Album Review // Playboi Carti // MUSIC

AWGE/Interscope Records

2/5 stars

Playboi Carti's long-awaited third studio album is an exhausted, costly mess. Saying this album had a lot to live up to is an understatement. Starting development under the name Narcissist, the Atlanta-born rapper's project had an original shelf date of Sept. 13, 2021. Days, weeks, and years passed with no sign of this album. However, that seemed to change in December 2023 with several singles released on multiple social media platforms. These songs and visuals pointed to cryptic "I AM MUSIC" and "2024" messages, indicating that this album was finally dropping in that year. These singles continued until March of 2024, followed by absolute silence. Jump cut to March 12, 2025. Spotify used its large-scale Times Square billboard to announce that Playboi Carti's MUSIC would be released that Friday. So, with all that time in development, how does MUSIC sound? Sadly, this project is nothing new. Over 91 minutes, Playboi Carti and his slew of featured guests deliver categorically lackluster performances. Even with 52 different producers, every song is the most bare-bones trap/rage rap in the space. This project does not feel like it took four years to make. I would be shocked if it even took four months. The result is an album that exudes mediocrity, bearing few memorable moments or tracks, even if it is marginally listenable. Playboi Carti's MUSIC is a slap in the face to his fans and music listeners alike.