Playboi Carti's "Music" Album Review

Playboi Carti’s I Am Music is his first album in nearly five years, following the release of Whole Lotta Red. Over this period, Carti amassed a cult-like following of devoted fans who admire his unique sound and artistic approach. His discography is widely regarded as one of the best among modern rap artists, with albums like Die Lit, Playboi Carti, and Whole Lotta Red receiving strong public acclaim. However, the anticipation for I Am Music was exceptionally high due to the extended wait and multiple delays, with the first teaser of the album’s production dating back to December 7, 2023. Given the long absence of music and his dedicated fanbase, expectations for this album were monumental, as many hoped for a generational project to justify the years of anticipation.

Despite the immense hype, I Am Music, to put it bluntly, is a mess. This is evident starting from the opening track, “Pop Out,” which is nearly unlistenable with 808s blaring in your ears the entire song. Many of the ad-libs throughout the album feel jarring and out of place, and they often fail to flow with the rest of the song. Some ad-libs are irritating, such as repetitive gunshot sounds that disrupt the listening experience. Although Carti has always aimed to be an innovator in the music scene, much of this album falls flat and fails to achieve the groundbreaking impact he likely intended. Additionally, the album suffers from a lack of cohesion, as Carti’s vocals frequently fail to align with the beats—particularly on tracks like “MUNYUN,” “FINE S**T,” and “OPM BABI.” Another major issue is that many of the album’s highlights don’t even come from Carti himself; instead, the featured artists often outshine him and carry several tracks.

Nevertheless, the album does have its positives. When Carti’s signature flow, which can be hit or miss, lands successfully, it shines. For example, songs like “HBA” and “EVIL JORDAN” showcase his unique style while remaining incredibly catchy. “EVIL JORDAN,” which had previously been an unreleased track, was finally released during this album which brought great joy to the rapper’s fans. Additionally, Carti experiments with a rock-inspired sound on some tracks, and at times, it proves to be an effective and creative choice. On other songs, he adopts a more traditional rap flow that aligns with modern hip-hop trends, as seen in “PHILLY” and “WE NEED ALL DA VIBES.” These tracks demonstrate that Carti is fully capable of making high-quality music when he isn’t overly fixated on pushing the boundaries of innovation. While the album contains a fair number of positives, they are often overshadowed by its glaring flaws. Only about nine or ten of the nearly thirty songs are genuinely good—an underwhelming ratio for an album with such immense anticipation. Additionally, the features on the album give great performances with Travis Scott, Future, and Kendrick Lamar all delivering A+ verses.

Overall, I Am Music is an album filled with both highs and lows, with very little middle ground. Each track seems to be either excellent or nearly unlistenable. Carti’s previous album, Whole Lotta Red, was initially met with mixed reactions but grew in popularity over time. Whether I Am Music will experience a similar changed opinion remains to be seen. However, as it stands now, I would rate the album a 6/10.

Efe ColakogluComment