Culture
Cardi B to Drop “Imaginary Players” as Second Single Off ‘Am I the Drama?’ This Friday
Cardi B is locking in “Imaginary Players” as the second single from her upcoming sophomore album, Am I the Drama?, and it’s dropping this Friday, August 15. The Bronx rapper has confirmed that “Imaginary Players” will follow “Outside” as the next release. And if the title sounds familiar, that’s because Jay-Z has a track of the same name on his 1997 album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.
During a recent livestream, Cardi hinted that she got the track “approved by the one and only,” without naming names — but fans quickly connected the dots. She later confirmed the clearance, saying that if the approval hadn’t come through, she wouldn’t have taken it personally. “I would have just come a little harder,” she said. “But I’m glad that I came hard and he loved it.”
“This is like a staple for me,” Cardi added. “I’m glad that I came hard and he loved it and everybody else loves it.” While she hasn’t outright confirmed if the record samples Jay-Z’s “Imaginary Players,” speculation has been running wild among fans since her comments.
Cardi B reveals Jay Z heard and approved her ‘Imaginery Players’ sample himself via Spaces.🖤
— ໊ (@BardisMedia) August 13, 2025
The single is long & is real Hip-Hop.
Hip-Hop heads loved it at the Spotify listening party. pic.twitter.com/2FvEY8C4L5
Back in June, Cardi officially ended years of teasing and false starts, announcing Am I the Drama? with a moody teaser. The clip featured a black raven, ominous narration, and a bold message: “I’m not back, I’m beyond.” She opened up about the project’s meaning in the voiceover, saying, “Seven years of love, life, and loss. Seven years I gave them grace. But now, I give them hell. I’m not your villain, I’m your karma.”
It’s been seven years since Invasion of Privacy took over the charts, won her a Grammy for Best Rap Album, and broke records as the first female rap debut to earn that award. Since then, Cardi’s dropped multiple chart-toppers like “WAP” and “Up,” remained a staple on red carpets, launched brands, and stayed a constant presence in pop culture — even as her personal life, including her public split from Offset, made headlines.
With Am I the Drama?, Cardi is setting the tone early. The album will feature 23 tracks, including “WAP,” “Up,” “Outside,” and now “Imaginary Players.” The rollout has already tied Invasion of Privacy for the most Hot 100 #1s on a female rap album, and the project isn’t even out yet.
Whether she’s sampling a hip-hop classic, throwing shots, or serving looks, Cardi is clearly making this rollout her own. Am I the Drama? drops September 19, with “Imaginary Players” arriving this Friday, August 15.
News
Rihanna Becomes First Female Artist to Surpass 200 Million RIAA Singles Certifications
Rihanna has crossed 200 million RIAA singles certifications in the United States, becoming the first Black vocalist and first female artist in the organization’s 73-year history to reach the milestone. Her total now stands at 200.5 million.
Two certification updates on April 10 pushed her over the mark. “Unfaithful,” track three on her 2006 album A Girl Like Me, was certified 4x Platinum in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary. Her 2005 single “If It’s Lovin That You Want,” the second single from her debut album Music of the Sun, also crossed the 1x Platinum threshold more than two decades after its release. Platinum status represents one million equivalent units in the United States, with the RIAA counting 150 on-demand streams as the equivalent of one digital purchase.

Among all artists, she ranks third behind Drake at 277.5 million and Morgan Wallen at 215 million.
Rihanna hasn’t released an album since Anti in 2016. Catalog staples like “Umbrella,” “We Found Love,” “Only Girl (In the World),” and “Don’t Stop the Music” continue to accumulate certifications without new music driving them. Outside of her Super Bowl halftime show in 2023 and contributions to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Smurfs soundtracks, she has released no new solo music in nearly a decade.
As previously reported by miixtapechiick.com, Rihanna was spotted in the studio at 2 a.m. earlier this year and told Harper’s Bazaar in 2025 that she had “cracked the code” on the direction for her next project.
Culture
J. Cole Goes Scoreless in CBA Debut With Nanjing Monkey Kings
J. Cole made his debut with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association on Saturday night, finishing without a point in eight minutes off the bench as Nanjing lost 95-81 to the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
Cole went 0-for-5 from the field, with all five attempts coming from behind the three-point line. He finished with one rebound and one assist. Cole addressed the outing on his blog afterward, keeping it straightforward. “I got to play 8 minutes in one of the top leagues in the world, got a few good looks but wasn’t able to hit one,” he wrote. “A couple more games and maybe those shots would have started to fall! Either way I’m fulfilled and grateful! Sh*t, I feel like I dropped 20!!!”
He also explained why he only appeared in one game. “Initially I was scheduled to play in at least 3 games for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the CBA. The work visa process took way longer than expected, so I was only able to play in one before heading back.”
Saturday’s game was Cole’s third time suiting up for a professional team. He played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Canada the following year.
Culture
Rihanna Steps Out in Paris With Daughter Rocki Irish Mayers
Rihanna was spotted in Paris last week with her daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, marking one of the baby girl’s first public outings since her birth in September 2025. A$AP Rocky was also present, spending the day with their eldest son RZA. Their youngest son Riot did not appear in photos from the outing.
Rocki was dressed in a vintage Dior green-and-black John Galliano beanie from 2002, a gray pleated Dior dress layered over jeans and sneakers. Rihanna wore a Carhartt hat, a Prada striped polo shirt, and carried her “Dracula” Dior bag. Rocky and RZA were photographed walking hand in hand nearby, with RZA in a pink-striped tee and dark shades.
Rihanna announced Rocki’s birth on Instagram on September 24, 2025, posting a photo holding her newborn alongside pink silk baby boxing gloves. “Rocki Irish Mayers Sept 13 2025,” she captioned it. During the Smurfs premiere earlier this year, she spoke about her sons’ reaction to having a little sister. “I’ve always wanted a girl,” she said. “But God knows best, right? And I love my boys.”
Rihanna and Rocky welcomed RZA in May 2022, Riot Rose in 2023, and Rocki Irish in September 2025.
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