Sugar Sweet

"Sugar Sweet"
Single by Mariah Carey featuring Shenseea and Kehlani
from the album Here for It All
ReleasedJuly 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)
Studio
GenreDancehall
Length3:40
LabelGamma
Songwriters
Producers
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Type Dangerous"
(2025)
"Sugar Sweet"
(2025)
"Play This Song"
(2025)
Shenseea singles chronology
"Aguita e Coco"
(2025)
"Sugar Sweet"
(2025)
"Self Love"
(2025)
Kehlani singles chronology
"Folded"
(2025)
"Sugar Sweet"
(2025)
"Safe"
(2025)
Music video
"Sugar Sweet" on YouTube

"Sugar Sweet" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring the Jamaican singer Shenseea and the American singer Kehlani. It was released on July 25, 2025, as the second single from Carey's sixteenth studio album Here for It All (2025), through her own imprint, Mariah, and a media company Gamma. Commercially, the track spent six weeks on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, peaking at number 17.

Background and release

[edit]

On July 19, 2025, Carey teased her new single "Sugar Sweet" through a video posted on her social media. In the clip, Carey is seen mixing batter at a kitchen counter while mouthing lyrics to the unreleased track. The video, styled as a lighthearted preview for fans, hinted at the song's sweet and playful concept.[2]

Earlier in the month, Carey revealed that she had completed her upcoming album Here for It All during a live interview with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden at the new Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles. The conversation aired as part of a special broadcast marking the 10th anniversary of Apple Music. During the interview, Carey expressed excitement about "Sugar Sweet", describing it as "very summery" and noting, "I like the beat as well".[3] Prior to the single's release, Carey appeared in a TikTok video alongside the track's co-writers, where all three were seen singing along to "Sugar Sweet". The song serves as the second single from her sixteenth studio album Here for It All.[4] A solo version was included in place of the song on physical editions, and a digital deluxe was also released through Carey's website.

Composition

[edit]

"Sugar Sweet" is a dancehall-influenced track that features skittering drums, sultry synthesizers, and melodic verses performed by all three vocalists. In the pre-chorus, Mariah Carey sings, "Hate it when you have to leave / But I don't say a thing / Cause I will absolutely get the ring", before transitioning into the hook: "I'ma keep it nice, nice, neat, neat, sugar, sugar, sweet, sweet".[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Sugar Sweet" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Writing for ThisisRnB, the editorial team described the track as "a dreamy, effortless collaboration that feels like summer in slow motion," praising its "airy production, warm tones, and just the right touch of sweetness."[6] Billboard highlighted the collaboration's summery feel and vocal chemistry, while Rolling Stone praised the song’s nostalgic R&B influence and the seamless blend of styles between Carey, Kehlani, and Shenseea.[7][8]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Sugar Sweet"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[9] 49
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[10] 17
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] 16
South Korea BGM (Circle)[12] 106
Suriname (Nationale Top 40)[13] 21
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[14] 41
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[15] 17
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[16] 23
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[17] 31

Release history

[edit]
"Sugar Sweet" release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 25, 2025 Gamma [18]
United States August 19, 2025 Rhythmic contemporary radio [19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Here for It All (booklet). Mariah Carey. Gamma. 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (July 19, 2025). "Mariah Carey Teases 'Sugar Sweet' Summer Single". Billboard. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  3. ^ Mamo, Heran (July 25, 2025). "Mariah Carey Keeps It Nice, Neat, 'Sugar Sweet' on New Single with Shenseea & Kehlani: Stream It Now". Billboard. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  4. ^ Blanchet, Brenton (July 25, 2025). "Kehlani Reveals Why New Mariah Carey Collaboration Is a Full-Circle Moment: 'This Is One of My Heroes'". People. United States: Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Blistein, John (June 25, 2025). "Mariah Carey Keeps It Nice and Neat on 'Sugar Sweet' with Shenseea and Kehlani". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0035-791X. OCLC 969027590. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "Mariah Carey Ft. Shenseea & Kehlani Deliver the Right Touch of Sweetness on "Sugar Sweet"". ThisisRnB. July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "Mariah Carey Drops Breezy New Single 'Sugar Sweet' With Kehlani & Shenseea: Listen". Billboard. July 26, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  8. ^ "Mariah Carey Returns With 'Sugar Sweet' Featuring Kehlani, Shenseea". Rolling Stone. July 26, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  9. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 August 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1848. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 4, 2025. p. 9.
  10. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 6, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Official Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "BGM Chart – Week 31 of 2025" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "Top 40 – 25 september tot 02 oktober 2025" [Top 40 – 25 September to 2 October 2025] (in Dutch). Nationale Top 40 Suriname. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  18. ^ "Sugar Sweet (feat. Shenseea and Kehlani) - Single by Mariah Carey". United States: Apple Music. July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps". Hits. August 19, 2025. Archived from the original on August 28, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.