Mariah The Scientist is back with another emotional banger, and this time she’s linked up with Kali Uchis. Their new collaboration, “Is It a Crime,” has officially dropped, and fans of unfiltered R&B vibes are already locked in.
Following the success of her Billboard-charting single “Burning Blue,” Mariah is turning up the heat ahead of her fourth studio album HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY, which lands on August 22. The chemistry between Mariah and Kali on “Is It a Crime” is clear. Backed by production from Matt1k and Nineteen85, the song floats in that sweet spot between soft confession and bold proclamation. “Is it a crime to fall in love a couple times, tell me? What’s it to ya, tell me? Is it a crime?” That refrain alone is made for late-night repeats.
Mariah isn’t new to opening up on wax, but 2025 has marked a turning point. Her breakout hit “Burning Blue” not only landed her in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 25 for the first time but also earned RIAA Gold certification. It went number one on both Billboard’s Rhythmic Radio and Urban Radio charts, solidifying its hit status.
The track stormed to number one on Apple Music the day it dropped, making Mariah the first female solo artist to hit that mark on the platform this calendar year. With nearly 30 million streams in its first week alone, “Burning Blue” took on a life of its own. Fans first got a taste during Mariah’s emotional preview at the Billboard Women in Music ceremony, and they haven’t stopped pressing play since.
The song’s military-themed video, directed by Claire Bishara, took the internet by storm and now sits at over 18 million views. It wasn’t just the visuals that caught attention. In a viral Complex interview, Mariah made her stance clear. “I’m being dead serious about this love shit,” she said. “Everybody is laughing at me thinking it’s funny. This shit not funny.”
With the new single out now, “Is It a Crime” has landed a spot on Apple Music’s New Music Daily and is available across all major streaming platforms. Meanwhile, Mariah’s momentum continues to build. After being inducted into The Recording Academy’s 2025 New Membership Class and getting a co-sign from Rihanna on her European press run, Mariah’s stock is only rising.
She’s set to hit the stage at Lollapalooza on Sunday, August 3rd, with a special underplay show at The Vic Theatre the night before just for fans. She’ll also deliver the keynote address at the ENVSN Festival in New York City later in August. And with HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY arriving in just a few weeks, one thing’s clear, the summer is just heating up.