In a dream team-up for R&B fans, Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis have joined forces on the new slow-jam “Is It a Crime.” The collaboration between the Atlanta-born singer (real name Mariah Buckles) and the Grammy-winning Uchis is as smooth and sensuous as you’d expect. Over a languid, late-night groove co-produced by Nineteen85 (known for Drake’s biggest hits), Mariah and Kali trade verses about an all-consuming love affair that defies judgment. “Is it a crime to fall in love a couple times?” Mariah asks in the chorus, her buttery vocals intertwining perfectly with Kali’s sultry tone. The two artists create an atmosphere dripping with romance and longing, essentially telling any naysayers: loving freely is no crime at all.
For Mariah the Scientist, “Is It a Crime” arrives as the second taste of her forthcoming album Hearts Sold Separately, due out August 22. She’s coming off a breakout hit – earlier this year her single “Burning Blue” became one of 2025’s preeminent R&B songs, peaking in the Top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 (her first top 40 hit) and racking up tens of millions of streams. That track showcased Mariah’s penchant for aching vulnerability, and it went RIAA Gold while also topping the R&B radio charts. Now on “Is It a Crime,” she doubles down on the theme of unapologetic romance, bringing Kali Uchis into the mix for added star power. Kali, fresh off her own successful album (Red Moon in Venus) and known for genre-blending hits like “telepatía,” slips into the song’s steamy vibe with ease. The result is a duet that feels classic in its slow-burning passion, yet fresh thanks to the pair’s modern R&B sensibilities and bilingual flavor (both artists smoothly transition between English and a touch of Spanish ad-libs).
Fans and critics are already buzzing that “Is It a Crime” might be the R&B collaboration of the summer. In fact, the song dominated a recent Billboard readers’ poll, snagging 57% of votes as the week’s favorite new release – outshining strong contenders from the likes of Demi Lovato and others. On social media, listeners have been quoting the lyrics (“’Cause if loving me is jail, then you’re my prisoner,” Kali croons playfully at one point) and praising the duo’s chemistry. There’s no official music video yet – the track was released as an audio single accompanied by dreamy cover art – but the sultry storytelling and harmonies paint a vivid picture on their own. Both Mariah and Kali have built their reputations on blending vulnerability with confidence, and “Is It a Crime” hits that sweet spot. As Mariah recently told her fans, she’s “dead serious about this love stuff,” and this song proves it: two R&B queens uniting to celebrate the beautiful chaos of falling in love over and over. Consider this your late-night anthem – and a tantalizing preview of Mariah the Scientist’s next chapter.
