I AM MUSIC: Playboi Carti’s Long Awaited Release

Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti, real name Jordan Carter, released his long-awaited album I AM MUSIC on March 14 after five years and numerous delays. 
by Emery Brown and Justin Andrio

Emery Brown
I became a fan of Carti shortly after the release of his last album Whole Lotta Red back in 2020. His sound was unique and varied between his albums. On Travis Scott’s 2023 album UTOPIA, Carti debuted a sound we never heard before with a deeper voice and more aggressive delivery. This style truly shines on I AM MUSIC with tracks like “K POP” and “HBA.” This, combined with heavy production and tons of bass, creates a project full of belligerent and energetic tracks.

For sure, a highlight of this album for me is its features. Twelve of the thirty tracks contain features from artists like Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and others and they do not disappoint. Matching Carti’s energy, they deliver bold performances that add new flavors to the project while staying consistent with its established sound. Even on tracks where they don’t have full verses, the adlibs of the featured artists help complete the atmosphere, creating a truly unique soundscape. Some of my favorite features on the album are Young Thug on “WE NEED ALL DA VIBES,” Skepta on “TOXIC,” and Kendrick Lamar on “GOOD CREDIT.”

My only issue with the album is that with thirty tracks without any real overarching theme or story behind it, some of them can be a little forgettable or get completely outshined by the all-star hits, especially considering the runtime of most of the songs is below three minutes and are just meant to be bangers to bump in the car or at a party. Regardless, this doesn’t ruin the album for me at all and I leave it with a final rating of 8.5/10.


Justin Andrio
Playboi Carti has been one of my favorite rappers of this generation. For me, it comes down to his style, the beats, and the vocals. 

Most people say they can't even understand when he is talking but you just have to listen closely and if you have listened to him since he started his whole career then you will understand him by now. 

My favorite songs on the album are “CRUSH” “RATHER LIE” “EVIL J0RDAN” “C*****E NOSE” and “SOUTH ATLANTA BABY.” These are just a few songs on the album with a great intro and great vocals they all focus on storytelling and give the song title meaning.
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The biggest song on the album is “EVIL J0RDAN” which is the only song on the album with a music video. This song has great storytelling behind it and really proves to be a top Carti song. My rating of this album is 9/10. I can't wait for the next Carti release.

Overall, ratings for I AM MUSIC have been high, leaving listeners and fans alike wondering what Carti has in store for us next.