"Is It a Crime" | ||||
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Single by Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis | ||||
from the album Hearts Sold Separately | ||||
Released | July 31, 2025 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 3:01 | |||
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Mariah the Scientist singles chronology | ||||
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Kali Uchis 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]
"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]
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]
Chart (2025) | Peak position |
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New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [7] | 10 |
South Africa (TOSAC) [8] | 29 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [9] | 62 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [10] | 16 |
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay ( Billboard ) [11] | 39 |
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [12] | 27 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | July 31, 2025 |
| [13] | |
United States | August 4, 2025 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Epic | [14] |
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