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Imaginary Playerz

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"Imaginary Playerz"
Single by Cardi B
from the album Am I the Drama?
ReleasedAugust 15, 2025
GenreHip-hop
Length3:27
LabelAtlantic
Songwriters
Producers
  • DJ SwanQo
  • OctaneThisThatGas
  • Sean Island
Cardi B singles chronology
"Outside"
(2025) 		"Imaginary Playerz"
(2025) 		"Safe"
(2025)
Music video
"Imaginary Playerz" on YouTube

"Imaginary Playerz" is a song by American rapper Cardi B. It was released on August 15, 2025, through Atlantic Records as the second single from her second studio album, Am I the Drama? (2025). The song was written by Cardi B, Jordan Thorpe, and its producers James "DJ SwanQo" Steed, Saleem "OctaneThisThatGas" Allen, and Matthew "Sean Island" Allen, and samples Jay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Players". The song peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100, following the release of Am I the Drama?.[1]

Background

[edit]

On June 22, 2025, Cardi B announced her second studio album Am I the Drama? (2025), due for release on September 19.[2] The album's lead single "Outside" was released on June 20,[3] debuting within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.[4] On August 11, Cardi B revealed her follow-up single "Imaginary Playerz" would be released on August 15, describing it as "Just a lil taste of the drama." The announcement was accompanied by the single's cover art of herself with pink hair and a white fur coat in front of a white Rolls Royce.[5] The rapper confirmed an accompanying music video with a teaser clip the day before its release.[6]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

"Imaginary Playerz" samples Jay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Players" from his second studio album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.[7] Prior to the song's release, she shared with fans on Twitter Spaces that "the one and only", referring to Jay-Z, personally approved her use of "Imaginary Players" and admitted that if he had not approved of the song, she would have reflected "'OK, maybe I just had to come a little bit harder.' But I'm glad that I came hard and he loved it."[8][9] She also shared on Instagram Live that she "fought really hard to put this song out" with those who wanted a different direction while she wanted to go for a hip-hop sound, describing it as "real calm flex shit", and that "When [Jay-Z] text back, my manager, the record was clear, it was at 4:44 pm," taking the time as a sign with respect to the rapper's latest solo studio album 4:44 (2017).[10][11]

Critical reception

[edit]

Billboard ranked "Imaginary Playerz" as the fourteenth-best song on the album. They argued that the song should have stayed a B-side instead of being released as a single, which raised expectations for the track. However, they felt that the song made sense with the album's themes and would grow on listeners in context of the full album.[12]

Music video

[edit]

The official music video was directed by Cardi B and Patientce Foster and released alongside the single.[13][14] In the video, Cardi B turns an New York airport tarmac into a fashion show runway with a red ballroom gown. After taking a private jet to Mykonos, Greece, she is then shown spending a day on a yacht. The rapper enjoys a lobster dinner on the beach and then returns to her five-star resort for a foot bath with champagne. In the final scene, she models couture looks before heading out for a night in Paris.[15]

Credits and personnel

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Credits were adapted from Tidal.[16]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Imaginary Playerz"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Germany Urban (Deutsche Urban Charts)[17] 2
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[18] 30
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 66
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 14
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[21] 37
US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[22] 36

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Imaginary Playerz"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 15, 2025
Atlantic [23]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  2. ^ Aswad, Jem (June 23, 2025). "Cardi B Announces New Album Am I the Drama? and Release Date". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Saponara, Miguel (June 20, 2025). "Cardi B Heads Back 'Outside' Just in Time for Summer: Stream Her New Single". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  4. ^ Trust, Gary (June 30, 2025). "Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for Fourth Week". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Mamo, Heran (August 11, 2025). "Cardi B Is Offering 'Just a Lil Taste of the Drama' With 'Imaginary Players' Single Coming Soon". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  6. ^ Sam (August 14, 2025). "Cardi B Previews 'Imaginary Playerz' Music Video, Confirms Debut Date". The Grape Juice. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  7. ^ Mier, Tomás (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Drops Jay-Z-Sampling Single 'Imaginary Playerz'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Trapp, Malcolm (August 13, 2025). "Cardi B Hints "The One And Only" JAY-Z Signed Off On "Imaginary Players"". Rap-Up. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Saponara, Michael (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Unleashes Jay-Z Approved 'Imaginary Playerz' Single: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Morton, Devin (August 12, 2025). "Fans Speculate That Cardi B's Upcoming Single Samples A Classic Jay-Z Track". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  11. ^ Ocho, Alex (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Drops Video for Jay-Z–Sampling Single "Imaginary Playerz"". Complex. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie; Diaz, Angel (September 19, 2025). "Cardi B's 'Am I the Drama?': All 23 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  13. ^ Strauss, Matthew (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Shares Video for New Jay-Z-Sampling Song "Imaginary Playerz"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  14. ^ Sterling, Scott (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Shares New Single "Imaginary Playerz"". Consequence. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  15. ^ Saponara, Miguel (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Turns the Tarmac Into a Fashion Show Runway for Lavish 'Imaginary Playerz' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  16. ^ Am I the Drama? / Cardi B / Credits, Atlantic Records, September 19, 2025, retrieved September 20, 2025 – via Tidal
  17. ^ "Deutsche Urban Charts: Week 38, 2025" (PDF) (in German). Deutsche Trendcharts. Public Music & Media GmbH. September 11, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Official Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  20. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  21. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  22. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  23. ^ "Imaginary Playerz - Single". United States: Apple Music. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
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