"Please Me" is an R&B, hip hop and soul ballad that is reminiscent of the 1990s R&B with "trap stylings"; its lyrics are about two lovers flirting with each other and the way their night will proceed before they go into a bedroom.

Music critics gave "Please Me" mostly positive reviews and praised Cardi B's presence and verses on the track, as well as Mars' vocals.

"Please Me" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Cardi B returned to the platform on February 13 to announce a new song she recorded with American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars would be released on the following Friday.

[13][18] NME's Rhian Daly stated it is "a mix of modern and classic – a smooth slow jam with trap stylings".

[17] The first half of the chorus features a hi-hat, a handclap, a saw-wave synth, a soft pad sound and an echo effect on the keyboard.

Afterwards, Cardi B raps a single bar over an 1980s-style synth chord "before the drums and backing vocals" emerge, increasing "the energy levels" on the bridge.

[22] Bethy Squires from Vulture said "Please Me" is reminiscent of "the R&B fuck jams of the mid-90s" and compared it to an upbeat version of "Red Light Special" (1995) by TLC.

[19][25][26] MTV News' Trey Alston called the track a "sexy spiritual sequel" of "Finesse" that deals in terms of lust.

[21] Maeve McDermott writing for USA Today said its R&B style is closer to "Mars' brand of smooth love songs than Cardi's bawdier anthems".

[28] First, Cardi B teases Mars "with her moves and figure", leaving him "on the receiving end of this sexual punishment", driving him crazy with anticipation of intimacy.

Cardi B describes her next move, which starts with "twerkin' in some J's on the dancefloor" and deciding if he will "sample what's on the chef's menu" as "Mars pleads for carnal activity".

Claire Rowden of MTV praised the collaboration; she called Mars's vocals "sweet and charming" and Cardi B's verses "heated and fiery".

[29] Mike Nied writing for Idolator called the song "a sensual bop" and said Mars "shows off his velvety vocals on the seductive chorus" while Cardi B's verses are "self-assured and smooth".

[15] Consequence of Sound's Lake Schatz praised Cardi B's rap verses, such as "Do my back like I do these records, break that shit".

Joyce added "horny, performative..."[31][32] Tara Martinez from Elite Daily said "Please Me" is "extremely suggestive" and "unapologetically sexy".

[20] XXL's Tony Centeno called the track a "bedroom banger" and Cardi B's rap verses "extra raunchy".

[19] Pitchfork's Michelle Kim criticized "Please Me", saying Mars "attempts to make his own bump 'n' grind anthem" but that "his request feels painfully safe and vanilla, like if a bot was programmed to write sexts".

[41] On its third week on the chart, following the release of its official music video on March 1, 2019, the single reached its peak of number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

[59][60] The music video starts with a message that sets the location at Los Angeles, California, after a party at a taco restaurant.

[28][57] At this point, Cardi B and Mars exchange glances while the socialize with their respective groups of friends; nothing moves and "then the beat drops".

[12][58] Matt Miller from Esquire said the video is an homage to the artists' Latin "heritage and late nights in the '90s", and concluded they "have struck gold in the '90s".

[63] NPR's, Joshua Bote said Cardi B and Mars "bask in the early '90s glow of the time when Jodeci, low-riders and pencil 'staches reigned supreme.

[28] Vibe's J'na Jefferson called the music video "sexy", and said "Cardi B and Bruno Mars get up close and personal".

[26] Lake Schatz of Consequence of Sound, Evan Minsker of Pitchfork and Elizabeth Aubrey of NME all found the video to be "stylish".

[67][68][69] According to Ron Diker writing for HuffPost, "things get spicy in a hurry" in the music video and the lyrics, along with the "twerking and suggestive moves", are anything but subtle.