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Screenshot from Cardi B’s “Imaginary Playerz” video
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Cardi B in “Imaginary Playerz” video
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Key Takeaways:
- Cardi B’s “Imaginary Playerz” samples JAY-Z’s 1997 traditional, including a generational twist to her lyrical flex.
- The track’s layered bars reference vogue, fame and Cardi’s place in Hip Hop’s evolving narrative.
- Cardi seemingly hinted that JAY-Z accepted the pattern, signaling a co-sign from Hip Hop royalty.
Cardi B is giving followers another excuse to rely down the times till AM I THE DRAMA?. On Friday (Aug. 15), the rapper dropped her newest single, “Imaginary Playerz.”
Constructed round a pattern from JAY-Z’s 1997 traditional “Imaginary Gamers,” the brand new track serves as a follow-up to “Exterior” and arrives simply over a month earlier than her sophomore album. Wednesday (Aug. 13), Cardi hinted that “the one and solely” — presumably Hov himself — accepted the report. “I’m glad that I got here arduous and he liked it,” she informed followers on X Areas.
Watch the music video for “Imaginary Playerz” under, then maintain scrolling for six of our favourite bars.
1. “Now I spit that different s**t / Fairly motherf**ker s**t / Cardi B, each track platinum, I am not the opposite b**ch.”
Okay, possibly “each track” is pushing it, however the receipts are there. In 2022, the RIAA confirmed that each observe from her debut album, Invasion of Privateness, went platinum or higher, making her the primary feminine artist to tug that off. Since then, songs like “WAP” and “Up” have been added to Cardi’s ever-growing record of plaques.
2. “And extra archive, classic couture on me / I obtained extra Gaultier than Jean in all probability.”
Cardi dropped her second classic couture reference simply in case anybody within the again missed it the primary time. Right here, she places a intelligent spin on Jean Paul Gaultier, a label she’s worn on repeat over time.
3. “No matter you was gon’ pay her / You gotta double it / Gloryhole / B**ches do not know who they f**kin’ with.”
No clarification wanted right here. It’s considered one of, if not essentially the most, sexually charged lyric on “Imaginary Playerz.”
4. “Striped like Thom Browne, these b**ches ought to relax / Faster they raise up, the faster they fall down.”
Cardi is a Thom Browne girlie by and thru. She wore the designer to the 2019 Met Gala and has stepped out in his seems for a number of different massive moments, together with Paris Style Week. As many followers are speculating, this line is perhaps a dig at Nicki Minaj, who wore a pinstriped Thom Browne costume to the 2025 Met Gala.
5. “Poor factor / Twitter have to be gassin’ them heavy / Makin’ them bounce within the ring with the Brim earlier than they prepared / I seen complete fan pages make avatar modifications / All that outdated love go to new fan bases.”
The “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker’s opps — who shall stay anonymous — get a few viral tweets and all of the sudden assume they’re in the identical league as her. Nonetheless, as quickly as issues do not swing their means, the identical followers who gassed them up swap avatars and disappear. The excellent news is, there’s at all times room in Bardi Gang.
6. “2016, I had Style Nova lit / Ask Wealthy, y’all want your a** whipped.”
She’s actually not exaggerating, although. Cardi was one of many many celebrities and influencers the model tapped in its early years, and he or she launched her first assortment with them in 2018. In keeping with REVOLT, their collaboration introduced in a staggering $1 million in simply 24 hours.