Cardi B’s new single Imaginary Playerz has underperformed on Spotify, debuting at #147 with just over 336,000 streams, despite heavy attention for its Jay-Z sample and perceived Nicki Minaj diss.
Released on August 15 as the second single from her upcoming album Am I the Drama?, the track has drawn mixed reviews. Many listeners criticized Cardi’s flow, saying it struggled to match the beat. On the song, she boasts about wealth and luxury fashion while taking shots at Minaj, who has had disputes with Jay-Z over royalties.
The song samples Jay-Z’s 1997 track Imaginary Players, which itself sampled René & Angela’s 1982 R&B cut Imaginary Playmates.
While streaming numbers disappointed, the official video gained traction on YouTube, pulling in over 2.5 million views within three days. Reactions in the comments were divided, with some praising her attempt at a new style and others dismissing the track.
One fan wrote: “She is stepping out of her box and trying a new style and flow.” Another added: “She stepped it up and brought the wealth, class, maturity that Hov brings.”
Still, critics remain unconvinced, leaving Imaginary Playerz as one of Cardi’s weaker openings on streaming platforms.
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