After a much-anticipated wait, Playboi Carti released his third studio album, “MUSIC” on March 14. The album consists of 30 tracks, featuring many notable musicians, such as The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Swamp Izzo and more. However, despite inviting numerous remarkable artists, the album ended up being weak in substance.

“OPM BABI”

“OPM BABI” is full of abrupt sound bites that make the song difficult to follow. The lyrics rely too heavily on repetition, making the verses more annoying than catchy. Additionally, DJ Swamp Izzo’s feature feels out of place, as he repeatedly yells his producer tag, “Swamp Izzo,” completely disrupting the flow. The gunshot sound effects after every other line are also excessive and further convolute the song. 

“POP OUT”

“POP OUT” is ruined with repetitive, uninspired lyrics like “Pop out, pop (schyeah) / Pop out, schyeah (schyeah),” making it feel more like a parody of Carti’s signature style than an actual song. The overuse of “schyeah” borders on absurd and the lyrics lack the clever wordplay that Carti has showcased in past albums. The beat is a whole different story, as it is filled with distorted sounds that make it hard to listen to. All of the background instruments sound like jarring noise, failing to mask the terrible performance Carti puts on as a rapper in this song. 

“MOJO JOJO” (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Playboy Carti collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, who is currently one of the most talked-about rappers in the industry, on “MOJO JOJO,” but unfortunately, even Lamar’s feature doesn’t manage to hide the uninspired flow that the song has. The song has an incredible instrumental, but the production falls short, a recurring theme in the album. Lamar’s adlibs do not meld well with Carti’s vocals because the mixing makes Kendrick louder than Carti, who is supposed to be the main vocalist. However, the main melody is less dissonant than other tracks on the album, making it one of the more digestible songs. 

“RATHER LIE” (feat. The Weeknd)

One of the major highlights of “MUSIC” is “RATHER LIE” featuring The Weeknd. The vocal delivery and production quality of the song were standout elements. The song is about Carti’s reckless lifestyle and the extremes he would go to to keep a relationship intact, as he repeats, “I’d rather lie than lose you,” making for a catchy and memorable chorus. However, the song is not fully fleshed out, as it relies more on ambience than substance.

Despite a half-decade gap since the release of his last album, Playboi Carti’s album “MUSIC” still feels rushed. The production and mixing quality on the album were poor, with most songs missing the mark because of their muddy sounds. Out of the 30 tracks on the album, Carti could have cut out half the songs on the album, as some tracks were simply filler. Overall, “MUSIC” does not capture Carti’s signature production and energy, leaving listeners questioning whether the long wait was worth it.