Playboi Carti, also known as Carti, has been one of the most controversial figures in music ever since his self-titled debut mixtape “Playboi Carti.” The numerous hits on his debut album “Die Lit” propelled him into superstar status, and his 2020 Christmas release “Whole Lotta Red” brought experimental rage and hype focused rap into the mainstream and propelled many smaller artists to stardom through his label Opium. Carti is best known for his unique and impactful songs that have created a shift in the hip-hop genre to more rock and punk focused beats.
Carti’s distinctive songs and a different approach to rap have made him controversial musically. Proponents argue he has broadened the scope of rap, while others say he has made the genre worse by straying away from the core ideas of storytelling and social commentary.
“His music is not very rhythmic, and it’s more on the exciting side,” Lambert sophomore Pranav Prasath explained.
Especially in his hit album “Whole Lotta Red,” Carti has shifted his artistry to rock and punk-esque beats with indistinguishable ad-libs littered throughout. He also uses a style of mumble rap to add onto his overall sound. Carti, unlike many mainstream rap artists like Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole, relies more on his beats than voice and lyrics to carry out his musical message. His work usually does not carry a necessarily ‘serious’ message, focusing more on satisfying a concert audience. While the albums have been unique, Carti’s impact on others’ music has made him a notable rap artist in hip-hop now.
“He’s had a huge musical impact on smaller artists such as Yeat and ian,” Prasath explained.
Carti’s use of other genres to further his own music has shifted the rap industry, creating an environment for smaller artists to thrive. “Whole Lotta Red” was Carti’s first album combining multiple genres of music, and it brought in a new era of ‘rage’ rappers who used the same aggressive beats as Carti and similar vocal styles. His label, Opium, has encouraged artists such as Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely to grow as well. In turn, the success of those artists has created a subgenre in rap known as rage.
Carti has grown in music by being controversial. His albums, from “Playboi Carti” to “Whole Lotta Red” have However, his genre-blending music and rage-focused beats have strayed the traditional course to migrate to crossroads of hip-hop and rock. With Carti’s new release, rap is sure to evolve and change as his music evolves as well.
