Cardi B. | Belcalis Almanzar

Even though we know her as Cardi B, loyal fans know her full name: Belcalis Almanzar. Both names are Arabic terms that have received translations into Spanish. Almanzar—from the Arabic “al mandhar”—apparently translates to “lookout point” or “watchtower.” Belcalis is supposed to be a reference to the Queen of Sheba.

However, the rapper’s stage name, Cardi B, was not derived from his given name, Belcalis Almanzar. Instead, Cardi B revealed in an interview with Jimmy Fallon that her name is an acronym for Bacardi (the rum). Like many Bronx-born rappers, Cardi B is proud of her hood and attributes her success to her upbringing. Invasion of Privacy, her debut studio album, landed at number one on the Billboard 200 and set multiple streaming records. In addition, it was critically credited and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, becoming Cardi B the first female rap artist to win the award as a solo artist and the first female rap artist nominated for Album of the Year in 15 years.