Over the past several years, Cardi B has cemented herself as one of the biggest names in hip hop and pop music.

From her breakout single “Bodak Yellow” to hits like “WAP” and “Up,” Cardi B has proven that she has the talent, charisma and work ethic to achieve mainstream success. However, her journey to the top was not without its bumps and lessons learned along the way. As someone who came up in the industry relatively quickly, Cardi B has faced challenges that many established artists are spared. If she were to offer advice to young singers just starting out in the business, here are some of the costly mistakes she might warn them to avoid based on her own experiences.

Being Too Guarded Online

In today’s digital age, social media is an invaluable tool for artists to connect with fans and build a following. Cardi B understands this well, as she leveraged platforms like Instagram to share glimpses into her colorful personal life before finding fame through music. Her engaging online persona was a big part of what drew people to her emerging brand in the first place. However, total transparency online also comes with risks.

Some of Cardi B’s more unfiltered social media posts from earlier in her career have come back to haunt her. From old tweets some have deemed offensive to leaked videos containing controversial opinions, maintaining an open online presence means opening oneself up to scrutiny and the potential for past actions to be taken out of context years later when fame and influence have increased.

A young artist just starting out would be wise to heed Cardi B’s lesson that total openness online, while helpful for building a fanbase, can have longterm consequences if not carefully managed. She would likely advise maintaining some privacy and discretion, being thoughtful about what is shared and how openly one shares personal opinions, especially in the early stages of a career before a public image is fully cemented. While connecting with fans is important, so is protecting one’s brand and reputation for the long haul.

Rushing Into Collaborations

Part of what made Cardi B such a breakout success was her willingness to collaborate with a wide range of artists, from established hitmakers to up-and-coming creatives taking chances on unknown quantities. Some of these partnerships paid off tremendously for her, like “Bodak Yellow” producer Pardison Fontaine and her collaborations with major stars like Maroon 5. However, not all of Cardi B’s featured appearances and collaborations have aged well or furthered her career in a meaningful way.

Looking back, Cardi B may advise young artists to be more selective about who they work with, especially early on. Rushing into collaborations solely for the exposure or money can damage an artist’s image if they partner with someone whose values don’t align with their own or who gets embroiled in later controversies. It’s important for a new act to choose collaborators carefully based on complementing their brand and music authentically. Working with too many artists just for the sake of having an impressive list of features can also dilute an up-and-comer’s own creative identity and message at a crucial stage. Quality over quantity is key when it comes to partnerships that will help sustain longterm success.

Not Owning Their Masters

One issue Cardi B has been vocal about regretting is not owning the masters to her early music released before she had substantial negotiating power. Like many new artists just looking to get their foot in the door, she signed contracts ceding ownership and longterm profits from her recordings to her record label in exchange for an advance and promotion. But in hindsight, Cardi B realizes how valuable and lucrative maintaining control over her own art could have been with proper legal representation from the start.

A young singer at the beginning of their career would do well to heed this lesson. While record deals may seem like the only way to get music made and out to the public, it’s crucial for an up-and-coming artist to either own their masters outright or renegotiate ownership over time. Getting knowledgeable legal counsel from the beginning can help navigate contracts to the creator’s greatest advantage when it comes to retaining control and profits and avoiding regrets down the line. Record labels are a means to an end, but the art itself should remain with the artist as much as possible from the earliest stages.

Along with her musical talent, another factor in Cardi B’s success has been her shrewd business sense. She understands the money side of the industry as well as the creative, whether it’s leveraging endorsement deals or starting her own cosmetics line. However, Cardi B has acknowledged that her business acumen developed gradually over time in the spotlight. Had she come into her career with more knowledge of legal, financial and branding strategies from the start, she may have been able to avoid some mistakes or achieve even greater success and wealth retention sooner on.

A young artist just breaking in would be smart to heed Cardi B’s advice that the music business requires as much savvy offstage as it does talent onstage. To sustain a long career, they need to learn about building their brand, negotiating contracts, managing finances, and treating their creative work as a business from day one. While passion for the art should always come first, understanding accounting, legal protections, sponsorship and entrepreneurial opportunities can help transform a shortlived novelty act into a lifelong career. With the right guidance, a new singer can avoid being taken advantage of financially or missing major opportunities that Cardi B may have stumbled upon earlier with better business knowledge.

No stranger to controversy herself, Cardi B has found herself embroiled in very public disputes with other celebrities over the years, from Nicki Minaj to Tomi Lahren to larger beefs playing out across social media. While drama can boost online engagement, it risks overshadowing an artist’s music and allowing negativity to define their narrative. And as Cardi B knows well, comments made in the heat of conflict run the chance of coming back to haunt one’s reputation.

A young singer at the beginning of their path would do well to learn from Cardi B’s experience and avoid engaging in outright feuds or escalating petty disputes whenever possible. While standing up for oneself is important, directly attacking or trading insults with other public figures online or in interviews rarely enhances one’s image longterm and gives trolls and critics more ammunition. It’s usually better for an up-and-comer’s brand to rise above toxic feuding and let the work speak for itself without distracting side drama. As an emerging artist still defining themselves, protecting a positive reputation from the very start is key before any controversies can damage a career still in its infancy.

One overarching piece of advice Cardi B might give to young singers is to own their narrative from the ground up. So many obstacles she faced in her journey could have been lessened or avoided entirely had she entered the industry with a stronger sense of self-awareness and control over her public image from the very beginning. But by coming up through a reality show rather than traditional artist development pipelines, Cardi B had to learn many lessons through trial and error under the constant gaze of an audience.

A newcomer just starting out has the benefit of foresight, being able to craft a public persona and protect their creative control, reputation and longterm prosperity from the very first steps of their career. By knowing who they are authentically, understanding the business inside and out, choosing collaborators and circumstances wisely, and avoiding unnecessary drama or legal pitfalls, an emerging artist can own their narrative on their own terms to maximize longevity and success. They have a chance to lay strong foundations Cardi B had to build up over time through experience. With the right guidance and from a place of empowerment, any young singer can learn from her journey.

Of course, some mistakes and bumps in the road are inevitable for any artist, no matter how prepared. And part of what makes Cardi B so compelling is that her humanity and willingness to be vulnerable has undoubtedly helped connect her to fans on a deeper level. But the costly lessons she has shared publicly, from navigating the industry as a newcomer to managing controversies, show a wisdom that could benefit any young singer just starting their journey. By heeding advice from Cardi B’s experiences to protect their creative control, brand, reputation and business interests from the earliest stages, a new act can set themselves up for sustainable success and fulfillment throughout their career, whatever obstacles may come. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and inspiration for artists who want to own their craft and narrative fully.