Is It a Crime
| "Is It a Crime" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Mariah the Scientist | ||||
| from the album Hearts Sold Separately | ||||
| Released | July 31, 2025 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Mariah the Scientist singles chronology | ||||
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"Is It a Crime" is a song by American singer-songwriters Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis. It was released on July 31, 2025, as the second single from Mariah's fourth studio album Hearts Sold Separately.[1]
Composition
[edit]"Is It a Crime" is an R&B song with Latin-tinged production that lasts for three minutes and one second long.[2][3] Lyrically, Mariah and Uchis question whether falling in love again is "a crime", wrestling with the idea of second chances in love.[2] The song’s title and subject deliberately echo Sade's 1985 ballad of the same name: Aaron Williams of Uproxx noted that the duet serves as a homage to classic R&B themes of "forbidden love", even though it does not directly sample the original.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]Gabriel Bras Nevares of HotNewHipHop praised the track's "sultry and ethereal" atmosphere and noted that both artists deliver "compelling performances" despite its minimalist production.[5] Nevares also stated that the song "[meets] the expected quality standard" for the R&B genre.[5] In a review for The Source, the track was praised as an "emotional banger", with a critic highlighting the song's "sweet spot between soft confession and bold proclamation" and noting the late-night appeal of its chorus.[6]
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 31, 2025 |
|
[7] |
References
[edit]- ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 31, 2025). "Listen to Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis' New Song "Is It a Crime"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Trapp, Malcolm. "Mariah The Scientist And Kali Uchis Ask "Is It a Crime" To Fall In Love Again On New Single". Rap-Up. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Is It a Crime by Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis on Apple Music, retrieved August 1, 2025
- ^ Williams, Aaron (July 31, 2025). "Mariah The Scientist & Kali Uchis Sing 'Is It A Crime?' On New Song". Uproxx. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Nevares, Gabriel Bras (July 31, 2025). "Mariah The Scientist & Kali Uchis Link Up For Smooth New Single "Is It A Crime"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Mariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis Ignite the Feels with New Track "Is It a Crime"". The Source. July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis - Is It a Crime, July 31, 2025, retrieved August 1, 2025