Imaginary Player

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 2025, Cardi B sought to sample Jay-Z's "Imaginary Player" for her song "Imaginary Playerz". She shared with fans on Twitter Spaces that "the one and only" Jay-Z personally approved the use. Cardi B admitted that if he had not approved, 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." She also shared on Instagram Live that she "fought really hard to put this song out" against those who wanted a different direction, while she wanted a hip-hop sound described as "real calm flex shit". She noted that when Jay-Z texted back, it was at 4:44 pm, which she took as a sign with respect to his album "4:44" (2017).

In Their Own Story

The story of "Imaginary Player" in 2025 revolves around Cardi B's effort to clear the sample. She revealed on Twitter Spaces that Jay-Z personally approved the use of his 1997 track. On Instagram Live, she described fighting to release the song with a hip-hop sound, calling it "real calm flex shit". The timing of Jay-Z's approval—4:44 pm—became a meaningful detail for Cardi B, who saw it as a sign connected to his album "4:44". The track ultimately appeared as the second single from her album "Am I the Drama?" (2025), released on August 15, 2025, through Atlantic Records.

Reader's Guide

To understand "Imaginary Player" in context, note that it is from Jay-Z's second studio album "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1" (1997). The song was sampled by Cardi B for her 2025 single "Imaginary Playerz", which was written by Cardi B, Pardison Fontaine, and producers James "DJ SwanQo" Steed, Saleem "OctaneThisThatGas" Allen, and Matthew "Sean Island" Allen. The sample credits Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) as a songwriter. Cardi B's song peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 following the release of her album "Am I the Drama?" on September 19, 2025.

Did You Know?

• Jay-Z personally approved Cardi B's use of "Imaginary Player" for her 2025 single "Imaginary Playerz".
• Cardi B noted that Jay-Z's approval text arrived at 4:44 pm, which she took as a sign referencing his album "4:44" (2017).
• The song "Imaginary Playerz" peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
• Cardi B described the song as "real calm flex shit" and said she fought to release it with a hip-hop sound.
• The sample credits Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) as a songwriter on Cardi B's track.