Cardi B took the stage at the 2018 American Music Awards for her first televised performance since the birth of her daughter, Kulture Kiari Cephus, and she did not disappoint.
The rapper hit the stage with Bad Bunny and J Balvin for a crowd-pumping performance of “I Like It,” and, well, we loved it. For the performance, Cardi rocked a gorgeous multicoloured dress accessorized with knee-high boots and pom-pom underwear (as you do). She began the song lying on a circular, spinning disc before standing up and removing her skirt to reveal a form-fitting bodysuit. She then danced it out alongside dozens of backup dancers in blue, green, and red ensembles. By the end of the performance, everyone in the audience was on their feet, and the trio received a standing ovation.
cardi 1 pic.twitter.com/ib64P1h9Ct
— Nikola (@nikolajocic_) October 10, 2018
Before her energetic performance—which also entailed bike riding—Cardi, alongside husband Offset, walked the red carpet wearing a show-stopping Dolce and Gabbana floral gown and matching headpiece.
cardi bike pic.twitter.com/PZQxjDLkrP
— Nikola (@nikolajocic_) October 10, 2018
Cardi was nominated for eight awards at Tuesday night’s ceremony, including new artist of the year and favourite rap/hip-hop artist (which she already picked up prior to performing). During her acceptance speech, she took the opportunity to thank her daughter, Kulture. “I really want to thank my daughter. And not just because she’s my daughter,” she said. “When I was pregnant, I was so influenced to be, like, ‘Yo, I got to do this, I got to show people wrong. I got to prove people wrong.’ Because they said I wasn’t going to make it after I had a baby.”
Cardi 3 pic.twitter.com/xfrZB8kn8R
— Nikola (@nikolajocic_) October 10, 2018
The rapper welcomed her first child with husband Offset in July and famously said that she would not get back onstage for anything less than $300,000 if it meant leaving her daughter at home. “I’m 25 years old,” she told the hosts of Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning back in April. “I’ma say this in the humblest way: I’m a millionaire. I’m established. The industry is never promised, but I know that if I make the right money moves, I’m gonna always have money.”
