Carti’s MUSIC Makes his Five-Year Hiatus Well Worth the Wait

By Staff Writer Kaiwei Parks

Musician and Atlanta-based rapper Jordan Terrell Carter, better known as Playboi Carti, released his third studio album, MUSIC, on March 14 after months of releasing snippets of his music on YouTube, posting on Instagram with captions hinting at new music, and performances of unreleased songs at the Rolling Loud music festival. This lengthy 30-track album is his first official project since the critically and commercially successful album, Whole Lotta Red, which is credited with bringing the rage rap genre to mainstream music. Carti works alongside a number of notable producers, including F1lthy, Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and more to craft a dark, moody atmosphere for MUSIC, further supported by nine collaborative artists, including The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Future, and more. With intricate production, a wide range of deep and baby Carti voices, and outstanding features that elevate each of the songs, MUSIC is a stand-out piece in Carti’s catalogue and is well worth the wait for fans. 

Since Dec. 25, 2020, Playboi Carti has hinted to fans about his upcoming music. However, starting on Dec. 7, 2023, Carti truly began his album roll-out, one that would drag on for a number of months as he dropped a series of promotional singles on platforms such as YouTube and Twitter, put up billboards in Los Angeles, Times Square, and Miami, with captions such as “MUSIC IS COMING,” and “SORRY 4 DA WAIT,” and more. Finally, on March 12, Carti posted on Instagram announcing March 14 as the official release date. Even on the day of release, Carti continued to postpone his album until 4:30 AM PST, citing sample clearance issues. 

Coming in at around an hour and fifteen minutes, MUSIC is a considerably longer project compared to the other works on Carti’s resume. He blends formerly unreleased singles, new music, and previously leaked songs to create a full 30-track album. However, rather than dragging on or becoming repetitive, Carti powers through each of these songs with a level of energy and intensity only his rage aesthetic and aggressive rap can bring to music. MUSIC begins with “POP OUT,” a song that immediately sets the dark and innovative tone for the rest of the album. Recorded in a cave-like studio to capture an experimental and chaotic sound, Carti adopts a raspier, gravelly voice and aggressively repeats the lyrics “Pop out, pop (Schyeah).” Meanwhile, “CRUSH,” originally previewed on Dec. 15, 2024 during Miami’s Rolling Loud, is a slower, repetitive track, featuring a melodic beat packed with choir-like background vocals. Aside from brand new songs, MUSIC includes the singles Carti had released on YouTube, Twitter, etc., including “Ketamine,” renamed to “K POP,” and “EVIL J0RDAN.” However, the addition of a longer intro to “EVIL J0RDAN” that had been popularized on TikTok, which features vocals from the hit song “Popular,” by the Weeknd, was unnecessary and dragged out.

Overall, rather than detracting from his vocal performances and lyrical delivery, Carti’s nine musical features, which include the Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta, and more, only helps to raise the music to an even higher bar. In “PHILLY,” Houston rapper Travis Scott’s slow, calm delivery pairs perfectly with a bass-filled beat. Carti allows Scott to shine by playing to his strengths, with Scott’s unique, ambient sound on full display. Playboi Carti then partners up with frequent collaborator The Weeknd to deliver a mesmerizing duet on “RATHER LIE.” As The Weeknd croons that he would much “rather lie than to lose [his] girl,” Carti raps that his relationship with “his girl” is “true love,” and that he’s willing to do anything for her, including giving away “[his] kidney.” Both artists exhibit their vulnerabilities about love here and provide listeners with an introspective view of their inner feelings. In “GOOD CREDIT,” Carti surprisingly collaborates with Kendrick Lamar, who has had an extremely successful year coming off his record-five Grammy wins and a Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. Lamar’s style of rap relies heavily on introspective lyrics and deep storytelling, a stark contrast to Carti’s mumble rap. However, the two have unexpected chemistry, apparent in “BACKD00R.” Carti’s baby voice pairs well with Lamar’s slow, calm delivery in the chorus. In  “CHARGE DEM H*ES A FEE” and “TRIM,” Future and Carti glide over trap beats filled with hi-hats and sharp snares, with a deep voice back and forth. Instead of his often laid-back delivery, Future adopts a far more aggressive sound here, perhaps crafted to match the atmosphere of the album. Furthermore, this song demonstrates what the many talented producers on this album are able to accomplish; as Carti masterfully utilizes his deeper voice in the song, his producers add in the intense adlibs “hah, hah.” Finally, in “JUMPIN” and “TWIN TRIM,” Lil Uzi Vert returns to work with Carti. Once considered “best friends,” the two rappers had an alleged falling out, resulting in a physical altercation. Through these two tracks, it appears as if the artists have put aside any past animosity. However, “JUMPIN” itself appears to be a lazy attempt at bringing a Lil Uzi Vert feature into the album. Many fans speculate it is an old song dating back to his Pink Tape era, as the album name is repeatedly mentioned in the lyrics.

Although MUSIC’s featured artists may instantly attract listeners, Carti truly shines and is at his best on his many songs as a solo artist. In “CRANK,” producers Cardo Got Wings, Yung Exclusive, and Johnny Juliano sample “FVCK TYLXR GVNG” to expertly craft a dark and gritty beat in tune with the atmosphere of I AM MUSIC. Although producer DJ Swamp Izzo’s aggressive, iconic ad libs are successful here at bringing energy to the song, Carti’s lyrics are more surface level, as he only boasts about his wealth, cars, etc. “I SEEEEEEE YOU BABY BOI” has Carti reminiscing about his transformative journey to the top of the rap game, with a futuristic, otherworldly beat playing in the background. Snippets of the song had been previewed back in September and November, with fans dubbing the song “YOUNG VAMP LOVE.” The “baby boi” in the song title refers to the moniker Carti began using in 2023, a nickname he adopted and later tattooed on himself. The song appears to be a gift for the many fans who have been patiently waiting for the album to be officially released. The song “LIKE WHEEZY” samples an early 2010s rap song, “Bend Over,” by Atlanta-based group Rich Kidz, perhaps as an homage to a classic song from Carti’s hometown. 

However, this near-perfect album isn’t without its flaws. Ad-libs by DJ Swamp Izzo, including “Swamp Izzo” and “Carti,” are excessive and take away from the actual music itself. The loud ad-libs are often distracting, on songs such as “TRIM.” Although in moderation, Izzo’s ad-libs served as an energy-booster in songs, he often gets carried away. Additionally, a few songs seem rushed or unfinished, with lazy lyrics or out-of-place snares, such as in “DIS 1 GOT IT.” In “TWIN TRIM,” Carti seemingly forgot to include his own verse, leaving the song as a Lil Uzi Vert interlude.

Carti’s return to music marks his dramatic impact on the industry, as he became the first rapper and third artist ever to chart more than 30 Hot 100 hits in a week. With a combination of experimental production, iconic features, and unique vocal performances by Playboi Carti, MUSIC makes its way to the top of Carti’s work. With the release of a MUSIC deluxe album on March 25,  hints at another album, BABY BOI, on the way, and his global tour with The Weeknd beginning in May later this year, it looks like Carti isn’t going to be disappearing again anytime soon.