‘I Am Music’ is a new, unfocused side of Playboi Carti

By Ryan Vann

For The Diamondback

Playboi Carti’s I am Music certainly had a lot to live up to. 

His previous album — 2020’s Whole Lotta Red — initially received mixed reviews, but ushered in an innovative new sound, influencing artists such as Yeat and Ken Carson.

As fans eagerly waited for the rapper’s return, he teased the album in December 2023, posting a cryptic Instagram message simply reading — “I AM MUSIC.” Carti followed this with five new singles from the album as music videos exclusively on YouTube and Instagram. 

But promotion ceased when the rapper went offline for more than a year, leaving many doubtful the album would come out. 

On March 14, 2025, the wait was over. After a three hour delay past the anticipated midnight release, I am Music was finally out in the world. Eleven days later, Carti dropped a surprise deluxe version of the album with four additional tracks. 

Much of the album showcases Carti’s deeper vocal delivery, which debuted on Travis Scott’s 2023 hit song “Fein.” While this might alienate fans of Carti’s “baby voice” — which helped him rise to popularity in 2017 — the new voice is one of the project’s biggest strengths. Tracks like “K POP” and “HBA”demonstrate the rapper’s ability to create explosive, hypnotic melodies within this style, delivering non-stop, vicious energy.  

Whole Lotta Red’s influence isn’t far from this new LP. The album’s opener, “POP OUT,” is unhinged in the best way and will electrify large crowds at Carti’s upcoming concerts. Accompanied by Carti’s relentless vocal delivery, the track successfully captures Whole Lotta Red’s fire, setting the album’s thunderous tone right from the start.  

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“COCAINE NOSE” also follows Whole Lotta Red’s footsteps with its powerful electric guitar lead and a familiar strength in Carti’s delivery. Lines like “Gucci socks where I stash the blade,” capture the one-of-a-kind thrill only his songs exude, showcasing the rapper’s unique ability to keep up with some of the most chaotic beats in mainstream hip-hop. 

One of the biggest shocks from the album was the appearance of Kendrick Lamar on not one, but three separate tracks in his first collaboration with Carti. Some fans of Carti’s style may be put off by the inclusion of Lamar — a rapper who generally takes a more conscious approach to his music — but his charisma shines through in this performance. On “GOOD CREDIT,” Lamar shouts the line “Carti my evil twin” multiple times, matching the album’s chaotic vibe. 

Other features include Future and Travis Scott, who both appear multiple times throughout the project. On “TRIM,” Future steals the show, delivering his classic gritty flow and taking up nearly half the track’s run time with an enchanting verse. Travis Scott, on the other hand, fails to make a meaningful impression despite four appearances.  

Carti struggles to deliver consistent performances on tracks such as “OLYMPIAN” and “I SEEEEEE YOU BABY BOI.”  Something is missing from his performance on these tracks, whether it’s his anger-filled passionate delivery from his last album or the infectious melodies from earlier in his career. The tracks end up feeling forgettable despite the electrifying production accompanying them. 

Unfortunately, this lack of effort persists throughout the album. 

The songs “TWIN TRIM,” and “JUMPIN,” both of which feature Lil Uzi Vert, have run times of under two minutes. While it’s nice to see the two long-time collaborators put out songs again, the reunion leaves a lot to be desired. The track “TWIN TRIM” features only one verse from Lil Uzi, with Carti nowhere to be seen.

The tracks on the deluxe album — “Different Day,” “2024,” “BACKR00MS” AND “FOMDJ” — were released prior to the arrival of I AM MUSIC on Instagram and YouTube. “2024” and “BACKR00MS” manage to match the aesthetic with their hypnotic production and Carti’s unfiltered vocals. “DIFFERENT DAY,” on the other hand, heads in a more eerie direction, with its hazy, minimalist instrumentals. 

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While these tracks offer moments of high energy and atmospheric depth, they also highlight this album’s biggest weakness — a complete lack of direction. Carti’s Whole Lotta Red, even with its flaws, carried an innovative artistic theme throughout most of the album.

The same can’t be said for I Am Music, which can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be a hard hitting rage album with songs like “COCAINE NOISE” and “OPM BABI” or a more traditional trap project with tracks like “PHILLY” and “DIS 1 GOT IT.” The end result is an album that feels like it’s aiming to please fans of both styles while not delivering on either.