R&B/Hip-Hop

A prime example of how Carti’s ad-libs can be like jet fuel on a song, his mere baby-voiced repetition of phrases like “Baby, my mind fuzzy” and “Doin’ the dash” on Solange’s “Almeda” gives a playful boost to the R&B singer-songwriter’s party track.

Playboi Carti floats alongside Gunna on this Drip or Drown 2 cut. Whether you connect with Carti wanting stuff, (“I want a Ferrari and a Range Rover”), or with his desire to serve his opps corn syrup, (“That boy just a lick, we serve him Karo”) there’s something in this verse for everybody. To be honest, Carti comparing the end of a relationship to Van Gogh cutting off his own ear was enough to warrant placement on this list alone.

Hoodrich Pablo Juan’s 2017 song “Check” understandably fell by the wayside due to the explosive popularity of Playboi Carti’s own debut mixtape earlier that year, but Carti went very hard with this hook. “Check” is one of the those songs that should have popped off a lot harder than it did, and what’s nice about it is King Vamp annunciating his vowels. Being able to understand Carti, and actually sing along with him, is a nice change of pace from the mumbly spitfire energy of present day Guapo.

While everyone was talking about Nav’s stellar verse on Mustard’s “Baguettes in the Face,” Playboi Carti quietly enters the ring and carries the song’s second verse, trading in his usual stream-of-consciousness hype rap barrage for a springier flow. In turn, Carti decides to enter Nav’s and Mustard’s world rather then drag them into his own. It’s a refreshing change of pace.

Lil Yachty and Playboi Carti have a long history of making bangers together, and throwing Future into the mix here is like the Atlanta Holy Trinity. “Flex Up” bobs and weaves with all the hype-beast energy of King Vamp’s Whole Lotta Red era. While the three aforementioned rappers merely rap about sex, partying and drugs, the end result is so lively it’ll put a battery in anyone’s back.

No one can encapsulate all things drippy quite like Lil Boat and Carti. On Lil Yachty’s 2018 track “Get Dripped,” both rappers skate and slide along the glitchy beat with ease. “I do this s—t in my sleep,” Carti spits. His effortless cadence proves that point and then some.

This track became over-hated the minute it leaked, mostly because of the colossal expectations surrounding a Drake and Carti collab to begin with. Frankly, those expectations were always impossible to match — and since the dust has settled, Carti’s verse on “Pain 1993” has aged surprisingly well. Sure, Carti’s marble-mouthed, high-pitched flow isn’t for everyone, but P’ierre Bourne’s polished backdrop makes it impossible to not at least bob your head.

“Telephone call from young Carti, said it’s lit,” Rocky cries out. This assessment is correct. Some of Carti’s best guest appearances over the years have belonged to the A$AP Mob, and his brief but energized pop-out on “Telephone Calls” is no different. There’s no baby voice, no low grumbles either, just Carti yelling out some bars about spending some bread. It is, as Rocky says, extremely lit.

As previously stated, much of Playboi Carti’s best feature work belongs to A$AP Mob, who had the special talent of being able to pull out some seriously great Carti bars. “Walk on Water” is another great example of this. Carti’s hook kicks the song into overdrive right out the gates, and by the time the beat kicks in all the A$AP Mob has to do is maintain the bar that Carti set. They each hold their own, but it’s clear this is Carti’s house.

Lana Del Rey’s moody 2017 track “Summer Bummer” included a solid verse from A$AP Rocky, but more importantly it included a great bout of ad-libs from Carti. Who knew a steady flurry of “What” and “Yeah” and “Ooh’s” would be enough to take an already solid song and make it a banger? It’s a feat only Carti could accomplish.

Controversy aside, Carti came through and bodied his closing verse on “Carnival.” Over the songs pummeling drums, hollering football chants and overall menacing vibe, Carti’s verse crackles with energy as King Vamp sounds ready to peel off his own skin. “I’m bout to jump out my body, I’m ready to leap,” he growls. It’s a shame that the recent drama between Ye and Carti means this type of music likely won’t materialize again, but then again lightning rarely strikes twice anyway.

From the moment the explosive barrage of intergalactic synths pummels the ear drum, anyone remotely familiar with Carti’s vibe knows Trippie Redd’s “Miss the Rage” is about to go crazy. The end result does not disappoint, with Carti’s closing bars comparable to anything from his Whole Lotta Red era. Filled with chaotic ad-libs and plenty of long held S’s, “Miss the Rage” is pure unhinged Carti at his best.

Playboi Carti’s unexpected appearance on Tyler, the Creator’s “Earfquake” was such a fun surprise we didn’t even need to know what he was saying to know it was hard. Even now, after multiple lyric-deciphering sites have (somehow) been able to piece together what the hell Carti was talking about, the verse still hit the hardest back when we had no idea.

The Weeknd and Playboi Carti have a very special relationship when they’re on a song together. As shown by songs like “Popular,” Carti is able to help Abel tap back into his House of Balloons bag, while the XO leader pushes Carti to be as toxic on the mic as possible. As shown by the explosive reception to “Timeless,” and the chart-climbing prowess of Carti’s own “Rather Lie,” the end result is always a good time.

It’s impossible to put into words how perfect Carti sounds like alongside Travis $cott, but Carti sums it up perfectly on “Fe!n.” “This is a whole ‘nother level, shawty.” Indeed it is, Carti.

“Type S—t” is the quintessential Carti atmosphere. Roaring church bells and pummeling drums courtesy of Future and Metro means the weather could not be more perfect for a Carti storm. Said storm does not disappoint, as him and King Pluto go tit-for-tat with wild, slurred bars like “Posted up with my dogs, Scooby Doo-type s—t,” adding a shot of adrenaline to an already maxxed-out track.