Cardi B paused to inform the thousands of fans Friday night at a sold-out Wells Fargo Arena that she had her breast implants redone three weeks before traveling to Des Moines.

The artist said her plastic surgeon asked her to cancel shows and take two months off to heal. 

But she said she denied her doctor’s request in favor of her fans — and money.

It’s this kind of blunt transparency that has propelled Cardi B’s career and brought her from the Bronx all the way to Iowa as she kicked off a summer of festival appearances and headliner shows.

Cardi B performs at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Friday, May 3, 2019.

Friday’s show featured 17 songs, ranging from snippets to full-length tracks — and one mid-set bathroom break — over 45 minutes. 

She played all three of her No. 1 Billboard hits and most of her Grammy Award-winning album, “Invasion of Privacy.”

Widespread attention first found the entertainer through viral videos that permeated social networks like Instagram and Vine in the 2012 and 2013 before she landed a spot on VH1’s “Love and Hip Hop: New York,” which she left after two seasons to focus on music. 

The New York rapper’s first sojourn to Iowa had been greatly anticipated. A  crowd of more than 13,000 roiled with excitement that sustained itself through a short Kodak Black set — and a long stretch of waiting before she took the stage. 

Raygun produced a special line of T-shirts to commemorate the moment with a play on their “Des Moines: Hell Yeah!” design, inverting it to “Des Moines: Okurrr” — the onomatopoeia of the trilling noise Cardi B has made her signature and is currently attempting to trademark — above a pastiche of the classic Rolling Stones tongue logo.

Shortly before she took the stage, the young mother also received a gift from the venue itself: matching pink letter jackets for her and her 11-month-old daughter, Kulture. 

Sporting a dazzling, Dorothy’s-slippers red outfit, much of the outsized sexuality and vulgar charm that has defined Cardi B’s image as a stripper turned mega-star was on full display.   

Cardi B’s decision to prioritize her fans and her career over her doctor’s recommendations highlights her dedication to her craft. Despite the potential risks of performing shortly after undergoing surgery, Cardi B chose to deliver an unforgettable performance for her fans in Des Moines.

Her blunt transparency and unapologetic attitude have endeared her to audiences around the world. Cardi B’s rise to fame from the Bronx to Grammy-winning artist has been nothing short of meteoric, thanks in part to her captivating persona and chart-topping hits.

With a setlist that included her biggest hits and a nod to her roots in reality TV, Cardi B’s show in Des Moines was a night to remember for the thousands in attendance. The special T-shirt line and personalized gift from the venue showcased the excitement surrounding her first performance in Iowa.

As Cardi B continues on her summer tour, fans can expect nothing less than a high-energy, unapologetic show that cements her status as one of the most dynamic performers in music today. Follow us for more updates on Cardi B and other top artists as we continue to bring you the latest news and insights from the music industry.

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