Cardi B Left ‘Love & Hip Hop New York’ Because She Knew She Was About to Blow Up

Too busy makin’ money moves! Season 8 of Love & Hip Hop New York has been playing out on our small screens over the last several months — but one of the show’s key players has been noticeably absent. Of course, we’re talking about Cardi B, whose meteoric rise to fame occurred in the time leading up to the October 2017 premiere of the hit VH1 reality series’ latest installment.

While fans would love to see Cardi return to LHHNY, the 25-year-old rapper has seemingly left reality TV behind for good. In December 2016, the “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker revealed her decision to exit the show after just two seasons during an Instagram live video. According to Cardi, she knew that she wouldn’t have time to participate if she wanted to get serious about launching her music career.

(Credit: Giphy)

“I don’t want people to think I became a rapper because I was on Love & Hip Hop,” she said. “There are a couple of songs that are on [my mixtape Gangsta B—h Music Vol. 1] that I been did before Love & Hip Hop, it just wasn’t completely perfect. It wasn’t completely perfect and everything takes time. It took me like a year to complete the mixtape. Everything I do, it takes a lot of time for me to do it because only the best sells, you know? If you want people to take you seriously, you gotta do the best.”

Since leaving the Love & Hip Hop cast, Cardi has practically taken over the music industry. Back in September, the Bronx, NY, native became the first female rapper to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since Lauryn Hill did so 17 years ago. And Cardi has only continued to break records following the success of “Bodak Yellow.”

Earlier this week, the outspoken social media maven became the first rapper to have her first three Hot 100 hits be in the US Top 10 at the same time. “No Limit,” her collab with G-Eazy hit No. 4, while her feature on Migos and Nicki Minaj’s “MotorSport” reached No. 7, and her first single, “Bodak Yellow,” slipped back to the No. 10 position. The hip-hop star’s other new tunes, “Bartier Cardi” and “La Modelo” have also cracked the hot 100 at No. 14 and No. 52, respectively.

It’s Cardi’s world and we’re just living in it, okurrr!