Every Playboi Carti album has arrived with immense anticipation. Since his breakout with “Broke Boi” in 2015 and subsequent appearances with A$AP Mob, Carti has remained one of the most enigmatic figures in modern rap.
From his early minimalist bangers to spacey, chaotic rage anthems and now polished, genre-melding commercial efforts, Carti has constantly evolved. His unconventional vocal style, eccentric production choices, and avant-garde aesthetic have made him a standout figure in hip-hop. Rather than leaning on lyrical density, Carti crafts moods, energy, and style—prioritizing sonic experience over structure.
With just four projects—one mixtape and three studio albums—Carti has curated a discography that’s both divisive and revered. In an era where streaming singles often eclipse albums, Carti has remained fiercely committed to the full-length format, creating works that thrive in their disorder and inventiveness.
The release of MUSIC, his most expansive and successful project yet, marked a new high in his career. Now, with the dust settling and a stadium tour on the way, it’s time to revisit Carti’s catalogue and rank every album from worst to best.
4. Playboi Carti (2017)
Carti’s self-titled debut mixtape was a defining moment in the SoundCloud era. With production from Pi’erre Bourne, Harry Fraud, Hit-Boy, and more, the tape is a colorful collection of breezy, hypnotic tracks that showcased Carti’s flair for minimalistic rap.
Tracks like “Magnolia,” “Flex,” and “Dothatshit!” turned repetition into an artform, and Carti’s ad-libs—seemingly tossed in at random—became iconic. His flows were airy, floating effortlessly over Nintendo-like production filled with bright synths and quirky samples. The tape caught a cultural wave and embodied the carefree, experimental spirit of the late 2010s.
Though not as ambitious or refined as his later works, Playboi Carti captured a moment and introduced a rapper who didn’t follow the rules, but rewrote them.
3. Die Lit (2018)
A major step forward, Die Lit remains a modern classic of the trap and SoundCloud generation. Pi’erre Bourne returns as executive producer, guiding the album’s fluid and melodic direction. With features from Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, and Skepta, the project elevated Carti’s star power while maintaining his underground edge.
From the instantly iconic “R.I.P.” to the melodic and emotive “Long Time” and high-octane “Shoota,” Die Lit is a masterclass in aesthetic cohesion. Carti’s delivery—at times muttered, squealed, or crooned—paired with spacey beats, turned the album into a moodboard of Gen Z nihilism and ecstasy.
This was the project where Carti honed his baby voice, embraced punk energy, and found a new level of artistic confidence. It’s unbothered and intentionally rough around the edges, which is exactly why it works.
2. MUSIC (2025)
MUSIC is Carti’s most ambitious and sprawling release to date. Clocking in at 30 tracks, it draws from nearly every phase of his career—combining the energy of his mixtape days, the vocal experimentation of Whole Lotta Red, and a polished, commercial-ready sound.
The album is packed with high-profile features, including Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, and Future, while boasting a dizzying roster of producers like Metro Boomin, Kanye West, Southside, and MIKE DEAN. MUSIC captures Carti at his most dynamic, playing with tempo, structure, and genre.
Whether it’s the stadium-ready “POP OUT,” the rage-fueled “OPM BABI,” or introspective cuts like “BACKD00R,” Carti shape-shifts effortlessly across the project. It’s a maximalist vision that feels like a culmination of everything he’s built so far. Despite a few loose ends, the album offers something for every type of Carti fan—and cements his place at the forefront of experimental rap.
1. Whole Lotta Red (2020)
Few albums have had as polarizing an initial reception as Whole Lotta Red. Dropped on Christmas Day after years of teasers and leaks, the album represented a bold and noisy reinvention of Playboi Carti.
Instead of leaning on familiar collaborators like Pi’erre Bourne, Carti turned to an entirely new cast of producers—F1LTHY, Lil 88, Art Dealer, and more—who helped him craft a gritty, punk-infused sonic world. From the abrasive opener “Rockstar Made” to the vampiric bounce of “Vamp Anthem,” the album is jarring and electric.
“Stop Breathing” is a highlight—Carti at his most intense and unfiltered. Features from Kanye West, Future, and Kid Cudi feel more like easter eggs than centerpieces. This is Carti’s show from start to finish, a dystopian vision full of screams, distortion, and raw emotion.
Whole Lotta Red isn’t just Carti’s best album—it’s a generational statement. Wild, fearless, and addictive, it redefined what hip-hop could sound like in the 2020s and influenced an entire wave of artists in its wake.
