The last time Playboi Carti dropped an album, the world was in the middle of a pandemic and Joe Biden was president-elect. “Whole Lotta Red” — a chaotic trap experiment — faced two years of delays, leaks and teasers. Though initially divisive, it came to define hip-hop’s rage music era. Since then, Carti has teased and scrapped several projects: a deluxe version of “Whole Lotta Red,” “MOLLYWORLD” in 2021 and “Narcissist,” which instead became a clothing line. In a 2022 XXL interview, he revealed a new direction: “I was about to name my album ‘Music’ because that’s where I’m at, you know what I’m saying?”
In 2023 and 2024, Carti dropped seven singles that later featured on his most recent project, experimented with a deeper vocal register and hit international stardom through collaborations with The Weeknd, Camila Cabello, Ye, Future and Tyler, the Creator. On Sept. 13, 2024, his birthday, he released the song “ALL RED” and first teased “MUSIC,” his latest album.
Clocking in at 30 tracks and lasting just over an hour, the record plays like a curated highlight reel of Carti’s last four years. Structurally, it mirrors an Atlanta street mixtape, with its cohesion driven less by a singular concept and more by the unifying presence of Atlanta legend DJ Swamp Izzo. Acting as the project’s hype man, Izzo delivers energetic ad-libs throughout the songs with a raw, nostalgic energy that ties everything together.
The opener, “POP OUT,” is pure rage. Carti’s shredded vocals, snarling ad-libs and an industrial, razor-sharp beat set the tone for an amazing listening experience. The energy carries into “CRUSH,” an anthemic track where a choir soars over booming 808s. Another arena-shaking anthem, “COCAINE NOSE,” flips the distorted guitar riff from Ashanti’s “Only U,” transforming it into a rage anthem with blown-out 808s. With distorted bass and Carti’s sharp, high-register vocals, the track is tailor-made for live chaos and has already been rap battle-tested.
Carti also ventures into more melodic territory. One standout is “RATHER LIE,” created in collaboration with The Weeknd. Following the success of their earlier joint song “Timeless,” they reunite to craft an infectious pop hit. The Weeknd delivers one of the album’s catchiest hooks, while Carti layers in falsettos, flow switches and heartfelt lines like “I might just tell you that this true love, give you my kidney.”
Another melodic cut is “FINE SHIT.” The track floats over a laid-back, high-pitched sample with minimalistic drums, and Carti playfully croons in his higher register. He drops humorous lines like, “I just canceled one of my shows to watch me a film, uh-uh,” while the 808s shift into a Jersey club rhythm — unfamiliar ground for Carti — but he glides over it effortlessly.
“BACKD00R” sees Carti flowing over a pitched-up sample of Lil Wayne’s “Red Rum.” The minimal chorus and steady flow let the spotlight shift to Kendrick Lamar, who steals the show with a dynamic verse. Lamar even nods to Carti’s “Whole Lotta Red” era with a playful bar: “Vamp life, spooky, vamp life, spooky (Yeah).”
“GOOD CREDIT” opens with a niche internet reference before Carti and Kendrick Lamar trade verses over Cardo Got Wings’ eerie synths and booming bass. Carti uses one of his deepest and most menacing vocal deliveries yet, while Lamar rapidly spits over the beat with a braggadocious verse.
Carti also proves his solo appeal on numerous tracks. “OVERLY” features a cycling piano beat that Carti surfs with a laid-back, deep-voiced flow. “OPM BABI” dials up the chaos — his frantic high-pitched delivery, blaring synths and Roblox-sampled gunshots make it one of the most raw, overstimulating tracks on the album. The sporadic drums and unpolished rage sound encapsulate Carti’s aesthetic, one he has refined for nearly half a decade, influencing an entire generation of underground rappers.
The album revives several leaked and fan-favorite tracks that gained traction on social media. “MOJO DOJO,” which was leaked in 2024, stands out through Carti’s deep-voiced delivery and its pounding bass. It also features a surprising, offbeat appearance from Lamar. “EVIL J0RDAN,” first teased on Carti’s burner Instagram account, now opens with a viral live intro sampling “Popular,” his track with The Weeknd and Madonna. Though effective live, the intro disrupts the track’s flow. “HBA,” another Instagram exclusive, suffers similar changes — awkward pauses and jarring snare rolls. Meanwhile, “K POP” formerly known as “Ketamine,” keeps its original raw energy intact through open hats, electric guitar and warbling bass that support guttural vocals. These features make it one of the album’s most sinister highlights.
Contact Antonio Johri at [email protected].