After five years, rap artist Playboi Carti has finally released his album “MUSIC.” While the album has received mixed reactions from fans and critics, the album does have multiple quality songs. Staff writer Zack Seigel and I have picked out our top five from the album and put them in a list, along with explanations for our choices.
Zack’s #5: “POP OUT”
The first song of an album has to be strong, as it sets the tone for the rest of the album. POP OUT does a fantastic job at that. The beat is unique and loud, as well as being aggressive in a good way. I believe it will age beautifully, like “On Sight” by Kanye West did. Both of these beats are in your face and different and were hated at first when they came out. However, “On Sight” has aged to the point where it’s considered a classic by some, and I believe POP OUT has the same potential. The loud drilling and lyrics make this a standout on the album.
Nolan’s #5: “MOJO JOJO”
In the number five spot, I have “MOJO JOJO,” the fifth track in the album. The flow, beat and lyrics remain strong throughout the entire track A short, four-note riff backed by electronic, distorted bass serves as the subject on which the lyrics are based. However, the slurred ad-libs in the beginning from Kendrick Lamar throw off the springy flow of the lyrics. Despite this, these ad-libs take a 180-degree turn after the first verse begins, with jabbing repetition of Carti’s lyrics, reflecting the flow of the beat more accurately. This gives “MOJO JOJO” a catchy, bouncing melody that earns it a spot on the top five list. While the lyrics are nothing out of the ordinary, the flow switch from verses to the chorus gives enough of a vocal pause to switch the flow of the chorus to match the beat. This in turn creates anticipation for the next high-speed verse.
Zack’s #4: “EVIL J0RDAN”
“EVIL J0RDAN” is by far the most recognized song on the album and the most popular, as it was leaked before its release. The iconic intro is very well made with a great sample from The Weeknd, and the song itself is simple but catchy. This song has the most potential to go TikTok viral, and sadly, I think that could lead to the song being overplayed and becoming overrated. It’s a fantastic song with great production. The beat is nice and simple but memorable.
Nolan’s #4: “RATHER LIE (feat. The Weeknd)”
One of the softer tracks on the album, “RATHER LIE,” featuring The Weeknd, offers a different style of singing that Playboi Carti uses in his repertoire. Instead of leaning towards mumble hip hop, the track focuses more on an R&B style, and The Weeknd’s already R&B style adds to this. Carti uses more enunciated lyrics to create an audially appealing, light-hearted song, and the addition of The Weeknd’s style offers a break from the typical fast-paced rage hip-hop music that Carti is known for. Carti has experimented with more R&B style music previously in tracks such as “Popular,” again featuring The Weeknd and Madonna. The two work extremely well together, as the smooth tenor of The Weeknd juxtaposes Carti’s rougher voice.
Zack’s #3: “RADAR”
The beat that producer Metro Boomin made on this song is unbelievable. It’s by far the best beat on the album and the add-ons as well are amazing. They help make the beat as good and help tie the whole track together. Cartis’s voice fits incredibly well with this song, and his lyrics flow perfectly with the beat. All this combined makes a very hype and upbeat song. However, the song is less than two minutes long which is unfortunate because if it was longer it’d be perfect.
Nolan’s #3: “I SEEEEEE YOU BABY BOI”
One of the more experimental tracks in “MUSIC,” the fast-paced, almost chaotic beat resembles a hyperpop genre beat. While ISYBB isn’t as extreme as the average hyperpop beat, it still reflects similar elements, with an artificial, synth-like melody and an omnipresent, fluctuating background bass. Carti’s vocals stray from the hyperpop frame and reflect more of his unique alloy of rap and R&B, while hyperpop typically uses hip-hop lyrics with an overdose of vocal distortion. Overall, the light-hearted nature of the song and the flow of the beat with the lyrics create an excellent song, while not straying too far from who Carti is as an artist.
Zack’s #2: RATHER LIE (feat. The Weeknd)
“RATHER LIE” is more chill than the others on the album. It’s less in your face than other tracks, like POP OUT. The Weeknd’s feature is amazing, and the hook he provides perfectly contrasts with Carti’s almost opposite style. Carti also provides great verses and lyrics that fit the beat perfectly. The idea to have the feature do the hook of the song and the main artist do the overall rapping/singing is a technique that has been used many times and is seen in lots of great songs, including Carti’s track with The Weeknd and Madonna “Popular.” “RATHER LIE” uses this technique perfectly. This track is different from other songs and is sort of a throwback to his debut, self-titled album “Playboi Carti.” It’s a nice breath of fresh air in the album.
Nolan’s #2: POP OUT
Starting off strong, the album’s opening track “POP OUT” uses a combination of a rage-style beat and aggressive lyrics to reflect an older style of Carti, as in his 2020 release “Whole Lotta Red.” Unlike “MOJO JOJO,” “POP OUT’s” beat is unrelenting, providing no breaks or flow switches. As an introduction to the album, being the first song, POP OUT sets the tone for multiple future tracks in the album, such as “COC*INE NOSE.” Carti’s rasping vocals, combined with the aggressive beat give listeners something they can use to energize. With the perfect combination of the vocals and beat, along with a style Carti is a master in, POP OUT, while not loved by all, earns a spot in the top two.
Zack’s #1: “GOOD CREDIT (feat. Kendrick Lamar)”
I have “GOOD CREDIT” as my number one for multiple reasons. The transition to the beat is flawless and energizes this song, and Carti’s lyrics add to this energy. He flows well on the track, and it’s almost like he’s hyping up Kendrick Lamar, who transitions flawlessly to his verse. Kendrick’s feature and verses are spectacular and add a lot to the song, and his overall lyricism is unbelievable. He and Carti on a track together, actually rapping, is something I would never expect to happen, and they do not disappoint.
Nolan’s #1: “K POP”
In the number one spot by far is “K POP.” The creativity in Carti’s lyrics compared to the slow, foreboding beat creates an absolute masterpiece. The beat has enough variability for flow switches, and Carti takes advantage of this perfectly. Background electric guitar riffs in a minor key add to the foreboding mood of the song and create a dissonance in the setup for lyrical transitions. The guitar riffs serve as instrumental transitions between the beat, and Carti similarly changes the flow of his lyrics to compensate for the change. The lyrics in this track are some of Carti’s most creative in the whole album. Lyrics such as “I find Jesus, Christian Dior,” and “ice on my body, I’m the coolest,” use clever comparisons to match the flow’s egotistical nature. Carti did not hold back in any sense on this track and does what he’s known for doing: rapping about himself, his successes and his prominence. This track meets all the marks. In tracks like these, Carti shows that even after five years of radio silence, he is still in the game, and still just as prominent as he was when he last dropped.
