Playboi Carti has established himself as an incredible, genre-defining artist, but has not reached the emotional depth to be considered one of the greats. The rapper has reached enormous success since his start as a SoundCloud rapper and should continue his career by creating meaningful work. Today, he is considered one of the masters of flow and production. Carti’s brand centers around his mysterious, unpredictable nature and “opium” aesthetic. MUSIC, Carti’s long-delayed and intensely anticipated album, features Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Jhené Aiko, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and Ty Dolla $ign, but left most fans underwhelmed. It seems to focus on quantity over quality, but some songs stand out. “EVIL JORDAN” is a classic Carti hype song, highlighting his bravado through money, women, and gangster lifestyle. His syncopation in the first verse is the best on the album and differentiates this song from the others. Similarly, “HBA” features beautifully crafted beats and a melodic backtrack. He spits the well-known lyrics, “I was twenty-four when I had lil’ Onyx/ (Then I had a daughter, I got a daughter too)/ Twenty-seven when I had Yves/ Now I can finally sleep.” Here, Carti finally announces Yves’s name and expresses relief after much speculation around his kids. In “BACKD00R (Ft. Jhené Aiko & Kendrick Lamar),” the three artists collaborate perfectly. Aiko provides catchy, soulful melodies, and both rappers deliver slower verses. Blending pop, rap, and R&B, “BACKD00R” garnishes the album with a tasteful variety. However, Carti hit rock bottom with “POP OUT.” Its distorted beat creates a cacophony of mechanical noises and random effects. Overall, MUSIC is likely one of the top albums of the year, but if Carti plans to join the hip-hop greats, he needs to work on a message as sophisticated as his rhythm and flow.
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