King Vamp season has returned.
1,540 days after his influential sophomore Whole Lotta Red album landed on Christmas Day in 2020, Playboi Carti finally released his much-delayed and highly anticipated I Am Music album on Friday (March 14).
I Am Music hit streaming services in the morning with the Atlanta rapper sending out a tweet around 7:30 am ET with Spotify link attached after yet another postponement, which fans speculated to be tied to the blood moon eclipse. However, Carti didn’t seem too worried as he posted a clip on FaceTime with Justin Bieber to social media as he ate pasta on his Spotify billion-stream plaque for “FE!N”.
The LP is loaded with star-studded features from the likes of Young Thug, Travis Scott, Future, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta and Ty Dolla $ign. While employing an impressive list of producers that included Cardo, Metro Boomin, Soutside, F1lthy, Ye, Cash Cobain, and production duo Ojivolta, among many others.
“[This album] is very important to me because I feel like I have something to prove,” he told Numéro Berlin in 2023. “This is my moment, this is the one for me. You know, this album right here is – I say this for everything, but – I think it’s going to be my best album because I’m just popping it. It starts with music. That’s it. As long as I got that, it’s up.”
He also told Billboard, “I want to make the people feel like they don’t know what is about to happen,” during a cover story profile and that’s exactly the feeling you’re going to get the first time you hit play.
And with that being said, check out our rankings of every song on I Am Music below.
Producer(s): F1lthy, Slowburnz & DJH
This sounds like noise, honestly. However, I can see a bunch of the kids moshing to this and I might change my mind if I saw this song being performed live. I’m sure they’re going to be hanging from the rafters as Carti jumps around onstage. — ANGEL DIAZ
Producer(s): Clayco, Streo & opiumbaby
Rage rap meets a soulful sample. There are times when clashing aesthetics and opposites attract, but this isn’t one, as Swamp Izzo’s tag feels overbearing. Carti touches on substance abuse, from using pills to ketamine, and even compares himself to Young Thug. “OPM Babi” could’ve been taken to another level. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Producer(s): Maaly Raw
Carti seems to be inspired by early 2010s trap throughout the project. “Overly” finds him reuniting with Maaly Raw behind the boards, who produced “Shoota” as well as several WLR tracks. While it probably ends up in the middle of the pack, Carti’s repertoire is on full display here. — M.S.
Producer(s): Cardo, Dez Wright, Mu Lean & Stoopid Lou
I honestly thought this was Future at first, but the more you listen you can tell it’s Carti changing his voice once again. My favorite part of this track is the chorus, though — I’m always down for a Skepta feature, especially when he raps like he’s the best rapper on his side of the hemisphere, because he is. — A.D.
Producer(s): D. Rich
This would’ve been the perfect spot to give Chief Keef a call for an explosive assist over triumphant production. Carti ruminates about how he “might f–k a pop b–ch” and then pass her to the homies. It’s all about the fast lane at this point: “Molly, sex and ecstasy, I turned up just like Lohan,” he raps, playfully jabbing Lindsay Lohan. — M.S.
Producer(s): Cardo
I see Cardo got in his Texas bag on this one. This joint sounds like the score from Desperado; the music video needs Travis and Carti to hop out the Hellcat with the yopper in the guitar case like Antonio Banderas. And you also have Travis starting the song off by singing, “Brand new ass, brand new nose,” and it’s so damn funny for some reason. Carti, on the other hand, has his Batman voicebox manipulator going, as he ends his verse like a villain. — A.D.
Producer(s): F1LTHY, Malik Ninety Five & Lukrative
“Mollys, Perkys, I feel so invincible,” is easily the catchiest chorus on the entire album. Future’s jealous he didn’t build a hit around that first. Carti goes more into his throaty flow for a couple of tracks to give the project a different texture before the final act. — M.S.
Producer(s): Rok & KP Beatz
Carti clears the lane for Uzi to shine with a solo effort on “Twin Trim.” That’s what friends are for. The Uzi-Carti reunion has been something fans were calling for throughout the decade, and the Philly native pops up for a pair of fun appearances on Music. — M.S.
Producer(s): Keanu Beats, 99Hurts & Ojivolta
For some reason, I didn’t really notice DJ Swamp Izzo was hosting this tape until I got to this song on first listen, but I’m not mad. There’s something about having popular regional DJs hosting major full length albums. It tends to bring the feeling back, as they say. — A.D.
Producer(s): Kelvin Krash & Ojivolta
Just when you think you have Carti figured out, he hits you with a surprise. Carti’s voice alterations and ear for production manage to keep a 30-track album fresh while supplying something for every version of his fans. “Like Weezy” is built around a Rich Kidz “Bend Over” sample, which nobody saw coming, and he manages to remain true to himself while meshing with, in this case, a beat Soulja Boy would’ve loved 15 years ago. — M.S.
Producer(s): DJ Moon, Lucian
Twitchy production that sounds like it’s another branch off the Whole Lotta Red family tree. Carti reflects on his humble beginnings and dodging the hurdles that attempted to knock him off his game. It even becomes a love song, with the Atlanta rapper wondering if she’s down to ride for him through anything: “How do I know that you bound for me?/ Baby, would you skip town for me?” he asks. — M.S.
Producer(s): Metro Boomin
Metro tapped into his mid 2000s Atlanta bag with this one, while Carti decides to go with one of his more newer flows. This is what makes an artist like Playboi unique, but also polarizing. He often mixes the experimental with the traditional. I think he should got more credit for things like that. — A.D.
Producer(s): Cardo & Johnny Juliano
This is “Madman Music,” as Cardo calls it, because of its chaotic unpredictability. Playboi and Swamp make a good team, as the former raps bars like, “I’m prayin’ for all my opps while I’m hawking for my next bi—h/Oh, you prayin’ for them motherf—kers now, Carti?/Yeah, they got a death wish,” as the latter screams ad libs in the background as if he was on crank for real. — A.D.
Producer(s): Akachi, DJ Moon, Sonickaboom, C$D Sid, Macnificent & TM88
Carti’s been a trendsetter, from the clothes to his rapping style and even vocabulary. He brought “trim” into pop culture, and it’s seemed to cut through as another “cool” replacement. Future’s in on “Trim” as he builds a chorus around the term and uses his syrupy verse for the ultimate flex. “I bought a new mansion, it’s just for the clothes,” he boasts. — M.S.
Producer(s): F1LTHY & BNYX
La Flame notches another Music guest appearance — he has four in total. F1LTHY didn’t need to be woken up, as he held his own on the project while cooking up another ominous beat alongside BNYX. Scott and Carti take turns recalling their raunchy sexual escapades, and Trav wins this round 10-9. “She give me that 69 while I play 64,” he raps. — M.S.
Producer(s): F1LTHY, 100yrd & Brak3
The grungy “Cocaine Nose” was originally previewed by Carti during Rolling Loud Miami 2024 in December and lands as a deep cut on Music. Cash Carti takes it back to the Roc-A-Fella heyday while comparing his disruptive Opium crew to the Roc’s co-founders. “It’s Opium, yeah, movin’ like Jay and Dame,” he rhymes in a smoky flow. — M.S.
Producer(s): Cardo & Onokey
A fan-favorite Instagram release is downgraded with the addition of thumping drums in the mix. Carti has long championed Hood By Air and he might bring the fashion designer back to the mainstream. The 29-year-old had some things he wanted to get off his chest while blasting the imitators biting his style.
It’s a rare moment of reflection as he looks back at his early years practicing his craft as a teen. “I was 17 on the mic/ I’m tryna be Carti, not Mike,” he raps. On the outro, Carti shouts out his children Onyx and Yves along with his age when he had them. He seems to be asking for some grace when it comes to balancing his lifestyle as a parent and superstar. — M.S.
Producer(s): Ovijolta
Carti has set the bar high with his album closers in the past; just go press play on the vulnerable “F33l Lik3 Dyin” again from WLR. Here, the 29-year-old celebrates his gritty South Atlanta roots and picks his head up to see how far he’s come before 30. Before saying goodbye, Carti has some harsh words for those envying him and not standing on business: “I’m aimin’ at everybody jealous/ These p—y ass n—as so soft/ How the f—k you gon’ rat on your cousin?” he spews. — M.S.
Producer(s): D. Hill
The 16*29 reunion everyone was waiting for. It’s been seven years since they officially teamed up, and while it’s not quite living up to the hype of “Shoota,” the 92-second sprint “Jumpin” is a glimpse of what was once looked at as an eclectic combo leading the next generation of rap into the 2020s. —M.S.
Producer(s): Wheezy & Dez Wright
Playboi Carti promised he wasn’t gonna release Music until he got Thugger on the album. “We Need All Da Vibes” also features Ty Dolla $ign and feels like a Thug track with how clean Wheezy’s production is, compared to the chaos Carti prefers. It’s only Thug’s second verse since being released from jail as he quietly makes his comeback into rap’s mainstream with another solid outing. —M.S.
Producer(s): F1LTHY, Ojivolta, Jahaan Sweet & Travis Scott
Travis really only doing adlibs on this, and I guess that adds an element to the song, but I’m really into the church choir singing, “Shorty gonna let me crush.” I think that really brings this track over the top. It feels like sitting in a church pew as they spread the Good Word over F1lthy and Ojivolta’s beat that sounds like it’s from a far away galaxy. —A.D.
Producer(s): Clif Shayne, DJ Moon & Nick Spiders
“Olympian” is for the Whole Lotta Red tribe as Playboi Carti delivers his vintage baby-voiced flow and gives a tip of the cap to those who held him down during the four-plus years in between WLR and Music. Can’t say we had Carti referencing Ludacris and Michael Jackson on the same track on our bingo card, but he makes it work. — M.S.
Producer(s): Cash Cobain
First of all, we got Playboi Carti over a Cash Cobain beat before GTA 6. Second of all, I’m a fan of R&B Carti. However, the line about canceling one of his shows to enjoy a movie stuck out to me. Imagine running into Carti at like a David Lynch retrospective at Lincoln Center or some s—t like that. Might run into King Vamp at the New Beverly for the Bram Stoker’s Dracula showing. — A.D.
Producer(s): Ojivolta, Cardo & Twisco
This song title is apt because Carti is idolized by some like a K Pop star and he’s giving some bars on this one, like:
Stop all that talkin’, let’s do it
You on the internet, boy, stop, boy
I’m in the field with cleats, Sig in my jeans, I kill boys
Me and my n—as, we Gs, step on b–ches, we kick doors
I stay runnin’ up checks and holdin’ the knife, it’s a sport
Sittin’ with my blick, I got me a gang, I can’t go to court, uh
N—a tried to pop his pain, put two in his brain, blow up the fort
And let’s not forget about the production, which is cinematic, dramatic and fantastic. — A.D.
Producer(s): Ojivolta, Cardo & Ssort
Getting a Kendrick feature to only use him for ad libs and as a hypeman is impressive enough, but I didn’t expect these two to link up. And it’s so crazy that it works. They sound great together and whether you want to admit it or not, they’re the top rappers that represent opposite sides of the rap spectrum, with Dot repping the more traditional, mainstream and Carti repping for the more alternative, more youthful side of things. — A.D.
Producer(s): Cardo, Johnny Juliano & Ojivolta
Very happy that this song made the cut from the singles and loosies he’s been dropping over the last year or so. This Cardo, Johnny Juliano and Ojivolta beat is insane and futuristic too. It sounds like whippin’ wok while watching Cowboy Bebop — which is hard to explain, so you’re gonna have to vision it. —A.D.
Producer(s): Cardo
When the rumors started swirling around that Kenny would be making an appearance, we all expected him to send more shots Drake’s way. And while I would’ve understood and respected that decision, I’m happy he chose to just talk his s—t instead. I mean, any rap fan can appreciate a line like, “The emerald cuff for hers and his/ That b–ch on point like A$AP Relli.” This pairing makes me want to hear more from them, preferably over another futuristic Madman Cardo beat. — A.D.
Producer(s): Wheezy, Southside, Smatt Sertified, Juke Wong & Car!ton
“Charge dem hoes a fee, charge dem hoes a fee, charge dem hoes a fee, charge dem hoes a fee.”
Doesn’t that just roll off the tongue?
This track is the obvious anthem and we need the video ASAP. What an absolute banger. No notes. —A.D.
Producer(s): F1lthy, Ojivolta, Twisco & Mike Dean
This is the radio single right here, as Carti calms things down for the ladies. And then you have him manipulating his voice again, like he’s messing with game sliders as he’s running game on the love of his life. This guy is a maniac, and yet I will take an album of songs like this from him and The Weeknd. — A.D.
Producer(s): Ojivolta, Ye & Scott Bridgeway
We got Playboi Carti over a chipmunk soul sample and Kendrick & Jhené Aiko collabing again. And for that we are grateful, because the beat and the chorus make this song a hit. I’m curious to see if these R&B cuts manage to cross over. — A.D.