While anticipation builds for Cardi B‘s long-awaited sophomore album, her fourth single “Imaginary Playerz” has ignited significant debate within the hip-hop community. The track, which samples Jay-Z’s 1997 classic of the same name, arrived as the latest offering from her upcoming album “Am I The Drama?” scheduled for release on September 19, 2025.
The single has drawn particular criticism from podcast host and former rapper Joe Budden, who publicly questioned Cardi’s handling of the iconic sample. Budden emphasized that certain beats, especially those connected to seminal works like Jay-Z’s, warrant special care and consideration. He suggested that Cardi should have enlisted additional collaborators or producers to maximize the sample’s potential impact, a sentiment that resonated with fans and industry insiders who felt the track fell short of expectations.
Cardi B defended her artistic choices, confirming that Jay-Z personally approved clearance for the sample earlier in 2025. She addressed the backlash by attributing some criticism to “haters” while expressing pride in the track’s sound and message. The Bronx native explained that the release was important for its thematic strength, stating she aimed to come across as strong and unapologetic.
The controversy extends beyond production choices, as fans have speculated about potential subliminal disses toward Cardi’s longtime rival Nicki Minaj, though Cardi has not confirmed such intentions. Producer Mickey Fax added fuel to the discussion by claiming Cardi should have consulted him to enhance the beat’s quality. Industry experts note that proper sample clearance required securing mechanical licenses from the appropriate rights organizations to legally reproduce Jay-Z’s original composition. Some industry analysts suggest that this controversy could actually benefit Cardi by creating additional publicity that might lead to profitable sync deals for the track in the future.
“Imaginary Playerz” represents a significant milestone in Cardi’s return to music, as her album “Am I The Drama?” follows her debut “Invasion of Privacy” from 2017, marking an eight-year gap between full-length projects. The song showcases a more luxurious aesthetic with yacht and jet scenes that pay homage to Jay-Z’s original vision. Despite the controversy, the song garnered over 336,000 streams within its first 24 hours of release, showing considerable listener interest.
The album, originally promised in 2024, faced delays due to personal events including childbirth and divorce proceedings, increasing pressure on each pre-release single to perform well with audiences and critics alike.
