It’s been years since Playboi Carti first started teasing his third studio album, but the wait is finally over as the rapper has released the highly anticipated “Music.”
Originally thought to be titled “I Am Music,” the 30-song album features heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, the Weeknd, Skepta, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dolla Sign and Young Thug. The record was set to drop at 12 a.m. PT, but was delayed for hours until it officially released around 4:45 a.m.
Lamar guests on “Good Credit,” while Scott appears on “Crush,” “Philly” and “Wake Up F1lthy.” The Weeknd features on “Rather Lie,” Skepta on “Toxic” and Future on “Charge Dem Hoes a Fee” and “Trim.” Lil Uzi Vert is on two tracks, “Jumpin” and “Twin Trim,” while Ty Dolla Sign and Young Thug both have verses on “We Need All Da Vibes.”
Carti last released his sophomore album “Whole Lotta Red” in 2020, featuring guest appearances from Kanye West, Future and Kid Cudi. Not long after its release, he teased that he was teeing up his third album, tentatively titled “Narcissist.” A release date in 2021 came and went, and the following year he stated that the album was now titled “Music,” which inevitably became “I Am Music,” and then went back to “Music.”
Over the years, Carti previewed new songs including “Rockstar,” “Fuck on My DJ” and “Pop Out” during festival performances, and shared snippets of the tracks “Different Day,” “Skinny Jeans” and “Ketamine” on social media.
In September 2024, Carti dropped “All Red,” which many assumed was the first single from “Music” and signaled its imminent release. But he started teeing up the actual release of the album last month with Spotify billboards popping up around the country. This past week, the streaming platform posted a cryptic teaser video for the album on social media, and promoted the record with a billboard in Times Square.
Carti finally confirmed the release of “Music” on Wednesday by posting an Instagram of British performance artist Blackhaine revealing that the set would drop on Friday.