Playboi Carti Finally Releases Long-Awaited Album Music After Multiple Delays

NEW YORK, NY — After four and a half years of anticipation, Playboi Carti‘s new album, titled Music, has finally dropped, featuring 30 tracks and nearly 77 minutes of new material. Released in the early hours of March 14, 2025, the record promises to offer something for every fan.

The album includes an array of collaborations from a diverse array of artists such as Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and the highly anticipated appearances from Kendrick Lamar. Music marks Carti’s first release since his 2020 album, Whole Lotta Red, and encapsulates his evolution as an artist.

The release was not without drama. After an initial announcement of a midnight release on the East Coast, Carti informed fans via social media that music would officially drop at midnight Pacific Time. During the delay, he shared FaceTime screenshots with collaborating artists, which heightened fan anticipation.

“ANY MIN NOW,” Carti texted popular streamer Kai Cenat around 4 a.m., hinting at the delays were due to sample clearances. The album finally became available around 7:30 a.m. Eastern, though discrepancies in crediting writers and producers on digital streaming platforms highlight the rushed release.

Music marks a more expansive journey for Carti, incorporating classic Atlanta rap, electropop, and industrial synths. Tracks like “Walk” and “Toxic” reveal influences from Atlanta legends like Future, as well as collaboration with DJ Swamp Izzo, known for his contributions to the city’s rap scene.

“I used this record to channel my influences, and my roots are firmly planted in Atlanta,” Carti noted in interviews prior to the release. Tracks on the album also draw inspiration from iconic figures including Lil Wayne, whose name and style resonate throughout the project, especially with the title Music echoing Wayne’s notable tattoo, ‘I Am Music.’

Aside from his own burgeoning label, Opium, the album features no signees from Carti’s roster, instead spotlighting established artists. Kendrick Lamar appears three times, contributing verses that send chills through the listener, while Travis Scott, Future, Skepta, and Young Thug each feature multiple times, bringing their unique styles to the mix.

Notably, Carti and Lil Uzi Vert rejoined for the track “Jumpin,” leveraging their established chemistry while offering a darker vibe compared to their earlier collaborations. Uzi’s solo interlude in “Twin Trim” reflects back on the energetic sound that defined the 2018 era.

Carti also experiments with his existing material, recasting singles from 2024 like “K Pop,” a rebranded version of “,” and enhancing others, like “,” which now showcases a melodramatic instrumental intro inspired by live performance renditions.

The album’s sonic variety is complemented by contributions from notable producers, including Kanye West and F1LTHY, who enhance the album’s dynamic range and commercial appeal.

As Carti carves out his legacy, with Music, he further cements his stature in the hip-hop landscape, appealing to both nostalgic fans and new listeners alike.