Playboi Carti

Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti is known for a repetitive and catchy flow that he fills with a mix of aggression and playfulness. He gained recognition in the mid-2010s as an affiliate of A$AP Mob, and after a steady succession of viral singles, he put his first proper album, 2018's Die Lit, in the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Carti moved into a new phase of his artistry with the riskier, more antagonistic, and ultimately chart-topping Whole Lotta Red in 2020. Leaked tracks, changes in creative direction, and the jagged single "All Red" preceded the 2024 release of his third album, I Am Music.

Born Jordan Carter in the south side of Atlanta, Carti grew up listening to Prince, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Lil Jon, Gucci Mane, and Jeezy, starting his music career in high school under the name Sir Cartier. His early work was produced by Awful Records' in-house man Ethereal. Tracks like the narcotic "YUNGXANHOE" and "Lost" helped him garner a local following, were promoted on the Internet, and notched millions of streams. After graduating, he moved to the Bronx, where he became acquainted with members of A$AP Mob. In early 2015 at a show at SXSW, Carti met A$AP main man A$AP Rocky, who took Carti under his wing. A month later, Carti issued the singles "Broke Boi" and "Fetti," which became viral hits.

Tours with Lil Uzi Vert and A$AP Ferg followed before Carti signed a deal with Interscope Records. Backed by A$AP Rocky, Carti appeared on A$AP Mob's Cozy Tapes tracks "Telephone Calls" and "London Town." After years of generating interest with singles, Carti released his debut mixtape, Playboi Carti, in the spring of 2017. The collection featured appearances by Lil Uzi Vert, A$AP Rocky, and singer Leven Kali. He followed that in 2018 with the release of his studio debut, Die Lit, which featured guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Skepta, Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, and Chief Keef, among others. Upon release, the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and rose to number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Carti returned in April 2020 with the single "@ MEH," which was produced by Jetsonmade, Neeko Baby, and Deskhop. The song would be the first single from second studio album Whole Lotta Red, which was released in full on Christmas Day 2020. Compared to Carti's earlier material, Whole Lotta Red was abrasive and intense, with production that leaned heavily on distortion and grating synth tones, and demonic vocal delivery from Carti that was far more aggressive than anything he'd attempted before. The album was executive produced by Kanye West and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Over the next few years, assorted tracks leaked as numerous announcements and hints pointed the way toward Carti's third album. Meanwhile, Carti was featured on tracks such as "Miss the Red" (Trippie Redd), "Popular" (with the Weeknd and Madonna), the chart-topping "Carnival" (Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign), the Top Ten "Fein" (Travis Scott), and "I Luv It" (Camila Cabello). The latter three arrived in 2024 before Carti returned with the sleek "All Red," his first proper solo single in some time. I Am Music, its parent album, was released later that year. ~ Neil Z. Yeung