Ring (Cardi B song)

"Ring"
Single by Cardi B featuring Kehlani
from the album Invasion of Privacy
ReleasedAugust 28, 2018[1][2]
GenreR&B
Length2:57
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cardi B singles chronology
"Girls Like You"
(2018) 		"Ring"
(2018) 		"Backin' It Up"
(2018)
Kehlani singles chronology
"What I Need"
(2018) 		"Ring"
(2018) 		"Nights Like This"
(2019)
Music video
"Ring" on YouTube

"Ring" is a song by American rapper Cardi B featuring American singer Kehlani, from the former's debut studio album Invasion of Privacy (2018). It was released on August 28, 2018, through Atlantic as the fifth single from the album. It was written by the two artists, Desmond Dennis, Jordan Thorpe, DeMario Bridges and Nija Charles, along with its producers Needlz and Scribz Riley. It debuted at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week following the album's release, marking Kehlani's highest-charting song so far.[3] It was serviced to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on August 28, 2018, as the album's final single.[1][2]

Composition and lyrics

Described as a "smooth R&B jam" by an AllMusic editor, "Ring" shows the protagonist in a vulnerable situation,[4] as it features themes of heartbreak and jealousy.[5] In the lyrics, Cardi expresses frustration at a significant other that stopped contacting her, while holding onto her pride.[6][7] A writer for The Guardian interpreted the lyrics as exploring "the contemporary romantic paranoia that comes from smartphones."[8]

Music video

Cardi announced the release of the music video in late July for the next month.[9] Directed by Mike Ho and released on August 20, 2018, the video finds the rapper in tangled telephone wires, and both artists performing their respective verses inside phone booths and in stark gray rooms while wearing black and silver ensembles.[10][11] Cardi B, the artist of the song, had been confused upon why the song's music video had been released that specific day, as she claimed she did not see the final edits of the video before its release.[12] As of December 2018, it has received over 100 million views on YouTube.

Chart performance

In the United States, "Ring" debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week following the album's release. This gives Kehlani her first top 40 hit and highest-peaking song to date. With the release of the music video, it re-entered the Hot 100 on the chart issue dated September 1, 2018 for a fifth charting week,[13] and returned to the top 40 in its 15th charting week.[14]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Winning Songs Won [15]
2020 Won [16]
BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards Winning Songs Won [17]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[29] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label(s) Ref.
United States August 28, 2018 Rhythmic contemporary radio
[1]
Urban contemporary radio [2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Top 40/R Future Releases". AllAccess. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Urban Future Releases". Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Trust, Gary (March 16, 2018). "Cardi B Bests Beyonce for the Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Hits Among Women". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  4. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Invasion of Privacy AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  5. ^ Lowers, Erin (April 9, 2018). "Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Mamo, Heran (May 15, 2018). "Here Are the Lyrics to Cardi B's 'Ring,' Feat. Kehlani". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  7. ^ Daw, Stephen (March 11, 2018). "9 Times Kehlani Showed Off Her Chops as a Featured Artist". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (April 6, 2018). "Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy review – Bronx Cinderella grinds her heel into hip-hop sexism". The Guardian. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 27, 2018). "Cardi B Announces New Project Out This Fall, Music Video for 'Ring' Featuring Kehlani". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 20, 2018). "Cardi B & Kehlani Get Wrapped Up in New 'Ring' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  11. ^ Reed, Ryan (August 20, 2018). "Watch Cardi B Rap Inside Floating Telephone Booth in New 'Ring' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  12. ^ "Cardi B Is Pissed 'Ring' Video With Kehlani Came Out Before Her Approval, But ENJOY! + Bardi Might Release New Single At Her Fashion Nova Release Party". The YBF. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "The Hot 100 The week of September 1, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "The Hot 100 The week of November 10, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "2019 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards". ASCAP. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "Cardi B Takes ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for 2nd Year in a Row as ASCAP Celebrates 2020 Rhythm & Soul Music Award Winners in Three-Day Social Media Event". ASCAP.
  17. ^ "2020 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". BMI.
  18. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  19. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  21. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  22. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Cardi B Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  25. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  26. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  27. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Cardi B – Ring". Music Canada. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  28. ^ "British single certifications – Cardi B – Ring". British Phonographic Industry.
  29. ^ "American single certifications – Cardi B – Ring". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 6, 2023.