Jordan Carter, better known as Playboi Carti, has built a reputation for keeping fans in suspense throughout his career. His loyal listeners waited two years for “Whole Lotta Red, released in 2020, so it was no surprise when the rollout for his most recent album, “Music”, followed a similar pattern. Fans didn’t expect a traditional release date; instead, they knew Carti would drop the album when he felt it was ready. He even hinted at the delay on a track, rapping, “2024, Music…”
Back when Carti first dropped his self-titled debut in 2017, it sounded like nothing else out at the time. Still, it gained massive love from fans because it was undeniably good music. That project gave fans top hits like “Magnolia” and “wokeuplikethis”. From there, Carti continued to build his fanbase, not just off official albums, but from a large number of unreleased songs that became underground favorites.
What sets Carti apart from other musicians is that each project sounds completely new, even to his most loyal fans. His music isn’t always loved immediately, but it has the ability to age well. When “Whole Lotta Red”, his second studio album, dropped, it was met with a lot of push-back and hate; however, a few years later, songs from that album have become major staples in pop culture. The delay said a lot about Carti’s artistry and continues to happen, most recently with his new album, “MUSIC”.
Carti’s influence goes far beyond the charts, inspiring a whole generation of underground rap artists who look up to his bold sound. While some people say his music is more of an acquired taste, his fans don’t mind.“A person that listens to basic mainstream music wouldn’t fully enjoy a Carti song because there’s so much going on, but if you take a person that listens to underground music, they would enjoy that more because their ears are used to it,” junior Kwesi Sadorkie-Mensah said.
The different sound that characterizes Carti’s music is exactly what makes people so loyal, as they know they are going to receive quality music. Even after five years, multiple teases and long stretches of silence, Carti fans still waited. And now with “Music”, which includes hard, grungy production from Atlanta DJ Swamp Izzo, Carti has once again pushed the boundaries of what rap music is, what it can be as well as what it looks and sounds like.
Because of how ahead of its time his work tends to be, there’s almost always pushback at first. But Carti stays true to himself time and time again. In an age where a lot of artists aim for TikTok trends or viral moments, Carti continues to focus on music and music only. The energy and authenticity he brings hasn’t changed since the beginning of his career. It is evident that he doesn’t care for the marketing aspect of his music releases. He would probably gain more profit if he released all of the unreleased songs that have gained so much traction over the years, but he simply does what he wants.
The five-year wait for “Music” was more than just about hearing a new album, it was about experiencing something real. Carti isn’t just another artist passing through the moment, he’s here to shift the sound, bring suspense and earn respect with every move he makes.
“This album changed my life… It changed my whole perspective of musicians, what type of music you have to listen to, to enjoy a certain type of music,” Sadorkie-Mensah said.
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