Carlos Alman: Cardi B’s Father — Biography, Family & Heritage (2026)

Who Is Carlos Alman?

Carlos Alman (full name Carlos Almánzar) is the father of Cardi B — one of the most successful rappers of her generation — and of her younger sister, media personality Hennessy Carolina. He is a Dominican immigrant who spent his working years driving a taxi through the streets of New York City, raising his family in The Bronx on a working-class income.

Unlike many parents of celebrities, Carlos never sought the spotlight. His story is one of immigrant grit: long shifts behind the wheel, a multicultural household, and children who credit his work ethic for their own drive.

Carlos Alman — Quick Bio

Full name	Carlos Almánzar (known as Carlos Alman)
Date of birth	March 19, 1958 (68 in 2026)
Place of birth	Dominican Republic
Nationality	Dominican-American
Ethnicity	Afro-Dominican
Ex-wife	Clara Mercedes Almánzar (m. 1991; separated ~2005)
Children	Cardi B (Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar), Hennessy Carolina Almánzar; reports also mention other children
Grandchildren	Kulture Kiari Cephus, Wave Set Cephus
Profession	Retired taxi driver (New York City)
Residence	New York City, USA

Early Life in the Dominican Republic

Carlos was born on March 19, 1958 in the Dominican Republic and raised there in Caribbean tradition, reportedly under the care of his mother, Esperanza Almánzar. Growing up in the Dominican Republic shaped his identity — its music, food, and family-first values stayed with him for life, and would later become the cultural bedrock of his children’s upbringing.

Immigration to New York

Seeking better economic opportunities for his family, Carlos relocated from the Dominican Republic to the United States around 1990, settling in New York City — spending significant time in The Bronx. Like so many immigrants, he faced the classic challenges of a new country: a different language landscape, the high cost of city life, and the pressure to make it work. His response was straightforward: work hard and keep the family grounded.

Years as a New York City Taxi Driver

To support his household, Carlos earned his living as a full-time taxi driver in New York City. Driving a cab through Manhattan and the boroughs meant long shifts, unpredictable hours, and steady patience — demanding work that he did for years so his children could have a stable home. It was unglamorous, essential labor, and it defined his identity as a father: the man who showed up every day.

Marriage to Clara Almánzar

After settling in New York, Carlos married Clara Mercedes Almánzar in 1991. Clara came from Trinidad and Tobago and worked as a grocery store cashier — the two built a multicultural, working-class household blending Dominican and Trinidadian traditions. The couple eventually separated around 2005, but both remained committed to their children.

Father of Cardi B

Carlos’s greatest public recognition comes through his eldest daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, born October 11, 1992 — known worldwide as Cardi B. Raised between The Bronx and her grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, Cardi grew up immersed in the Dominican culture her father carried with him.

Cardi B has frequently credited her parents’ work ethic for shaping her own relentless drive — watching her father work long cab shifts and her mother work as a cashier taught her that nothing comes without effort. That work ethic carried her from Vine and Instagram fame to VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York, and then to a record-breaking rap career: her debut album Invasion of Privacy (2018) made her the first solo female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, and she holds five Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.

Hennessy Carolina and the Wider Family

Three years after Cardi’s birth, Carlos and Clara welcomed their second daughter, Hennessy Carolina Almánzar (born December 22, 1995), who built her own career as a media personality, fashion figure, and television star. Beyond his two daughters with Clara, reports also mention additional children from an earlier relationship — reflecting a broad family network that Carlos has kept largely out of public view.

Devoted Grandfather

With Cardi B’s success came a new generation — her children Kulture Kiari Cephus and Wave Set Cephus — and a new role for Carlos: grandfather. He is known to help out around the household, run errands, and spend time with his grandkids, providing the same practical, everyday support that defined his parenting. Fans occasionally catch warm glimpses of him in Cardi’s or Hennessy’s social media posts.

Dominican Heritage and Cultural Influence

Carlos’s Dominican roots played a defining role in Cardi B‘s identity. Through him, his daughters grew up with Dominican expressions, Caribbean dishes, and the sounds of bachata and merengue. Cardi has spoken publicly about her Dominican heritage in interviews, consistently crediting her father’s background as central to who she is — carrying it proudly onto the world’s biggest stages.

A Quiet, Private Life

Despite being the father of one of the biggest music stars on the planet, Carlos has never pursued fame for himself — no tell-all interviews, no reality TV, no management role. After retiring from taxi driving, he settled into a quiet routine in New York City: family visits, traditional cooking, and life away from the cameras. That humility is exactly why fans respect him.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Carlos Alman?
Carlos Almánzar, known as Carlos Alman, is a Dominican-American retired NYC taxi driver and the father of rapper Cardi B and media personality Hennessy Carolina.

How old is Carlos Alman?
Born March 19, 1958 — 68 years old in 2026.

What did Carlos Alman do for a living?
He worked as a professional taxi driver in New York City for years before retiring.

Who is Carlos Alman’s ex-wife?
Clara Mercedes Almánzar, originally from Trinidad and Tobago; they married in 1991 and separated around 2005.

How many children does Carlos Alman have?
Two daughters with Clara — Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina — with reports also mentioning other children from an earlier relationship.

What is Carlos Alman’s ethnicity?
He is Dominican, of Afro-Dominican descent.