MUSIC
Hey everyone, sorry for the radio silence last week, I’ve been working my way through this massive Carti album. And by working my way through, I mean I had to push through all 30 tracks. Seriously, 30 tracks? That’s a lot, even for Carti.
At first, I really wasn’t feeling this album. After all the delays and the build-up over the last five years, I was ready to hate on it just because of the wait. But, I’ll admit, when I hit play, I thought maybe I was wrong. For a second, I thought there might be something here.
But nope, this album is definitely underwhelming. MUSIC feels like Carti’s attempt to re-capture the energy of his previous projects, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. It’s not as bold or experimental as Whole Lotta Red—it plays it too safe. With Carti, you expect that chaotic, unpredictable energy, but here, it’s just missing.
Now, there are moments worth noting. The first track is straight fire. The beat’s on point, and Carti does something a little different with his vocals, which caught my attention. It had that early Carti vibe I was hoping for. But after that, it’s a lot of the same: basic Rage/Trap beats that don’t really push the envelope or keep the energy up. For a guy who once set trends, this album feels kind of generic.
As for the features, let’s just say they’re hit or miss. Skepta brings it, but outside of that, it’s a struggle. Young Thug’s feature is actually solid—he really works well with Carti’s vibe here. But then you’ve got the Kendrick features, which I honestly didn’t vibe with. They felt pretty forced and didn’t bring anything fresh to the table. The Weeknd’s feature on RATHER LIE though? It’s smooth and consistent with Carti’s style, making it one of the highlights of the album.
Future is one of my favorite artists, but his contribution here feels lazy—like he didn’t even try. Travis, though... honestly, he’s washed. Since UTOPIA, he’s been putting out some lackluster work, and this feature is no exception. I had high hopes for Carti and Uzi together, but the collab is a letdown. It’s not even two minutes long, and it doesn’t bring the energy I was expecting from those two.
Carti’s vocals also fall flat here. While they’ve always been about vibe over clarity, they worked because there was purpose behind them. On MUSIC, his delivery feels half-hearted. A lot of these tracks sound unfinished, and Carti doesn’t really bring the energy we know he’s capable of. He’s been more engaging on past projects like Die Lit and Whole Lotta Red, but here, he doesn’t seem fully invested.
The beats, however, are probably the best part of the album. There are some really solid moments, especially with the darker, heavier production. Those tracks hit hard and show Carti at his best. Unfortunately, some of the other beats are pretty standard and forgettable, leaning heavily into generic Trap elements. EVIL J0RDAN and HBA sound a little more soulless than the versions we’ve gotten in the past, and it’s hard to not notice that. With 30 tracks, it’s expected to have some duds, but there’s just not enough stand-out production to save the project.
The mixing also isn’t up to the usual standard. The bass doesn’t hit as hard as it did on WLR or Die Lit. It feels like the album was rushed in terms of production and engineering, which is especially noticeable when you’re dealing with so many tracks.
The real problem with MUSIC is that it doesn’t take any risks. Carti’s not pushing any boundaries with his sound, and that’s disappointing, especially after the long wait. And at 30 tracks, this album feels bloated—there’s just too much filler. I get that Carti wanted to make up for lost time, but the result is an album that’s weighed down by mediocrity. Some of the tracks that do have potential aren’t even given the proper treatment, and Carti doesn’t always deliver on the beats that could’ve been fire.
At the end of the day, there are a few tracks that stand out, but this album is a mixed bag. If it was half the length, it might’ve been a more enjoyable experience. Instead, we’re left with a bloated project full of generic Rage/Trap tracks, a few strong moments, and a lot of filler.
PLAYBOI CARTI - MUSIC
RATING - 7.9/10
FAVORITE TRACKS - RATHER LIE, WE NEED ALL DA VIBES
GENRE - Trap, Rap, Hip-Hop, Rage, Opium