Cardi B Following in Jennifer Lopez’s Footsteps? Possible Career Lessons
While Cardi B and Jennifer Lopez have never publicly discussed mentorship or Lopez directly imparting career advice, there are notable parallels between their paths that suggest the Bronx-born rapper may be taking inspiration from the iconic entertainer’s playbook. Both Latina women broke barriers in music and film, leveraged their star power into business opportunities, and maintained relevance through reinvention – strategies that Lopez employed to sustain a multi-decade career.
Music and Acting Crossover
One of the most apparent similarities is their crossover success between music and acting. Lopez was a pioneer as one of the first Latinas to gain mainstream popularity in both industries. In the late 90s, she broke out as a triple threat – releasing hit songs, starring in box office smashes like “Selena” and “Out of Sight,” and becoming a household name. This opened doors for future Latin artists to expand their brands beyond music.
Cardi B’s breakthrough followed a similar trajectory. She rose to fame with her 2017 breakout single “Bodak Yellow” and subsequent album “Invasion of Privacy,” which made her the first solo female rapper to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys. But it was her film debut in the 2019 crime drama “Hustlers” that took her stardom to new heights. Her acclaimed supporting role alongside Lopez showed her acting chops and increased her celebrity profile even more.
The film’s plot, about a group of strippers turning the tables on their wealthy Wall Street clients, also mirrored Cardi’s own background as a former stripper. Her authenticity in the role demonstrated she could transition her real-life storytelling skills to the big screen. Like Lopez, she proved Latinas could find mainstream success in Hollywood while retaining their cultural identities. Their collaboration on “Hustlers” likely provided an opportunity to learn directly from Lopez’s experience navigating the entertainment industry as a Latina icon.
Business Savvy
Another notable parallel is their business acumen. Lopez has long been lauded for her entrepreneurial skills – expanding her brand into lucrative business ventures well beyond her artistic talents. This included the JLo fashion and beauty lines, lucrative endorsement deals, real estate investments, and other ventures that have allowed her to amass a reported net worth of over $400 million.
Cardi B shows signs of following a similarly savvy path. Even early in her career, she negotiated favorable recording contracts and endorsement deals that maximized her earnings. This included the 2018 Reebok partnership that paid her $8 million to promote a new sneaker line – one of the largest deals for a musical artist at the time.
She’s also leveraged her fame into fashion ventures like her 2018 collaboration with Fashion Nova, as well as the 2020 launch of her own line of clothing, shoes, and accessories called “Migos.” These business moves echo Lopez’s model of using star power to build a multifaceted brand. They suggest Cardi is learning from Lopez’s example of how to parlay success in one field into broader financial opportunities.
Staying Relevant
Another lesson Lopez seems to be imparting is the importance of constantly evolving one’s image and sound to maintain cultural relevance. Now in her 50s, Lopez continues topping charts and selling out tours – no small feat in an industry where artists are often pushed aside as they age. But she’s sustained popularity for decades by regularly reinventing herself.
From her early dance-pop days to exploring different genres like Latin-infused tracks, Lopez stays current. She also keeps her personal brand fresh through bold fashion statements, high-profile relationships, and unapologetic displays of confidence in her aging body. On social media, she’s just as likely to post glamorous photoshoots as casual family moments – appealing to multiple demographics.
Cardi B demonstrates a similar approach. Though only in her late 20s, she’s already experimented with different styles on her two albums so far – from trap bangers to melodic hip hop. She’s also unafraid to switch up her hair, makeup looks, and fashion constantly on Instagram to keep fans engaged. Whether showing off lavish outfits, family time, political opinions, or twerking videos, she understands the importance of maintaining an unpredictable public image.
Her willingness to push boundaries was also on display in the provocative music video for “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. The raunchy visuals sparked controversy but also cemented Cardi’s status as a risk-taking artist unafraid to own her sexuality. This echoes Lopez’s own unapologetic displays of confidence that have kept her in the cultural conversation for decades. By evolving her brand and refusing to be boxed in, Cardi shows an understanding of longevity that likely came from observing Lopez’s enduring career.
A Learning Opportunity
While direct mentorship hasn’t been confirmed, starring alongside Lopez in “Hustlers” provided a prime opportunity for Cardi to pick the brain of an entertainment industry veteran. On set, Lopez would have been able to impart valuable advice based on her experiences achieving mainstream popularity as a Latina while navigating Hollywood as a woman of color.
In interviews, Cardi expressed admiration for Lopez and the doors she opened. She said Lopez told her “you’re going to go through a lot of mistakes, but as long as you learn from them, you’re going to be good.” This suggests Lopez recognized Cardi was just starting her journey and aimed to provide guidance based on the hurdles she faced earlier in her career.
Their on-screen dynamic also showed Cardi learning from Lopez’s character, as her character is taken under the wing of Lopez’s character. Off-screen, a similar dynamic may have played out, with Lopez passing on wisdom to an up-and-coming star looking to sustain long-term success. Their collaboration demonstrated that while separated by generations, they could empower each other as Latinas in the cutthroat entertainment industry.
Overall, while Cardi B hasn’t publicly acknowledged Lopez as a direct mentor, it’s clear she could be taking cues from the superstar’s blueprint. Both crossed over from music into films, built business empires, and maintained relevance through reinvention – strategies that sustained Lopez’s multi-decade career. Their “Hustlers” partnership likely provided an opportunity for Lopez to impart lessons learned over decades in the spotlight. And Cardi’s evolving path mirrors many of the strategies that allowed Lopez to blaze trails for Latin artists in Hollywood and music. Whether directly mentored or not, Jennifer Lopez’s iconic career seems to be inspiration for the next generation of stars like Cardi B.
