Cardi B first started making waves from her appearance on Love & Hip Hop: New York. She instantly became a fan favorite with her crazy outbursts and humor. Since then she has blown up and has become one of the best selling woman hip hop artists. Cardi B’s music is a hit with women but it also has a real gritty and gangster flow. Which makes a lot of people question if Cardi B has gang affiliation with any gangs in New York. Lets take a look at Cardi B’s rise to fame and her connection to gangs.

Growing Up

Cardi B was born October 11, 1992. Her birth name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar Cephus, and she was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

Belcalis got her stage name from a derivation of Bacardi, a rum which she got her nickname from.

Cardi B grew up in the Highbridge neighborhood of the South Bronx. At a young age she would become a member of the Bloods. A gang that started out on the west coast in California in the 70s, but has since spread across the world.

During her early adult life, Cardi B started dancing as a stripper at a strip club. She has stated that she looks at all the positive things being a stripper gave her, even though it isn’t the most glamorous profession to be in. She has said, stripping was a way escape poverty and domestic violence, she used it as a way to make money as well as earn enough money to get educated.

In 2013 she started making waves on Vine and Instagram, and it went viral. Which led her to her career on Love & Hip Hop.

Gang Ties

Growing up in the Bronx is tough, there are gangs everywhere. Even though Cardi B isn’t an OG, she is still affiliated with gangs. Cardi B grew up with Blood gang members and some of the people she is affiliated with are heavy hitters, real shot callers.

One of Cardi B’s friends growing up is said to be the highest ranking female member of the 59 Brims in New York.

Her friends are shot callers which means they can task lower gang members to put in work.

In 2018, Cardi B was involved in a felony assault charge, for allegedly throwing bottles at some women at a club, that may have been involved with the Rapper Offset, member of the Migos, who is also Cardi’s husband.

This incident is tied to members of the 59 Brims gang who were also put up on charges.

59 Brims

The 59 Brims are considered to be a violent criminal organization that operates in New York. They are involved in trafficking drugs, fraud and other criminal activity.

Law enforcement believe the brims are a violent street gang that is involved in a lot illegal gang activity including acts of violence and murder.

The 59 Brims are a Blood set that can be found in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. These gangs operate differently that the 59 Brims on the west coast, but they do share some affiliation with both coasts.