It only took five years, but Playboi Carti has finally delivered “MUSIC,” in addition to the even more recent deluxe. If you’re a fan of Carti like I am, you know how long the road was to get here.
From teasing a “NARCISSIST” drop in 2022 to posting what feels like hundreds of fit pics, I feel like I haven’t had a moment of peace in the last three years.
Regardless, the album is finally out, and it is a lot. Carti gave us a whopping 30 songs, all of which landed on the Billboard Top 100 the week of the initial release.
“MUSIC” is characterized by a new, evolved sound from the punk trap that his 2020 album, “Whole Lotta Red,” brought. His voice is consistently deeper, but he still experiments with it throughout. The project is rife with superstar features and crazy moments.
I thought the first four songs were underwhelming, especially the fourth, “EVIL J0RDAN.” This was a pretty popular song, but Carti made the intro too long and included elements from various TikTok remixes making it badly received by a lot of fans, myself included.
There was a standout song from this first section, “CRUSH” with rapper Travis Scott. I think this is a minimum top three song on the album after multiple full listens, and it’s already poised to be one of Carti’s biggest hits. The way the intro swells with strings and booming choral vocals gives a grand sense of scale, perfect for a live performance.
As we push further into the album, I liked all four of Scott’s appearances on “MUSIC.” I was most impressed by his production, providing standout beats on this project. The guitars on “PHILLY” bring me right back to Astroworld in 2018, whereas “WAKE UP F1LTHY” shows more of Scott’s modern sound.
“CHARGE DEM HOES A FEE” is an all-star hit with Future joining Scott and Carti. The way the beat changes for each verse and then all comes together at the end was so satisfying — without a doubt, another top five song on the album.
Kendrick Lamar was another major feature artist with three appearances. “MOJO JOJO” and “BACKD00R” were both solid but nothing special. On the other hand, “GOOD CREDIT” was one of my favorites, and Lamar had a fantastic verse. His flow whisks me back to when he dropped “euphoria” this year since he uses a very similar cadence.
Lamar shouting that Carti is his “evil twin” makes me crack up since I never thought I’d ever get a collaboration between them. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be proved wrong.
Carti’s collaborations with The Weeknd this year have been nothing but bangers, and the duo delivers another classic in “RATHER LIE.” The beat reminds me of something A$AP Rocky or other cloud rap/vaporwave artists might use. This song will be fun to hear if you catch The Weeknd’s tour with Carti this summer.
Speaking of the tour, I can already see the pit parting like the Red Sea when I hear “COCAINE NOSE.” I think a guitar-based beat this heavy can only cause chaos at a live show.
While far from my favorite song, I have to shout out “TWIN TRIM.” The 16*29 reunion between Lil Uzi Vert and Carti is one I’ve been waiting for since “Die Lit” dropped in 2018, and this one did not disappoint. Uzi sounds like their old self floating on the wavy trap beat, and their chemistry together is off the charts.
The deluxe edition, “MUSIC – SORRY 4 DA WAIT,” released 11 days after the original album and came with four extra songs. Out of this batch, the most popular leaks were my favorites. “BACKR00MS” with Scott has a catchy hook with a very eerie beat. The beat gets an extra bass synth once Scott starts his verse, which gives it something extra, too.
The irony of “2024” is not lost on me, but I am such a huge fan of the beat. A 2023 release called “2024” getting dropped in 2025 is enough to make any sane person go crazy, but I’m glad it’s here, nonetheless.
If you’re not a fan of Carti, I can easily see why you wouldn’t listen to this album. It’s oversaturated, and some of the songs kind of blend together after listening for a while. I think there are so many diamonds in the rough on this project, though.
If I were to review this album three to six months from now, my favorite songs would look incredibly different. “MUSIC” is by no means a perfect album, but artists are meant to evolve and change, and Carti has done just that.
