Cardi B Blasts “Imaginary Players” in Explosive New Video—Here’s What Really Happened

Cardi B is officially rolling out her next era with the single “Imaginary Players,” landing on streaming platforms this Friday, 15 August 2025. The Bronx superstar confirmed the drop on Instagram, posing beside a white Rolls-Royce in pink hair and a floor-length fur, teasing fans with the caption “Just a lil taste of the drama”. What makes the track an instant talking point is its title: hip-hop heads immediately clocked the potential nod to JAY-Z’s cult-favorite “Imaginary Players” from 1997. During a Twitter Spaces chat, Cardi revealed the song was “green-lit by the one and only,” hinting Hov personally cleared a sample or interpolation—fueling speculation that the record could blend late-’90s Roc-A-Fella nostalgia with Cardi’s razor-sharp 2025 flow. “Imaginary Players” arrives just two months after “Outside,” which shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic and Rap Airplay charts and debuted at No. 10 on the Hot 100. Both songs will appear on Cardi’s long-awaited sophomore album, Am I the Drama?, scheduled for 19 September via Atlantic Records. The LP also houses previous chart-toppers “WAP” and “Up,” making it her first full-length since 2018’s Grammy-winning Invasion of Privacy. Key details fans are Googling right now • Release date & time: Friday, 15 Aug 2025 at midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT. • Streaming & download: All major DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal). • Possible sample: JAY-Z’s “Imaginary Players” (pending official credits at release). • Album pre-order: Am I the Drama? goes live the same day, offering instant-grat downloads of “Outside” and “Imaginary Players.” Why it matters Cardi B has clocked 13 Hot 100 top-10s without dropping an album in seven years; the hype for fresh material is enormous. If “Imaginary Players” does feature a cleared Hov sample, expect hip-hop purists and Gen-Z TikTok users alike to engage, boosting discoverability across platforms and likely driving the single straight into this week’s Trending charts. What to watch next • Official music video: Rumored to be shot in New York City’s Diamond District—stay tuned to Cardi’s socials for a premiere date. • Chart impact: With “Outside” still in rotation, dual-single momentum could propel Cardi back into the Hot 100 top 10 and set up Am I the Drama? for a Billboard 200 debut at No. 1. • Tracklist reveal: Cardi hinted more collaborations “the streets been begging for”; look for guest features to surface as the album rollout intensifies. Bottom line Whether “Imaginary Players” flips a classic Roc-A-Fella beat or serves pure new-school trap, Cardi B is positioning her comeback single to dominate playlists, algorithms, and conversation alike. Hit the pre-save now, because when the clock strikes midnight on Friday, everyone will be pressing play—and comparing notes with JAY-Z’s 1997 original.