Bruno Mars and Cardi B rang in the new year with a funky collaboration that has had the Internet buzzing since Wednesday night. On Jan. 3, the two chart-toppers released the remix to Mars’ 90’s-inspired track “Finesse,” which was originally released on the Grammy winner’s 2016 album, 24K Magic.
Following the song’s drop, Cardi fans were ambivalent about her verse on the track and Mars loyalists were upset that people were only acknowledging the year-old song because it features the Bronx-rapper. Tuning out the haters, many devotees of the “Bodak Yellow” singer cheered on the collab. “Cardi B actually killed it #FinesseVideo just makes the song better. She’s here to stay,” one follower enthused.
Here are some of the more mixed reactions:
For the record finesse was already a lit song before cardi b hopped on
— Kavell (@ambitionvell) January 4, 2018
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i’m so pissed that people never knew the finesse song before cardi jumped on it, stop sleeping on my g bruno mars.
— A (@aliyahmariabee) January 4, 2018
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ok but cardi b & bruno mars killed that Finesse track
— Bryana Salaz (@bryanasalaz) January 4, 2018
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Unpopular opinion: Finesse DID NOT need Cardi B
— Ja'Von Ongele (@JaiTheLioness) January 4, 2018
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I really can’t rock with anybody who has a problem w Cardi’s verse on Finesse
it’s a New Jack Swing song, she’s not *supposed* to be lyrical
— Arielle Nicole
(@arielleblog) January 5, 2018
it’s a New Jack Swing song, she’s not *supposed* to be lyrical
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lol, i admire Cardi and her success, but ya not deaf.
ya can support without lying about the verse.
— unKenVentional (@Kentinued) January 4, 2018
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“Finesse” is one of Cardi’s latest musical collaborations. The singer, who’s the first rapper and third artist in history to have three songs among Billboard‘s Top 10 concurrently, has also partnered with G-Eazy on “No Limit,” Migos on “MotorSport” and Spanish-language artist Ozuna on “La Modelo,” all currently on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
On Jan. 4, Mars posted a selfie of the duo on Instagram with a gushing tribute to his collaborator: “I met cardi B at 3 am after my show in LA backstage where we recorded her verse for Finesse. She walked in the room and she was everything I’d hope she’d be,” the singer wrote in the caption. “Never change cardi! Don’t let this crazy music business change who you are. You posses something that can’t be taught. You’re a true star.”
In a final note of gratitude, Mars wrote: “Thank you for putting your energy and love all over this record and video,” and urged his followers to “show ya love for the one and only CARDI B! #Finesse.”