Cardi B hands out coats at Marlboro Houses

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Rapper and Bronx native Cardi B was in Brooklyn on Thursday to hand out winter coats to hundreds of people at the Marlboro Houses in Gravesend and at a nearby mobile store.

The 'I Like It' hitmaker was more than three hours late for the 5 p.m. event where people, mostly children and teens, waited outside in the cold until she arrived.

Screams and singing broke out when Cardi, whose real name is Belvalis Merlaniz Almanzar, finally appeared with friends who also grew up in public housing.

"It's important because we got to set an example for the kids in the future, said Cardi B. "Sometimes people think we just be doing the messed up things but we really care for our kids, our community," said Cardi B.

The 26-year-old new mother and wife of rapper Offset said the event was all about the children.

"These kids follow me. These kids look at me. These kids listen to my music. So why not," said Cardi B.