Cardi B appears to have confirmed her separation from her husband, fellow rapper Offset, after rumours of their break-up surfaced online.

Speculation about the US music star's split from her husband was fuelled when the pair unfollowed each other on social media.

The 31-year-old told her Instagram followers she was "single" during a live stream on Monday.

"I've been single for a minute now," she said. "But I don't know how to… tell the world.

"The last time I got on live I kind of wanted to tell you guys, but I didn't know how to tell you so I changed my mind.

"But it has been this way for a minute now.

"I want to start 2024 fresh, open… I'm curious for new life, a new beginning… I'm excited."

| Cardi B and Offset at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Pic: Damairs Carter/MediaPunch /IPX/AP

The I Like It rapper did little to quieten speculation when she posted not-so-subtle remarks on her Instagram story last week.

One of them read: "You know when you just outgrow relationships," which she followed up with: "I'm tired of protecting people's feelings… I gotta put myself first!"

It's no secret the rapper's six-year marriage to Offset, also 31, has been a tumultuous one.

In 2018, one year after the couple got married in secret, the rapper posted on Instagram to say that they were no longer together.

Offset told social media followers at the time: "I was partaking in activity that I shouldn't have been partaking in, and I apologise.

"You know what I'm saying? For breaking your heart, for breaking our promise, for breaking God's promise and being a selfish, messed up husband."

The pair reconciled later on, but Cardi B filed for divorce in 2020, stating their relationship had been "irretrievably broken".

It is not known when they got back together after the divorce filing.

The rappers have two children together; a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

The couple - whose real names are Belcalis Almanzar and Kiari Cephus - tied the knot on 20 September 2017 in Atlanta, with only Cardi B's cousin present.

Sharing the news nine months later, then 25-year-old Cardi B said: "There are so many moments that I share with the world and then there are moments that I want to keep for myself. Getting married was one of those moments!

"Our relationship was so new - breaking up and making up - and we had a lot of growing up to do; but we were so in love we didn't want to lose each other."