After releasing his previous album, ‘Whole Lotta Red’ on December 25, 2020, rapper Playboi Carti has finally delivered another album. Carti is back in the early morning with ‘MUSIC’ after two long years of promotion.
While the initial singles were released within the last months of 2023, Carti would say on multiple occasions that his long-awaited album would be released in 2024. However, time came and went, and fans never saw a release date.
Shortly after singer The Weeknd released his album ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow,’ The Weeknd and Carti announced they would be co-headlining the After Hours Til’ Dawn 2025 stadium tour in support of both artists’ new albums. This moment gave Carti fans newfound hope for what they believed was over.
During release week, Spotify and Carti would post billboards in Times Square. Fans wondered if they would finally see the album they had been desperately waiting for.
After all hope was given up, ‘MUSIC’ was released on March 14th at around 4 A.M. ‘MUSIC’ is filled with an extensive 30-track run that did not disappoint much this time. The album also boasts many significant guest appearances from musicians Kendrick Lamar, Future, Young Thug, The Weeknd, and more.
Standout Tracks
POP OUT
“POP OUT” serves as the intro track that kicks off the madness. This track is nothing but crazy, rampant, and heavy guitar riffs. During Carti’s concerts he usually has a guitarist who plays all night long with multiple different intros to each of his songs. On this track, Carti makes the audience feel alive and in the moment at his show. There is not much to say in depth about this one; however, it is a fun track that sets the tone for the next hour and 15 minutes.
EVIL JoRDAN
Referencing Carti’s real name, Jordan Carter, “EVIL J0RDAN” features an almost minute-long intro that drops with a sample from “Popular” by The Weeknd featuring himself and singer Madonna. The intro is cool, however, it was not really necessary. This track is also the version Carti has used for his live shows. The initial single version of this track does not include the minute-long intro. It is interesting to see some changes made to one of the two singles that made the album’s final cut. Carti also has a great take with no chorus, just a verse that continues.
MOJO JOJO
Track 5, “MOJO JOJO”, is an odd one. One of the many guest appearances by rapper Kendrick Lamar chimes in the intro and also backs vocals during Carti’s verses. Although Lamar is a great artist, there is not much of a reason for him to be featured here, but it somehow works due to the back-and-forth. Lamar is more playful than serious on this track. The song’s name is also a very fun phrase to say.
RATHER LIE
Taking a small break from the heavy sounds, “RATHER LIE”, accompanies the ears with The Weeknd. Carti also delivers from a lyrical standpoint compared to most of the material shared on this album. This is an R&B-focused rap song that is already cooking up to be a hit. Carti and The Weeknd share their experiences from their own toxic relationships, asking for forgiveness while also not owning up to their own problems. Carti also outshines The Weeknd in this track, which is unusual.
BACKD00R
Continuing the softer train with a soul sample used for the beat, Lamar is back and gives his own singing vocals this time. Singer Jhene Aiko also makes a subtle appearance offering some background vocals during the chorus. This song also reminds me of Lamar’s song “Luther” from his recent album ‘GNX.’ This song is one of very few songs on this album that sounds drastically different, yet you could still tell this is a Carti song. The heavy bass is still there, yet it is a very light song that pleases the listeners. It is a very different approach on a Carti song in a while.
GOOD CREDIT
Finally, with a full rapping verse, Kendrick Lamar is featured for the last time on the album. Carti comes through with a catchy chorus, something his music has grown accustomed to. Not much else to be said about Carti’s inclusion on this track, but it is nice to hear what a full-on song with both artists would sound like.
Overall Thoughts
Carti’s albums have not been the greatest place to look at from a lyrical standpoint. It is a sound that you must grow to like; an achieved taste that solely relies on the feeling and vibe of the music. However, Carti is the most vocal and comprehensible on this album than others in his discography. Stretching over a long hour and 16 minutes across 30 tracks, the album starts great. But it does lose attention near the end of the album. If he were to cut almost half of this album off, it would be a way more enjoyable and attention-grabbing first listen. Most songs are less than or are 2 minutes long, so maybe it does compensate for the long listen.
It is surprising to see such an extensive work have not as many skips as you may expect. There are obviously a few skips that feel very unnecessary and are just filler tracks, almost as if he had to meet a quota. Most tracks that are the most popular of the bunch are carried by the features anyway. There are a lot of tracks that do not click with the first listen, but there are also a few tracks that I do not see myself listening to ever again.
Atlanta DJ Swamp Izzo also pops in on almost all of these tracks, which was sometimes very annoying and other times actually kind of enjoyable. Izzo narrates and almost curates the whole album.
In past works, Carti has been known to premiere new sounds. ‘MUSIC’ feels a lot more complete and enjoyable than his previous album, ‘Whole Lotta Red.’ A new direction in music is always appreciated, regardless of the outcome. That being said, ‘MUSIC’ barely scratches a 6.5 out of 10.
