Mariah the Scientist Is It a Crime Meaning and Review

Mariah the Scientist’s “Is It A Crime” featuring Kali Uchis is a masterclass in modern R&B intimacy, blending smooth melodies with emotional vulnerability. From the first notes, the track sets a slow, head-bobbing tempo that invites listeners into a world of yearning and quiet reflection. Mariah’s signature airy vocals glide over the production, conveying both frustration and tenderness as she navigates the complexities of love and judgment. The track’s pacing and instrumentation give it a hypnotic quality, making it one of the standout moments on Hearts Sold Separately.

Chorus and Emotional Resonance

The chorus is particularly captivating, layered with Mariah’s vocals to create a warm, almost ethereal texture that lingers long after the track ends. Lines like “Tell me, what’s it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall?” emphasize a sense of defiance and self-assuredness, highlighting her refusal to let societal judgment dictate her feelings. The interplay between her introspective verses and the rich, melodic chorus creates a dynamic that is both emotionally resonant and sonically satisfying. It is a delicate balance of vulnerability and confidence that Mariah delivers effortlessly.

Kali Uchis’ Contribution

Kali Uchis’ verse is a highlight of the collaboration, bringing her own sultry and commanding presence to the track. She complements Mariah perfectly, with lines like “If loving me is jail, then you’re my prisoner” reinforcing the song’s theme of unapologetic love. Uchis’ smooth, nuanced delivery contrasts beautifully with Mariah’s airy, emotive vocals, resulting in a chemistry that feels natural and compelling. Their collaboration feels like a meeting of kindred spirits, each artist bringing her own distinctive touch while maintaining a cohesive sonic identity.

Behind the Collaboration

In discussing the collaboration, Mariah the Scientist expressed her admiration for Uchis, noting that the partnership felt flattering and natural, a product of mutual respect and friendship. Despite logistical challenges, with Mariah jokingly mentioning her dislike of LA, the two artists found common ground in the studio, ultimately crafting a track that showcases both their strengths. This backstory adds an extra layer of depth to the listening experience, highlighting the intentionality behind their artistry and the genuine connection that fuels the song.

Commercial Performance and Conclusion

Commercially, “Is It A Crime” made a strong impression, debuting at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marking Mariah’s fourth entry on the chart. The song’s success is a testament to its universal appeal. It blends vulnerability with empowerment, delivering a relatable narrative of love and self-expression. With its smooth R&B groove, emotive lyrics, and the undeniable synergy between Mariah and Kali, “Is It A Crime” is both a career highlight and a defining moment on Hearts Sold Separately, solidifying Mariah the Scientist’s place as a modern voice in R&B.

Listen To Mariah the Scientist Is It a Crime

Mariah the Scientist Is It a Crime Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of “Is It A Crime” by Mariah the Scientist is a reflection on love, judgment, and self-acceptance, framed through the lens of vulnerability and empowerment. The song explores the tension between personal feelings and societal perception, asking why falling in love multiple times is treated as something shameful. Mariah uses her verses to express frustration with being misunderstood and misrepresented, while Kali Uchis enters with a bolder perspective, celebrating love as defiant and unapologetic. Together, they create a dialogue that challenges traditional expectations of romance and womanhood, ultimately affirming that love, in all its forms and repetitions, should never be seen as a crime.

Verse 1: Mariah the Scientist

Mariah the Scientist sets the tone with vulnerability and frustration. When she admits, “Sometimes I look around for someone who might understand it”, she reveals her search for empathy in a world that often misjudges her love. Yet her realization comes quickly in the next line, “I seen it in they eyes that they'll, they'll never get it”, pointing to the dismissive or judgmental stares she receives. Her patience wears thin as she confesses, “I think I lost my patience and now I can't contain it”, signaling that the criticism has reached a boiling point. She continues by rejecting others’ narratives, “They, they were wrong about us, I hate the way they paint it”, while contrasting that negativity with a tender declaration, “I, I love the way that you walk and the air you breathe.” Even as she claims, “I just let 'em talk, but it bothers me 'cause it ain't love, it ain't love, it ain't love they see”, Mariah insists on the authenticity of her feelings: “But it ain't nothin' to discuss 'cause it is to me.” This opening reflects her struggle between outside doubt and her own unwavering conviction.

Chorus: Mariah the Scientist

The chorus expands this sentiment into a bold defense of love. With “And so what? I fell, you fell in love a couple times”, Mariah shrugs off criticism, normalizing the idea that love can happen more than once without being shameful. She pushes back against judgment directly, asking, “Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall, to fall in love, in love a couple times?” By repeating the question, she reinforces her defiance and frames love not as a mistake, but as a natural part of life. The layered vocals in the chorus highlight both her vulnerability and her strength, as though she is both asking and answering herself.

Verse 2: Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis enters in the second verse, affirming Mariah’s perspective while adding her own flair of boldness and sensuality. She opens with a direct rejection of judgment in “Is it a crime? How's it a crime? No,” before twisting the metaphor in a playful way: “'Cause if loving me is jail, then you're my prisoner.” Her commitment shines through in “So let me throw away this key 'cause you won't give me up,” while her defiance toward gossip is clear in “Let 'em know we don't give a fuck, all they want is to see us breaking up.” Kali then pivots to self-assurance, declaring her uniqueness with “You can search the Seven Seas and never find, no, a heart like mine. Better yet, can't forget my mind, no.” Here, she asserts that her love is not only emotional but also intellectual, a reminder that she brings both heart and mind into her relationships. Addressing gender expectations head-on, she critiques the notion that women should hide their feelings with “Some may say a girl shouldn't lay her cards on the table.” She responds with confidence: “Well, I'm a woman, I'm not a girl. Is that a crime in this cruel world?” Kali’s verse reframes love as not only unapologetic but also an act of empowerment.

Chorus Reprise: Mariah the Scientist

The return of the chorus after Kali’s verse re-centers the song’s theme. Mariah repeats, “And so what? I fell, you fell in love a couple times. Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall?” This repetition reinforces the message of universality, showing how both artists stand united in their defense of love against societal criticism. It also functions as a refrain that gives the listener a sense of closure and inevitability. The question remains unanswered because it should not need to be asked at all.

Outro: Mariah the Scientist

Finally, the outro softens the song’s defiance into acceptance. Mariah repeats, “I fell, you fell in love a couple times. Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall?” The repetition becomes almost mantra-like, a reminder that love is not criminal, but human. Her closing line, “What's it to ya? Is it a crime to fall?” leaves the listener with the central provocation of the track. It encapsulates the tension between judgment and self-acceptance, but ultimately leans toward liberation. The song’s narrative arc, from Mariah’s frustration to Kali’s assertive empowerment and back to Mariah’s reflective outro, creates a complete dialogue that affirms love’s legitimacy in all its forms.

Mariah the Scientist Is It a Crime Lyrics 

[Verse 1: Mariah the Scientist]

Sometimes I look around for someone who might understand it

I seen it in they eyes that they'll, they'll never get it

I think I lost my patience and now I can't contain it

They, they were wrong about us, I hate the way they paint it

I, I love the way that you walk and the air you breathe

I just let 'em talk, but it bothers me 'cause

It ain't love, it ain't love, it ain't love they see

But it ain't nothin' to discuss 'cause it is to me

[Chorus: Mariah the Scientist]

And so what?

I fell, you fell in love a couple times

Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime

To fall, to fall in love, in love a couple times?

Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

[Verse 2: Kali Uchis]

Is it a crime? How's it a crime? No

'Cause if loving me is jail, then you're my prisoner

So let me throw away this key 'cause you won't give me up

Let 'em know we don't give a fuck

All they want is to see us breaking up (Ooh)

You can search the Seven Seas and never find, no

A heart like mine

Better yet, can't forget my mind, no

Some may say a girl shouldn't lay her cards on the table

Well, I'm a woman, l'm not a girl

Is that a crime in this cruel world?

[Chorus: Mariah the Scientist]

And so what?

I fell, you fell in love a couple times

Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime

To fall, to fall in love, in love a couple times?

Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

[Outro: Mariah the Scientist]

I fell, you fell in love a couple times

Tell me, what's it to ya? Tell me, is it a crime

To fall, to fall in love a couple times?

What's it to ya? Is it a crime to fall?