“I Am Music,” the third studio album by American rapper Playboi Carti, dropped on March 14, 2025, through AWGE and Interscope Records, marking his first full-length release in over four years since the groundbreaking “Whole Lotta Red” in 2020. This 30-track opus, originally teased under the title “Narcissist” before evolving into “Music” and finally “I Am Music,” arrives after a torturous gestation period that tested the patience of Carti’s fervent fanbase. Spanning 77 minutes, the album is a sprawling testament to his enigmatic persona, blending trap, punk, and experimental rap into a chaotic yet captivating sonic tapestry. Featuring an all-star lineup of collaborators—Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta, Jhené Aiko, Ty Dolla Sign, and Young Thug—“I Am Music” showcases Carti’s ability to command a cultural moment, even amidst a rollout plagued by delays, leaks, and unfulfilled promises.
The album’s production, helmed primarily by Ojivolta, Cardo, and F1lthy, with contributions from heavyweights like Kanye West, Metro Boomin, and Mike Dean, oscillates between glitchy synths, booming trap drums, and atmospheric flourishes. Tracks like “Evil J0rdan” and “HBA” (formerly “H00dByAir”), released as standalone singles in 2024, anchor the project with their hypnotic beats and Carti’s signature vocal contortions—ranging from guttural growls to high-pitched shrieks. The inclusion of DJ Swamp Izzo’s bombastic interludes ties the album to Atlanta’s mixtape heritage, lending a gritty, street-level authenticity to its futuristic sound. Standouts like “Mojo Jojo,” with Kendrick Lamar’s playful ad-libs, and “Rather Lie,” elevated by The Weeknd’s silky croon, highlight the album’s versatility, while “Like Weezy” nods to Lil Wayne—whose phrase “I Am Music” Carti borrows—with a Rich Kidz sample that bridges past and present.
“I Am Music” is as much a vibe as it is a statement, reflecting Carti’s evolution from SoundCloud darling to a generational pacesetter. Its rollout began in earnest with cryptic Instagram posts in December 2023, including the tagline “I am music” and Pharrell’s co-sign, “Prepare.” What followed was a barrage of YouTube and Instagram exclusives—“2024,” “Backr00ms,” “All Red”—that fueled anticipation while frustrating fans with their streaming absence.
Recorded in eclectic locales, including a Paris cave studio for three months, as Carti revealed in a 2023 Numéro Berlin interview, the album channels themes of love, sex, drugs, and personal turmoil, with hints of bipolar struggles and rehab musings teased in his 2022 XXL interview. Yet, lyrically, it leans more into braggadocio and hedonism than introspection, a choice that critics argue limits its depth.
Reception has been polarized but largely positive, with Pitchfork calling it a “dizzying, vibes-driven flood,” and The Guardian praising Carti’s “mystical vocal range.” Its 30-track length—bloated to some, a feast to others—mirrors the excess of his persona, though tracks like “OPM Babi” and “Twin Trim” (a Uzi solo cut) feel like filler. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, moving 298,000 units, cementing Carti’s commercial clout. Still, its messy release—delayed from midnight to dawn on March 14 amid sample clearance woes—mirrors its unpolished edges, with some accusing Carti of coasting on aura over substance. Regardless, “I Am Music” reaffirms his dominance in the rage-rap lineage he pioneered, a chaotic masterpiece that thrives on its contradictions.