"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]
