PlayBoi Carti’s Sophomore Album is Finally Here
Two whole ass years and a couple thousand leaks later, Playboi Carti finally releases his third studio Album, Whole Lotta Red. This very special Christmas gift came two years after the rapper first initially announced the idea of the album, and now here we are; actually listening to it. It has been a “Long Time”, since Carti fans have been able to bask in his baby mumble, famously stamped as “Cartinese”. But, to their satisfaction; his self-titled “Playboi Carti” and “Die Lit” have been rather fulfilling.
Carti has been unusually active this year, with the release of his single “@ Meh '' back in April - which stirred up a collaborative/beef conversation between him and frequent collaborator- Lil Uzi Vert.
He also heightened his social media engagement, frequently teasing fans with a taunting tweet or two:
“i hAv3 da m0st loyAL fanS. EVr” & “mY b3sT w0rk YET.
Finally, on December 22 the rapper indirectly confirmed that he will be releasing WLR on Christmas Day.
“12/25 >”
The 24 track project finally hit streaming. The album has a minimal amount of features, including; Kanye West, Kid Cudi and of course, Future. Production credits go to frequent collaborator; Pi'erre Bourne and Art Dealer, Richie Souf, F1lthy, Maaly Raw, Wheezy and Kanye West.
“Rock Star Made” is the leading track and it in-fact sets the overall mode for the rest of the project. Carti’s modification into this new Rager- Rapper, is not at all surprising. In Fact, it should've been more anticipated. Carti’s personality is a reflection of his music, as seen in his previous projects. Once he started pairing Rick Owens boots with Leather pants and an oversized pufer jacket, it was evident that the Playboi was on some whole other new shit.
However there is still some familiarity with tracks like “Beno!”, that are reminiscent of tracks on Die Lit; “Poke It Out” and “R.I.P”. Production on this track, like the preceding two, is more light and frenetic- especially in comparison to the aggressiveness of the majority of the project.
Carti, in his own way revitalizes experimentation, in terms of audio and lyricism. On tracks like “Metamorphosis” (ft. Kid Cudi), both rappers ride a beat with a hard hitting bass, blended with the Cudi’s infamous “hums”. What sets Carti apart is that people are not tuning into the rapper for a mastery word play or any type of melodic- poetic project. On tracks like “No Sl33p”, it is as if he and producer KP Beats were sonically matched as the rapper repetitively raps, while keeping cadence with the lively retro beat:
“When I go to sleep, I dream 'bout murder (Bah, bah, bah, go, what?)
These up tempo beats are continuous throughout the album, as Carti is fulfilling his Rap - Rockeresque era. He often pairs these beats with aggressive raving, and often repetitive lyrics, that maximizes Cartis gaudy nature. As seen on tracks like “King Vamp”, he goes full on rager, screaming his way through the track, and one can’t help but to imagine how live this track would be at a concert. Imagine the mosh pit screaming:
“K-I-N-G V-A-M-P”
Exactly.
But it’s safe to assume that Carti will not entirely abandon his Rap foundation. The supporting structure of his artistry is Cartinese and its legit why people love and respect his genius. This new idiom, or vernacular that he created is based in Hip-Hop/ Rap culture- and to abandon that would be … dumb. Tracks like; “ILoveUIHateU”, and “Place” are a testament to that. Both tracks, ironically produced and/ or written by frequent collaborator Pi'erre Bourne.
People expected Whole Lotta Red to be reflexive of Cartis previous works, and to be like a son project to Die Lit. He instead gifted a boundary pushing project, that incorporates the many elements of musicality. The unexpected direction that Carti took, is what vitalizes the album and keeps listeners excited. The production alone on WLR is brimming with energy and animation- and to partner it with ‘baby voice” Carti is something you would have to live through to understand.
