Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 21, 2026

Imaginary Playerz

"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, Pardison Fontaine, and its producers James "DJ SwanQo" Steed, Saleem "OctaneThisThatGas" Allen, and Matthew "Sean Island" Allen, and samples Jay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Player". The song peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100, following the release of Am I the Drama?.

Last revised
Jul 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,130 w
Citations
22
Source
Wikipedia ↗
"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, Pardison Fontaine, and its producers James "DJ SwanQo" Steed, Saleem "OctaneThisThatGas" Allen, and Matthew "Sean Island" Allen, and samples Jay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Player". The song peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100, following the release of Am I the Drama?.

Background

On June 22, 2025, Cardi B announced her second studio album Am I the Drama? (2025), due for release on September 19.1 The album's lead single "Outside" was released on June 20,2 debuting within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.3 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.4 The rapper confirmed an accompanying music video with a teaser clip the day before its release.5

Music and lyrics

"Imaginary Playerz" samples Jay-Z's 1997 track "Imaginary Players" from his second studio album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.6 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."78 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).910

Critical reception

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.11

Music video

The official music video was directed by Cardi B and Patientce Foster and released alongside the single.1213 In the video, Cardi B turns a 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.14

Credits and personnel

Credits were adapted from Tidal.15

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for "Imaginary Playerz"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Germany Urban (Deutsche Urban Charts)16 2
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)17 30
US Billboard Hot 10018 66
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)19 14
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)20 37
US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)21 36

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Imaginary Playerz"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 15, 2025
Atlantic 22
References

References

  1. Aswad, Jem (June 23, 2025). "Cardi B Announces New Album Am I the Drama? and Release Date". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  2. Saponara, Miguel (June 20, 2025). "Cardi B Heads Back 'Outside' Just in Time for Summer: Stream Her New Single". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  3. Trust, Gary (June 30, 2025). "Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for Fourth Week". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  4. 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.
  5. Sam (August 14, 2025). "Cardi B Previews 'Imaginary Playerz' Music Video, Confirms Debut Date". The Grape Juice. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  6. Mier, Tomás (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Drops Jay-Z-Sampling Single 'Imaginary Playerz'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  7. 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.
  8. Saponara, Michael (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Unleashes Jay-Z Approved 'Imaginary Playerz' Single: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. Morton, Devin (August 12, 2025). "Fans Speculate That Cardi B's Upcoming Single Samples A Classic Jay-Z Track". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  10. Ocho, Alex (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Drops Video for Jay-Z–Sampling Single "Imaginary Playerz"". Complex. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie; Diaz, Angel (September 19, 2025). "Cardi B's 'Am I the Drama?': All 23 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2025.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. Strauss, Matthew (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Shares Video for New Jay-Z-Sampling Song "Imaginary Playerz"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  13. Sterling, Scott (August 15, 2025). "Cardi B Shares New Single "Imaginary Playerz"". Consequence. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  14. 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.
  15. Am I the Drama? / Cardi B / Credits, Atlantic Records, September 19, 2025, retrieved September 20, 2025 – via Tidal
  16. "Deutsche Urban Charts: Week 38, 2025" (PDF) (in German). Deutsche Trendcharts. Public Music & Media GmbH. September 11, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  17. "Official Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  18. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  19. "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  20. "Cardi B Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  21. "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  22. "Imaginary Playerz - Single". United States: Apple Music. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.