about exotic dancing, there is one aspect of the profession which Cardi looks back on with regret.
'Before I started stripping, I was very satisfied with the way I looked. I thought I had a nice face and body and the bosses must have thought so or I wouldn't have got the job. But I'd see some of the other girls and started to feel insecure. I felt like I wouldn't make as much money if I didn't have big boobs and a big ass so I had surgery to change my body. I now know it was a mistake but it seemed right at the time.
Cardi initially became a social media personality while still employed as an exotic dancer. Her Instagram postings, both funny and serious, quickly attracted a loyal following and transformed her into what has become known as a microcelebrity.
In 2015, she was able to quit exotic dancing and use her celebrity status to earn a living. Cardi is proud to say everything in her apartment was either given to her for free or at a much reduced price in exchange for social media endorsements.
Her celebrity presence, allied to a love of music and an ability to create new lyrics to popular tracks, led to Cardi trying her hand at rapping. This resulted in a regular spot on VH1's show, Love & Hip Hop: New York, and a mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol 1, which hit number 20 on Billboard's Rap Albums chart.
Vol 2 was released earlier this year. Singles have come and gone, both her own solo work and guest appearances on tracks by other artists. For whatever reason, they did not prove as popular as her social media posts.
'I put out a video for my Lick track on the same day as a rant on Instagram. My ranting video went more viral than my music video. I don't want to lose my social media fans but I felt I had to self-censor myself. Otherwise, my personality overshadows everything.
She now seems to have found a happy medium between music and social media. The chart success of Bodak Yellow far surpasses any of her previous songs. How much Cardi might genuinely enjoy her own music is another matter. With a Trinidadian mother and a father from the Dominican Republic, she grew up listening to dancehall, bachata and reggaeton. Rap came later in her life.
'I love my own music but I also love styles of music which wouldn't necessarily become a hit. I'll change my sound if anything I do doesn't work. You have to follow the trends and be with what sells. I need to make money while I'm hot. I have a passion for music but I also have a passion for paying my bills.
Inbrief
Dusky Grey
Welsh duo Dusky Grey insist they have great faces for radio. This explains why Gethin Williams and Catrin Hopkins make nothing more than a cameo appearance in their videos. But they are attracting attention from the tastemakers on UK national radio. Their new single, Call Me Over, has been playlisted on BBC Radio 1.
This follows the acclaim showered on Gethin and Catrin earlier this year after their independently-released debut single, Told Me. The critical adulation saw record labels come knocking on their door and the duo signed a deal with East West/Warner Music Group.
See what you think of Dusky Grey by checking out the videos for Told Me and Call Me Over. The former is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZITylXjvjGo while the latter can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vwiOxzqglk
There is also an Alex Metric dance remix of Told Me at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve4o8N2GW3I
Liam Gallagher
Could Liam Gallagher be about to disappear from the music scene?
Don't bet on it but the former Oasis and Beady Eye frontman has said he will quit the music industry if his debut solo album flops.
The album, As You Were, is scheduled for release on October 6. It has so far been promoted with three songs. Liam's debut solo single, Wall of Glass, peaked at number 21 on the UK chart. The follow-up, Chinatown, reached number 56. Third single, For What It's Worth, has just been released.
Liam insists there would be no point in him making another solo album if As You Were is unsuccessful. He also says he would not consider moving into a different style of music.
While this may be true, it is difficult to believe that he would 'rather work at MacDonald's than reunite Oasis. This is precisely what he has seemingly wanted to do since the band effectively transformed into Beady Eye following the acrimonious departure of his brother Noel. Perhaps Liam has finally accepted that Noel has no intention of ever re-forming Oasis.
There is no official video as yet for Liam's new single. However, For What It's Worth is accompanied by a lyric video which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVlZxt1GHU
Wolf Alice
London alternative rockers Wolf Alice hit number two on the UK chart with their 2015 debut album, My Love Is Cool. They hope the fan response will be equally positive when the follow-up, Visions of a Life, is released on September 29.
With three singles now issued, the new album certainly promises to be an eclectic musical mix. Judge for yourself by viewing the official videos. Lead single, Yuk Foo, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a_AigNZYZc while Don't Delete The Kisses can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxE-zppu30
As yet, there is only an audio posting of newly released Beautifully Unconventional. This is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OruEhXEcWLo
MENAFN2108201700670000ID1095758128
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.