MUSIC - Playboi Carti

REVIEWED: MARCH 14, 2025

I AM MUSIC – This review follows my stream of consciousness (no edits, play-by-play first impression with hidden features) on the first listen. Enjoy.

POP OUT

I usually like alternative rap… but this is just too much. It sounds strange, I’m not going to lie. Not even in the screamo or scream rap kind of way, but the beat sounded like something was wrong. I really tried to view it through an experimental angle, and in that sense, I can appreciate that it sounds different. It was a good hook into the broader album, though, because I was inspired to keep listening. This was also motivated by seeing "EVIL JORDAN" on the tracklist, as well as other tracks I recognized.

CRUSH

This beat sounds better than the last song so far. I can already tell from the first 45 seconds that Kanye West had a hand in the production. There is definitely a Kanye West flow here. Also, is Travis Scott here? The “straight up” adlib usually signifies him, right? I like that “Swamp Izzo” and “seeyuh” are repeated a lot here, it feels fun. The “let me crush” tag is very catchy; the song has a lot of replayability.

K POP

When this track started, I got excited.

The instrumental sounds CRAZYYY.

It sounds familiar, I think I’ve listened to the leak before… I’m trying to remember exactly what it was called.

His vocal inflections here, between high and low, deep and higher-pitched, are very satisfying.

EVIL JORDAN

Alas! This song has FINALLLYYYYY reached streaming platforms! We all rejoice with glee!

I was super stoked to be listening to this on a platform outside of Soundcloud for the first time

The intro has a brooding and ominous feel.

The Weeknd's "Popular" sample (why did I fully forget that Carti is on that song too…).

The mixing sounded much clearer here (of course) compared to the leaks, which was much appreciated.

The popularity of the preceding leak makes me wonder why Carti hasn’t officially released tracks like "Pissy Pamper/Kid Cudi," which, despite the leaks, I could see performing very well on streaming platforms.

• Also, may have listened on YouTube in addition to Soundcloud, I'm trying to remember.

MOJO JOJO

Is that… KENDRICK.

Y’all know how I feel about Kendrick.

This certainly tickled my fancy.

Two artists whose styles I really enjoy are collaborating. It feels like a crossover episode!

The back-and-forth structure of the song was fun to follow.

I’m not used to hearing Kendrick on a beat like this, so it was out of the box and exciting.

Carti’s taglines/punches/hooks on this project so far are super catchy (think back to "CRUSH").

PHILLY

As soon as the track started, I could smell Travis Scott’s entrance.

This is suchhhh a Travis beat, I am happy we are getting a classic in here.

another track with a catchy thyme scheme

I have no complaints here, I like it. Catchy, as I said before, and I can imagine enjoying it even after the first listen.

RADAR

Produced by Metro… I like it so far.

To be honest, I think I’m getting better at recognizing the characteristics that make a track stand out as the work of a specific producer.

The superhero movie score vibe the instrumental evokes reminds me of previous sounds made by Metro (look to Heroes & Villains).

No way Lil Wayne is here😭😭

One thing I’ll point out here is that the project feels very ad-lib-y so far… not mad about it, just an observation…

RATHER LIE

Knowing The Weeknd and Carti are going on tour and have had the track "Popular" before this, a collab track was expected.

Is that NAV? I’m not joking. Something sounds off, though😭 —> Maybe it’s Carti and I just can’t tell.

As for the Weeknd, he has his usual enchanting melodies, and I like them. Carti’s flow in the second half of the track takes me back to his older songs and kind of reminds me of someone… UnoTheActivist?

I like the beat, kinda sounds like the BBL Drizzy interpolation used in Drake x Sexyy Red’s "U My Everything," for lack of a better comparison.

FINE SH**

I like the beat, it’s fun.

High-pitched Carti, gotta love it.

Catchy, very topical title taking up the modern-day slang

BACKDOOR

Is this a sample? I immediately feel like I recognize it.

Also, the title looks like a leak I’ve seen on Soundcloud, but maybe I’m thinking of "HOODBYAIR?" OMG KENDRICKKKKKKKKKKKKK.

This is such a Kendrick beat!!

It reminds me of that new joint he has out with SZA, "That's the way I like it," is it "30 for 30" or "luther?" —> Specifically, his verse reminds me of this.

Carti floats on the beat differently, and it feels like it was made for both of them, despite their different styles.

As I said before, this sounds so different to me, hearing these two on multiple tracks.

1/3 of the way through.

TOXIC

Immediately, this beat sounds familiar.

I have DEFINITELY heard this leak, whether it be on Soundcloud or in a TikTok snippet.

I love this.

I like deep voice Carti, and I like the dynamics within the beat.

The classic carti *high hat* or like the "dun dun" sound, you know what I mean… I need to find the term.

WHO IS THE BRITISH MAN? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I definitely know this flow. Is it Skepta? It kind of sounds like "Lean 4 Real" from Die Lit.

I can’t recognize……… I like it anyway, this is a great track for this guy’s flow.

MUNYUN

I like the name of this track, to start off.

To be honest, I don't know why, but it’s less memorable at the moment.

I like it, though, it’s very upbeat.

Okay, as it went on, it grew on me more😭 

The beat is super fun.

Catchy.

CRANK
In the most purely descriptive way, the track started off sounding like a hiccup.

As he eased into the song, around 30 seconds in, it sounded a bit more focused. I started nodding my head along, and the stank face began to creep up.

Deep voice Carti is back, and I like it.

CHARGE DEM H**S A FEE

I LOVEEEE this beat.

It’s like “dirty trap.”

This is such a Future instrumental.

The dynamics of this song threw me into it immediately

It sounds familiar, but this could just be because I like Future’s flow and he’s using his classic cadence.

I started grooving/moving to this track/body roll with just my neck, kind of like that "get jiggy" TikTok song. IT WAS SO GOOD.

The song kind of sounded devious, I liked it.

GOOD CREDIT

This one sounds less memorable at the start (I mean, to be fair, the record has 30 songs, so I can’t expect all 30 of them to sound distinctly different from each other).

The beat is nice.

His flow is nice.

The switch to Kendrick and (Homixide Gang? Maybe just an ad-lib) brought a dynamic twang to the track and woke it up.

BEAT SWITCHES ARE HARDDDDD.

It feels like Kendrick gave us an EP or something OMG, thank you.

I SEEEEEE YOU BABY BOI

The beat reminds me of Odetari to start.

I like Carti’s vocal inflection(s?) here.

Wait… I definitely know this song; it sounds familiar.

I love the beat; it sounds like a lot is going on at once.

"Seeyuhhhh," classic adlib in this new era, fun.

WAKE UP F1LTHY

I don't know about this.

The beat is slow but not really in a way that sounds the best (when he’s rapping with a higher voice).

This specific instrumental sounds better with his deep voice, which he shows as he progresses, showcasing his range.

JUMPIN

This song sounds familiar.

I like it.

The down beats feel perfectly placed.

Lil Uziiii and Carti are back. I’m pleased.

Wow, we're really back in 2016/2017, I’m living for this!

Short but sweet.

TRIM

Future is here. I’m listening.

It sounds like "Superhero" from Metro’s Heroes and Villains (the beat).

I like it.

I like the piano.

COCAINE NOSE

The production is already going crazy.

The heavy bass and guitar feel incredibly rock-reminiscent.

I was shaking my shoulders and nodding my head back and forth for the whole track; it bangs.

Feels similar to tracks from WLR as well as Homixide Gang tracks "R50" and "5unna!"

2/3 of the way through.

WE ALL NEED DA VIBES

Why am I forgetting who this is? Young Thug?

This song also sounds familiar (specifically Thug’s part).

Now Ty Dolla $ign is here; he has a great voice, so it’s always nice to hear.

The beat really suits him.

I wonder how Carti will slide on this.

There was a slight note/key change around 1:30, so I guess that explains it.

I can’t actually tell if it’s Carti or Thug right now or if they’re going back and forth here.

2:10 is definitely Carti, he’s doing his classic baby voice.

This song sounds fine, a bit of a different vibe from others we’ve seen, but still fits in its own way.

OLYMPIAN

Vibe switch again.

I love the beat and its dynamics.

Kind of feels like video game music.

OPM BABI

Unique sound.

I like the sound effects; it feels like a home movie kind of vibe, like he was hanging out with his friends and added some silly sound effects to the top layer.

I like it

TWIN TRIM

Sounding victorious and upbeat.

YES UZIIII.

The beat suits his flow perfectly.

I can’t lie, by the time I got to this song (#24), I was wearing out a little, but one thing of note is that some of the tracks are actually pretty short.

LIKE WEEZY

More upbeat track again.

Kind of feels like a fair or carnival.

Feels like a kids track instrumental or something, or like an ARCADE GAME sound, think of what I heard at arcades in Tokyo.

DIS 1 GOT IT

Reminds me of Nardo Wick's "Me or Sum."

I like it.

I like the disorienting piano.

Catchy, good replayability based on the hook/chorus and length.

WALK

Kind of sounds like LIKE WEEZY or at least has a similar vibe.

Super fun and upbeat.

The beat certainly packs a punch.

HBA

This got me pretty hyped, I can’t lie.

It was fun to be nearing the end and then be slapped with a track I know and really like.

I listened on SoundCloud before, and also possibly YouTube.

OVERLY

I like this, following in the footsteps of the other upbeat arcade/amusement park-sounding tracks.

Cmon Futureeee.

SOUTH ATLANTA BABY

Feels like a great conclusion to the journey of MUSIC.

Smells like Ye’s production.

Good instrumental.

I am satisfied.