In 1998, Bill Clinton was President of The United States, Eminem was recording his debut EP, and the uprising of social media that would transform the industry was a decade away from occurring. While hundreds of acts have come and gone since then, 1998 would be the last year a female rapper would have a number 1 record on the Billboard Top 100 Charts without the help of a feature from another artist. That makes 19 straight years without a repeat of this historical achievement despite the plethora of talented female artists we have seen in Hip-Hop since. Cardi B, a 2017 breakout artist hailing from New York, has officially landed the historic number 1 spot on Billboard's Top 100.
Cardi B via Complex
“Bodak Yellow,” a remix of Kodak Black’s song, “No Flockin,” is sweeping the nation, giving female hip-hop fans their first true, undeniable anthem in quite some time. Originally gaining notoriety through her appearances on the VH1 television show “Love & Hip-Hop” and her viral social media posts, Cardi B has emerged as one of biggest hip-hop artists to watch for going forward after inking a deal with Atlantic Records. Having already been remixed tirelessly throughout the music industry by rappers such as Montana of 300 and Kodak Black, “Bodak Yellow” has not only introduced Cardi B to the world as a legitimate artist going forward, but instantly propelled her into the conversation for top female rapper in the industry right now after rumors of tension between her and Nicki Minaj opened a debate.
Having escaped a life of poverty in addition to surviving domestic abuse and breaking through in an industry dominated by males since its creation, Cardi B is an act that Hip-Hop fans both male and female can rally around as a true underdog story. No matter where she turned, Cardi B was at a disadvantage and was able to push through every obstacle in her way. Only time will tell the impact she will have in the future, however with “Bodak Yellow” sitting comfortably at the number 1 spot on the charts and the obvious gravitation fans have to her personality, it appears as if Cardi B is here to stay whether you like it or not.