Five years after the release of his widely acclaimed album Whole Lotta Red – and numerous features with other artists – Jordan Carter, better known as Playboi Carti, finally makes his long-awaited return to the mainstream world, dropping his highly anticipated and long overdue album, MUSIC.
The album was a long time coming, with Carti first teasing a deluxe in 2020, followed by the scrapped Narcissist project, and a world tour initially set for a 2021 release that never came through. When Carti first gave a sneak peek of the album during his 2024 Rolling Loud performance, previewing several tracks that would eventually make their way onto MUSIC, fans were thrilled.
The 28-year-old Atlanta born rapper first entered the rap scene with his breakthrough 2017 single, "Magnolia." The track set the tone for Carti's career, garnering millions of streams and becoming a popular choice for social media clips on the widely downloaded platform TikTok. Its infectious, catchy beat, combined with Carti's signature "baby voice" and repetitive style, gripped listeners, eager for more of his refreshing sound within rap’s definitive structure.
However, it wasn't until 2018 that Carti became a household name with his debut studio album, Die Lit. The album skyrocketed, giving him massive success and an even more enormous surge in fans and streaming. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200, and as of today, it has accumulated 3.5 billion streams. The album continues to grow in popularity, thanks to its prominent features from major rap icons like Travis Scott, Young Thug, and the Queen of Rap herself, Nicki Minaj.
In 2020, Carti made waves again following the surprise Christmas Day release of Whole Lotta Red. This album generated even more buzz, showcasing a more experimental side of the rapper. With a heavy cyberpunk rock approach and trap-infused beats, Whole Lotta Red helped further define Carti's musical direction. Its extensive use of ad-libs and creative world-building contributed to the album being considered one of Carti's defining works.
MUSIC, like the two previous albums, is a chaotic, cyberpunk trap experience—the perfect soundtrack for an erupting mosh pit. The album features 30 tracks spanning over an hour and seventeen minutes, delivering a whirlwind experience for fans as they dive in.
The album opens with the startling sonic-charged anthem "POP OUT," a strong introduction to the new musical direction and styling change Carti embraces through the following tracks. From the moment it starts, its loud and distorted production demands attention, signaling a shift from the alter egos ‘Cash Carti,’ ‘King Vamp,’ and ‘Narcissist’ featured in his previous work. Instead, it's replaced with a new one, and fans and the internet have come to gather that this new ego is ‘Jordan,’ a remark to himself, just darker and taking on a "regular" voice compared with his light, airy voice in previous works.
True to Carti's signature style, the track is packed with his iconic ad-libs, delivering the chaotic, larger-than-life energy his fans expect. The lyrics are unapologetically explicit, with Carti snarling, "I can't come to your party; I might come just to hurt you." His delivery is menacing, and the aggressive opening line, paired with a hard-hitting, distorted beat, creates a feeling of warning—a statement aimed at his enemies. This track sets the tone for the album: a bold new sound and unfiltered attitude.
"OPM BABI" stands out as one of the album's most experimental tracks, showcasing Carti's ability to seamlessly blend his signature trap production style with an abstract, fluid approach. On this track, Carti's voice takes on a playful, almost 'candy-laced' quality, weaving melodies and lyrics over a chaotic, dreamy instrumental that sounds as if it should be featured on Mario Kart's "Rainbow Road" map. The song feels freeform, with Carti's vocal delivery flowing naturally over the wild beat and creating a new territory that he dabbled in on Whole Lotta Red with "New N3on.” In the outro, a voice memo plays, saying, "You lil' fuckin' copycat, bruh," which could serve as a direct jab at other rappers who try to mimic Carti's unique flow and musical style.
Another fan-favorite track Carti leaked in 2024 that made its way onto the album is "EVIL JORDAN." The song is fast-paced, with Carti rapping casually on a rapid beat that exudes confidence and a dark, sinister aura. The beat is hypnotic, highlighting Carti's whispery delivery as he raps about his wild, out-of-control lifestyle. "They can't put me in no genre, baby, 'cause I changed the game," he raps—and he's right. Carti has consistently emphasized throughout his career that he's not just a typical rapper. Outside of music, Carti is also a fashion trendsetter, gaining popularity through the different aesthetics he's cultivated with help from his fan base, signaling that he is the creator and others are imitators of his work.The rapper's fans are notably known to appear at his concerts wearing heavy dark clown makeup, black attire, and other gothic yet punk-inspired clothing, which makes them reminiscent of attendees at a KISS concert. "I am the music," he declares at the end, reaffirming that no genre restrictions can define him or his music as he stretches the bounds of his creativity.
Travis Scott's "WAKE UP F1LTHY" and The Weeknd's "RATHER LIE" are standout collabs, both reminding listeners of the magic that stems from these two Grammy-nominated artists. The Travis collab thrusts you into another universe, with the unpredictable rhymes and synth layers ethereal amidst the chaotic atmosphere of MUSIC, prompting it to feel more mysterious and chilling. Next to Carti’s erratic and forceful energy. Travis is smoother, providing a laid-back intensity to the mysterious cinematic flair that oozes from the record.
In The Weeknd collab, both artists desire to protect their partners from their deceitful truths: "I'd rather lie than to lose you." This song is like a trip down the cosmic galaxy, switching towards a more chrome-like tone, Carti’s voice sounding silky and clear. Then a darker voice appears to mask the traits that may occur as "red flags" towards the partner, with Carti switching up his tone with the line "Walk like this, Talk like this," hinting at the duality of the story he's trying to hide: one that his love perceives to know versus the hidden truths Carti hopes to keep away from seeing the light of day.
As Carti enters a new era with MUSIC, it's clear he's redefining what it means to be a rapper in today's ever-changing music landscape. The album showcases his fearless experimentation and his edge, being unapologetically explicit in his individuality. With every track, Carti pushes beyond the conventional boundaries of rap, freely taking on new sounds and styling. What's next for the Atlantic rapper as he embarks on a joint tour with The Weeknd? Only time will tell, but if MUSIC was anything to indicate where he's headed, it'll be a thrilling path, and he's taking the fans and listeners for a wild ride.