Amid evading the release of his long-awaited album, MUSIC, Playboi Carti‘s presence in 2024 has largely been felt. Despite the cancellation of Opium’s Antagonist tour, multiple project delays and a breach of leaks, the Atlanta hitmaker is undoubtedly the cultural leader in music today.
Whatever Carti touches, especially this past year, is either widely beloved or vehemently hated, so where do you stand? Check out a few of the drops Playboi Carti has hit on so far in 2024.
ALL RED
“UPSIDE DOWN CROSS, TAT ON MY NECK, SHUTEMUP.” With I AM MUSIC finally announced and on the way, Playboi Carti’s “ALL RED” is a testament to his influence, a pigment of his power and cultural relevance that trascends a generation. “ALL RED” is everything WLR day ones have waited for: bombastic, gritting and booming with tenacity and the edge that only Carti provides. He is MUSIC.
I LUV IT — Camila Cabello
A far left feature with Camila Cabello took the internet by storm in late March, as Playboi Carti employs his garbled vocal chain over a hyperpop comeback for Cabello. Carti makes references to his Whole Lotta Red hit “Control” on the back-half of his verse: “I hope you know you need a flashlight, tryna follow ’round this ho / Told ya I got all the paper like hol’ up, hol’ up, I’m out of control (Out of control).” Carti is no stranger to making questionable decisions, having the money cloud his thoughts and going “out of control” in regards to love (i.e. brutal fallouts with ex-girlfriends in Iggy Azaela and Brandi Marion). The lyrics paint a poignant picture of the reality Carti currently lives in, and “I LUV IT” seems to embrace the chaos that consumes him. Peep the music video for more on chaotic moments.
TYPE SHIT — Metro Boomin and Future
A Billboard Top 10 chart-topper, “TYPE SH*T” seemingly caught a case of snippet syndrome; the song hit harder through the previews and live performances Metro Boomin and Future teased ahead of WE DON’T TRUST YOU. Nevertheless, “TYPE SH*T” still proves to be one of the strongest efforts on the project, all thanks to Carti’s deep-toned flow and resurgent aura to back it up. The song itself feels like a performance in tangent with “CARNIVAL,” however, its apparent Carti is building something with this experimental sound, championing it on all of his releases in 2024.
FE!N — Travis Scott
“FE!N FE!N FE!N FE!N FE!N FE!N FE!N FE!N”… If this was stuck in your head at some point over the last few months, you weren’t the only one. Travis Scott and Playboi Carti are at the height of their respective careers, and “FE!N” is the crown both embattled emcees share as a tandem voice of our generation. Their recent performance of the track on Saturday Night Live and at the 65th Annual GRAMMY awards not only highlighted “FE!N” on a national scale, but reasserts the inimitable star power both Scott and Carti possess. Additionally, “FE!N” introduced Playboi Carti’s experimental deep-toned vocals, which he’s used heavily in 2024. Always looking to provide an edge to his sound, “FE!N” was the catalyst for Carti’s resurgence in the public eye following the years-long silence from Whole Lotta Red.
H00DBYAIR
“EVILJ0RDAN,” BACKR00MS,” “2024,” “KETAMINE” and “DIFFERENT DAY” all deserve credit in their own right, but “H00DBYAIR” stands as the strongest — and most memorable — one-off Carti track this year. Not to mention the acknowledgement of Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely appearing in the visual, “H00DBYAIR” is sinister in its delivery and quintessentially Opium in all facets: Dark, demonic and mysterious. It embodies the moniker King Vamp has taken on and reasserted Carti’s hold as THE leader of a generation of hitmakers. “H00DBYAIR” is a gem and should be at the top of Carti’s recent run.