After five long years of anticipation Playboi Carti, has returned with his highly awaited album “Music” Following Carti’s album in 2020 “Whole Lotta Red” fans have been speculating when his next release will be. Just months before “Music” was released Carti released the single “All Red” which quickly went into the top 15 of the Billboard Top 100 and No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Carti also performed an unreleased set list during his performance at Rolling Loud Miami in December of 2024. Leading up to “Music” Carti announced his upcoming tour the “Antagonist Tour” as well as made waves of features including The Weekends “Popular” and “Timeless” Other features included Kanye West and Ty Dolla $igns “Carnival” which fueled fans for a comeback album. However, after years of delays, fake teasers, and broken promises fans started to believe another album was never going to be released.
Just days before the release of “Music” Carti shared an Instagram video featuring British performance artist Blackhain declaring “Carti album friday” In classic Carti fashion the video was a bit off putting and strange but the announcement sent fans into a frenzy as many fans had given up hope he would ever release an album again. However when midnight struck on March 14, there was no album to be found as fans anxiously refreshed their music streaming services. Throughout the night, Carti kept fans updated on the status of the album and when it will be released with the social media platform “X.” After hours of chaos and uncertainty, “Music” finally arrived, marking an end to the five year drought.
“Music,” the thirty song tracklist includes star studded collaborations including, Travis Scott, The Weekend, Kendreck Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, Future, Ty Dolla $ign, and Young Thug. Likewise, the tracklist was produced mainly by Pi’erre Bourne, F1LTHY, and Kanye, the album is a blend of the classic Carti rage beats and 808’s. Songs like “BACKD00R” and “Evil J0rdan” were known for it’s viral success on Tiktok prior to the albums release. “Crush” featuring Travis Scott also became a fan favorite as it showcases a blend of vocals from both artists. Additionally, “Rather Lie” featuring The Weekend climbed the streaming charts shortly after release, as the two have proven to be a dynamic duo with the two artists previously collaborating on “Popular” and “Timeless” which were both showcased on the Billboards top 200.
Carti’s influence extends from his own music, however. His creation of Opium, a record label, has helped shape a sound and aesthetic that has transcended him to the artist he is today. Founded in 2019 Opium has become a giant in the music industry for underground hip-hop. Artists such as Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely carry elements of Carti’s style of distorted production. Opium is not just a label. It has become a movement as the brand has influenced fashion, social media, and live concerts. “Music” reflects what Carti has built through Opium, with the production choices, and vocal styles the album ties together what the label stands for.
After five years of anticipation, Playboi Carti finally returns with his long awaited album “Music” The album itself showcases Carti’s evolution as he blends his rage beats with melodic flair. With “Music” Carti finally cements himself as one of hip-hops most influential artists in the industry. The album not only showcases his artistic evolution but also the momentum he has built through Opium. Despite the doubt, “Music” proved Carti is still pushing personal and artistic boundaries.Whether fans see it as a masterpiece or just a polarizing chapter in his music career, one thing is for sure, Carti operates on his own time, and the rap culture and Opium movement will continue to follow where goes.
