When Maroon 5 and Cardi B teamed up for the monster hit “Girls Like You”, it wasn’t just a chart-topping collaboration; it was a cultural moment. From the undeniable and memorable melody to the fire from Cardi’s verse, fans were taken over to create an anthem that crossed genres and audiences. Now, a recently resurfaced live video has sparked again probably the most intriguing question surrounding the track: Who wrote Cardi B’s unforgettable lines?
“Girls Like You” dropped in 2018 within the Maroon 5 album Red Pill Blues. Sure enough, the song got back on and instantly became popular globally, rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and sustained such a chart for seven whole weeks. But for fans, this was a perfect mix of Adam Levine’s smooth and sexy voice and Maroon 5’s just well-rounded feel with Cardi B.’s very electric personality and Cardi B. at her full-on lyrical self. From the opening lines of her verse-
"Not too long ago, I was dancing for dollars (eeoow)"
-Cardi brought in her signature energy, adding layers of sass and confidence that elevated the track from great song to iconic song.
Adam Levine, lead vocalist and co-founder of Maroon 5, knew he would not let that track go without Cardi B on it. Enlisted for her clear, unprejudiced delivery and brazen energy, Cardi would be his first and only choice. Even in interviews, Levine has spoken about just how hard it was to get Cardi to sign into the project because she fits perfectly with the vibe in the band, and he wasn’t wrong-they created magic that sent fans, both hers and theirs, dancing.
Cardi B’s verse in “Girls Like You” is classically her-clever, confident, and deeply personal. Lines like,
"You don't wanna girl like me, I'm too crazy / But every other girl you meet is fugazi (our),"
shows how razor-sharp her wit is and how well she knows her worth. She drips charisma with every word in the delivery. The verse is full of wordplay and nods to her past, including an acknowledgment of dancing for dollars, which resonates with fans who admire her journey from Bronx-born hustler to global superstar.
But who wrote these immortal lines? That’s where the resurfaced live video comes in. In the now-viral clip, Cardi B looks caught off-guard by a question from someone off-camera, asking if her husband, Offset, would write her verse for “Girls Like You.” Cardi’s hesitant response-“I don’t know”-was enough to reignite speculation about her songwriting process. Fans have long debated whether Offset, who is known for his lyricism as part of Migos, might have contributed to the verse. While Cardi has been quite open about the collaboration behind her music, she has also furiously defended her creative input in the process, which is another layer of intrigue.
Adding to the song’s legacy is a star-studded music video full of a parade of powerful women from every field imaginable, including Camila Cabello and Jennifer Lopez, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, and activist Alyssa Milano, celebrating the strength and diversity of females. Cardi’s presence, with all her signature flair and playfulness, swaggered on, really completes the visual dimension. Her verse and presence brought up the message of this video to make it one of the most celebrated releases this year.
For die-hard fans, it is only a plus that makes “Girls Like You” still interesting: who actually wrote Cardi B’s verse for the song? Whether it was she, Offset, or both of them together, one thing is for sure—the result is unquestionable. This verse fits just perfectly into Maroon 5’s melodic feeling and never betrays Cardi B’s character.
