Playboi Carti - Music
Hey, remember that song you played, the one I called complete shit? What's its name?
One of the most mysterious rappers of our time returns with his third monstrous album, Music, whose rollout could easily be described as one of the most chaotic in the history of modern music. The results of Catri's five-year effort are captivatingly uninspiring.
Playboi Carti knows how to start his albums. His 2020 release, Whole Lotta Red, kicked off with one of the most aggressive tracks in his discography, “Rockstar Made”. On its successor, Music, arriving five years later, he pulls off the same trick, blasting listeners' ears with the explosive “Pop Out”, packed with mind-blowing beats and a menacing delivery.
At times, Music slows its pace, replacing hostile flows with the rapper's ethereal harmonies. On these tracks, Carti seems to float over the beat, his presence feeling cold and detached. Take “Rather Lie”, recorded with Canadian hitmaker The Weeknd. Abel Tesfaye serves as the perfect complement here—a sort of cherry on top, embellishing what stands out as the album's finest track.
DJ Swamp Izzo also makes his mark with vibrant ad-libs sprinkled throughout the album's runtime. Overall, the guest appearances on Music play a particularly distinctive role — take Skepta on “Toxic” or Kendrick Lamar and Jhene Aiko on “BACKD00RS”. At first, these tracks might seem like they don’t quite fit in the album. But then, the guest artists blow you away with their unexpected yet perfectly timed contributions, leaving a lasting impression.
The main issue with Music is that there’s simply too much of it. While the production is remarkable, it quickly becomes repetitive. Even Carti’s diverse vocal styles fail to salvage the situation. Across the album, he alternates between the baby voice of his early days and a raspy, intimidating vocal delivery he’s only recently adopted. On “Radar”, for instance, Carti switches his voice three times within a track that’s less than two minutes long.
The runaway train that is Music is briefly brought back on track by Kendrick Lamar, who makes a second appearance on the song “Good Credit”. Unsurprisingly, Kendrick delivers the standout verse of the album—we all know that when you invite Lamar onto a track, it transforms into his own song.
Yet, some collaborations on Music feel unnecessary. “We Need All Da Vibes” has all the makings of a summer hit, but Carti contributes just a few lines before Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, and Gunna take over. Meanwhile, Lil Uzi Vert even gets an entire solo track, “Twin Trim”, whose inclusion on the album remains puzzling.
Playboi Carti’s attempt to replicate the sprawling success of Whole Lotta Red ends up being his undoing. Unlike its predecessor, Music suffers under the weight of its 30-track runtime, filled with endless flexing and dazzling trap beats. The album could easily lose over 10 tracks without sacrificing anything—in fact, it would likely benefit.
Album of the year. The defining release of a generation. A revolution in rap music. None of these descriptions apply to Playboi Carti’s Music. On his third album, Carti maintains his combative stance, yet the unique style that fans fell in love with crumbles under the sheer mass of this sprawling long play.
For eighth-graders, Music might feel like the eighth wonder of the world. For others, it might just sound like a chaotic mix of noises and the grunts of a rapper already anointed as a legend by the hip-hop community. Ultimately, Music feels like an overstayed party—fun at first, but eventually, it’s time for everyone to head home.
6.6/10