After years of anticipation, Playboi Carti has lastly dropped his long-awaited third studio album, MUSIC, delivering an bold sonic expertise that stretches the boundaries of his signature sound. Launched simply forward of his headlining set at Rolling Loud California, the challenge has already damaged information, changing into Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2025 to this point.
With a lineup of high-profile collaborations and an adventurous manufacturing fashion, MUSIC cements Carti’s place as one among hip-hop’s most unpredictable innovators.
From the opening moments of “POP OUT,” Carti makes it clear that MUSIC is something however formulaic. The observe explodes with a clashing, garage-rap power that alerts a wider sonic panorama than something he’s tried earlier than. The album then veers into sudden territory with “CRUSH,” that includes Travis Scott. Right here, Scott totally immerses himself in Carti’s world, leaning into his high-pitched “child” vocals, whereas Carti opts to not dive too deeply into his signature fashion. The observe’s remaining moments, layered with choir vocals, showcase a newfound musicality that units MUSIC other than his earlier work.
One other standout is “EVIL JORDAN,” which kicks off with a melancholic nod to The Weeknd’s 2023 hit “POPULAR” earlier than Carti shifts into a completely completely different circulate and vocal cadence. The Weeknd reappears afterward “RATHER LIE,” lending his signature melody to one of many album’s most accessible and radio-ready tracks. Travis Scott makes one other look on “PHILLY,” the music that reintroduces the deep, guttural vocal tone that first despatched Carti’s fanbase right into a frenzy final yr.
Maybe essentially the most shocking inclusion on MUSIC is Kendrick Lamar, an artist whose meticulous, socially charged strategy to rap usually contrasts with Carti’s freeform, ad-lib-driven fashion. But their collaborations on “GOOD CREDIT” and one other observe emerge as a number of the album’s standout moments, with Kendrick’s intricate lyricism assembly Carti’s experimental supply. Including one other sudden layer, the observe includes a vocal supply harking back to Jhené Aiko’s ethereal sing-rap cadence, additional highlighting the album’s fluidity.
Past Scott, Lamar and The Weeknd, MUSIC boasts a powerful record of options, together with Skepta, Future, Younger Thug, Ty Dolla Signal and longtime collaborator Lil Uzi Vert. This diversified visitor record displays Carti’s capacity to traverse a number of corners of hip-hop whereas holding his sound distinct.
The timing of the discharge provides one other layer to Carti’s custom of aligning his drops with main cultural moments. In 2018, his debut album DIE LIT, arrived simply earlier than Rolling Loud Miami; now, practically seven years later, MUSIC landed on the eve of Rolling Loud California, the place he took heart stage as a headliner.
Whereas Carti leans into new territories together with his vocals and beat picks, there’s nonetheless rather a lot to be desired on the lyrical factor of his music. Though he has by no means claimed to be essentially the most lyrical artist, for those who’re going to title an album MUSIC, it ought to exhibit some lyrical development as nicely.
With early projections pointing towards a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, MUSIC is already proving to be a defining second in Playboi Carti’s profession. A fusion of uncooked power, avant-garde manufacturing and sudden collaborations, the album reaffirms his standing as one among hip-hop’s most enigmatic and influential artists of his technology.
