Today is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month and the Latino community in music ended the festive celebration of Hispanic culture with a bang, to say the least, at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards which was broadcasted live at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California and hosted by Kelly Clarkson.
On Wednesday night, Latin artists performed and won awards, continuing to push the culture forward by immersing the globe in their matrix of flavor.
Cardi B continues her rise to icon status, winning her third straight “To Rap Female Artist” award.
Cardi has overcome the challenges of the pandemic, a public divorce announcement with Offset, a recent reconciliation of sorts, and some rightwing backlash for her hit song, WAP, with Megan Thee Stallion.
That song blew up the internet, the social media debates raged and the Billboard Hot 100 banger torched first-week streaming records and became an anthem, of sorts, a tool used in the constant redefining and elevation of female empowerment in 2020.
She’s been on a meteoric four-year rise that rivals the most influential and captivating artists of our time.
Let’s rewind:
Cardi picks up three awards at the 2017 BET Hip-Hop Awards
Cardi took home three awards that night including Best New Hip-Hop Artist, Single of the Year, and Hustler of the Year.
First rapper with first three singles in the Hot 100’s Top 10 simultaneously
2018 opened up with a bang for Cardi as she became the first rapper to have her first singles in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10 simultaneously. The run kicked off with Cardi’s appearance on G-Ezay’s “No Limit”, Migos’ “MotorSport” followed by her own debut single “Bodak Yellow” spread through the Top 10 of the Hot 100.
Album streamed over 100 million times on Apple Music
According to Apple Music, Cardi’s debut album, ‘Invasion of Privacy ‘ has been streamed more than 100 million times worldwide, doubling the number previously held by Taylor’s Swift’s Reputation album.
Debuts on the cover of ‘Rolling Stones’
Mommy Cardi gives birth to baby Kulture Kiari with husband Offset
On July 1, 2018 Cardi B. and Offest announce the arrival of their child together.
In 2019, she won a Grammy for Best Rap Album
She’s accomplished all of this and much more and she just turned 28 years old on October 11.
In addition to her musical exploits, she’s spoken out against President Trump on several occasions. She’s been a vocal proponent of voter registration campaigns and a celebrity warrior in the fight against voter suppression. Cardi has engaged with Presidential candidate Joe Biden and addressed issues that affect the voiceless, women and people of color. The worldwide superstar hasn’t forgotten her Bronx roots.
You can call her rap’s J-Lo, but Alex Rodriguez’s main squeeze has adopted a more motherly tone as the years have progressed. Cardi is still a freight train blazing at warp speed and reaching new heights, pushing limits, finessing the social media onslaught and getting mad love from the people, every day.
Billboard Music Awards Performances
Artists Bad Bunny, Nesi, Ivy Queen performed their hit song YO PERREO SOLA REMIX
Other Award Winners:
Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Album: J Balvin & Bad Bunny “Oasis”
Top Latin Song: Daddy Yankee ft. Snow “Con Calma”
