Carlos Alman is the father of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B and reality star Hennessy Carolina. Born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic, he later worked as a taxi driver in New York City. His mother, Esperanza Almánzar, is Cardi B’s paternal grandmother, who briefly appeared on Love & Hip Hop: New York during a family gathering.
Quick Bio Table
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Carlos Alman (Almánzar) |
| Date of Birth | March 19, 1958 |
| Age | 68 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Dominican Republic |
| Nationality | Dominican |
| Profession | Retired taxi driver |
| Residence | The Bronx, New York City |
| Spouse | Clara Mercedes Almánzar (m. 1991, div. 2005) |
| Children | Cardi B, Hennessy Carolina, and others |
| Mother | Esperanza Almánzar |
| Famous For | Father of Cardi B |
Who Is Carlos Alman?
Carlos Alman is widely recognized as the father of Belcalis Almánzar, the global superstar known professionally as Cardi B. While his daughter commands red carpets and chart-topping hits, Carlos has spent his life away from cameras. He represents a familiar immigrant story: a man who left the Dominican Republic in search of a better future and quietly built a life for his children in New York City.
Despite his daughter’s enormous fame, Carlos Alman has rarely given interviews or made public appearances. His name surfaces mainly through articles about Cardi B’s upbringing, family background, and the values that shaped her confident personality. People search his name out of curiosity about the man behind one of hip-hop’s most outspoken voices, yet the available information remains limited and mostly secondhand.
Early Life And Dominican Roots
Carlos Alman was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic, a country known for its vibrant music culture, strong family bonds, and Caribbean traditions. Very little is documented about his childhood, siblings, or upbringing, which fits his lifelong preference for privacy. What is known is that his mother is Esperanza Almánzar, a name that appears repeatedly whenever sources discuss his background.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic during the 1960s and 1970s meant being shaped by close-knit family structures and a strong sense of cultural identity. These values, of resilience, loyalty, and hard work, are often cited as influences that later passed down through Carlos to his children. His Dominican heritage remains one of the most consistently mentioned details across biography sites covering his life.
Moving To New York And Life As A Taxi Driver
In 1990, Carlos Alman relocated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, New York City. Like many immigrants from the Caribbean during that era, he took up work that demanded long hours and physical endurance. He became a taxi driver, a profession that historically attracted Dominican and other immigrant workers in New York due to flexible hours and steady, if modest, income.
This career choice placed him firmly in the working-class fabric of the city. Cardi B has spoken openly about her parents holding low-paying jobs while raising their family, and Carlos’s taxi work fits that description closely. He has since retired from driving, and details about any work he may have done afterward are not publicly available, consistent with his quiet lifestyle.
Marriage To Clara Mercedes Almánzar
Carlos married Clara Mercedes Almánzar in 1991, shortly after settling in New York. Clara, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, worked as a cashier at a local grocery store in the Bronx and came from a large family of twelve siblings. The couple’s union blended Dominican and Trinidadian heritage, contributing to the multicultural background Cardi B often references in interviews.
Their marriage produced two daughters who would later become household names. The couple separated in 2005, after fourteen years together, but both parents reportedly remained involved in their children’s lives afterward. This separation is frequently mentioned in biographical pieces, though the specific reasons behind it have never been publicly detailed by either parent.
Father Of Cardi B And Hennessy Carolina
Carlos and Clara welcomed their first daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, on October 11, 1992. She would go on to become Cardi B, one of the most successful female rappers of her generation. Three years later, in December 1995, their second daughter, Hennessy Carolina, was born; she later built her own career as a social media personality and reality television figure.
Cardi B has shared a memorable story about her father showing up at the hospital after celebrating with cognac and suggesting the inspiration behind her sister’s nickname, which eventually evolved into “Cardi B” itself. Beyond this anecdote, Carlos has largely stayed out of his daughters’ public narratives, though Cardi has acknowledged both parents for the sacrifices they made raising her.
Carlos Alman’s Other Children
According to several biography sources, Carlos reportedly has additional children from an earlier relationship before his marriage to Clara. These are said to include daughters Nicauly Villalona and Maciel Almanzar, along with several sons, though only one son, Fernando Almanzar, is publicly named. Details about this earlier relationship, including the identity of the other parent, remain unknown.
This larger family structure adds another layer to Carlos Alman’s story, suggesting a man with a wide extended family spread across both the Dominican Republic and the United States. However, because Carlos avoids interviews, none of these family members have spoken extensively about their relationships with him or with their famous half-sisters.
Who Is Esperanza Almánzar?
Esperanza Almánzar is Carlos Alman’s mother, making her the paternal grandmother of Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina. For years she remained almost entirely out of public view, known only as a name mentioned in passing when biographers discussed Carlos’s background. Her connection to the family became visually confirmed when she appeared briefly on television.
Esperanza gained a moment of recognition when she appeared in Season 7 of the VH1 reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York, during a family gathering scene featuring her granddaughter Cardi B. That brief appearance gave fans a rare glimpse of the real family behind the global superstar, and it remains the primary public reference point for who Esperanza Almánzar actually is.
Esperanza Almánzar’s Role In The Family
Although she never sought fame, Esperanza Almánzar‘s home in Washington Heights, Manhattan, played a meaningful role in Cardi B’s upbringing. During the 1990s, Carlos and Clara reportedly lived in Esperanza’s apartment in this historic Dominican-heavy neighborhood while raising their young daughters. Cardi B has credited time spent there with shaping aspects of her speech and personality.
The Washington Heights apartment, located in a prewar building near Broadway, became a familiar setting in family stories. Cardi has described the kitchen there as a central gathering space that has barely changed over the years. This connection between Esperanza’s home and Cardi’s childhood memories highlights how the grandmother quietly anchored the family even without public recognition.
The Generational Connection Between Carlos And Esperanza
The relationship between Carlos Alman and his mother Esperanza Almánzar represents a generational chain that ultimately shaped one of music’s biggest stars. Esperanza raised Carlos in the Dominican Republic, instilling the values of hard work and family loyalty that he carried with him to New York. Carlos, in turn, passed those same values on to Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina.
This three-generation link, from Esperanza to Carlos to Cardi, illustrates how Dominican cultural traditions traveled across borders and decades. While Esperanza Almánzar herself remains largely undocumented beyond her single television appearance, her influence is felt indirectly through the family she helped raise and the pride in heritage that Cardi B regularly expresses publicly.
Current Life And Public Profile
As of 2026, Carlos Alman remains a private individual living away from the spotlight, reportedly still residing in the New York area. He has not pursued media appearances despite his daughter’s continued global fame, and there is no indication that this will change. His low profile contrasts sharply with the constant media attention surrounding Cardi B’s career, relationships, and public statements.
Esperanza Almánzar similarly has not made further public appearances since her brief Love & Hip Hop cameo. Both figures illustrate a common pattern among relatives of celebrities: occasional curiosity from fans, limited verified information, and a deliberate choice to remain outside the entertainment industry that defines their famous family member’s life.
Conclusion
Carlos Alman’s story is less about personal achievement in the public eye and more about the quiet foundation he provided for a family that would eventually achieve global recognition. From his Dominican upbringing under his mother Esperanza Almánzar, to his years driving a taxi in New York, to raising Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina, Carlos represents the immigrant parent narrative that often goes untold. Esperanza Almánzar, though rarely seen publicly, remains a meaningful part of this family’s history, connecting three generations through shared heritage and quiet resilience.
FAQs
Who is Carlos Alman?
Carlos Alman is the father of rapper Cardi B and social media personality Hennessy Carolina.
When was Carlos Alman born?
He was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic.
What did Carlos Alman do for a living?
He worked as a taxi driver in New York City and is now retired.
Who is Esperanza Almánzar?
Esperanza Almánzar is Carlos Alman’s mother and the paternal grandmother of Cardi B.
Did Esperanza Almánzar appear on TV?
Yes, she appeared briefly in Season 7 of Love & Hip Hop: New York.
Are Carlos Alman and Clara Almánzar still married?
No, they married in 1991 and divorced in 2005.
Does Carlos Alman have other children besides Cardi B and Hennessy?
Reportedly yes, including daughters Nicauly Villalona and Maciel Almanzar, and a son named Fernando Almanzar.
