The most delayed rap album of the decade might also be one of its most explosive.

Few albums in rap history have been as feverishly awaited as Music, the long-teased third LP from Atlanta’s Playboi Carti. After 2020’s Whole Lotta Red flipped trap music on its head with distorted chaos and minimalist rage, Carti’s influence skyrocketed—birthing a new generation of rowdy rap acts like Yeat, Ken Carson, and more. He announced a follow-up barely three months later. Instead, fans endured four years of cryptic hints, missed deadlines, and endless anticipation. Now Music is finally here, and—miraculously—it delivers. Wildly eclectic and sonically unhinged, it might just cement Carti’s status as a modern trap legend.

This isn’t a space for introspection or moral compass. Carti’s lyrics are the usual cocktail of flexes, threats, and grimy bravado, often drifting into outright vulgarity. But his power lies not in what he says, but how he says it. Whether he’s whispering in a feather-soft falsetto (I Seeeeee You Baby Boi), barking with raspy menace (Evil J0rdan), or drawling like a cryptic dungeon master (Mojo Jojo), his voice becomes an instrument—twisted, elastic, and totally his own. The production follows suit, veering from pulverizing trap beats (Pop Out, Cocaine Nose) to warped soul samples (Backd00r), swirling ambient textures (Rather Lie), and even Hungarian psych rock (Philly). DJ Swamp Izzo acts as the rowdy host, shouting his name and hyping Carti like it’s a pirate radio broadcast, keeping things loose and unpredictable.

And the guests show up strong. Future is menacing on Trim, Travis Scott drops ghostly hooks on Philly, and The Weeknd brings pure pop magic to Rather Lie. But Kendrick Lamar steals the spotlight with shape-shifting appearances—from impish ad-libs to weary melodic laments—proving again why he’s one of the most dynamic voices in the game. Not everything hits. A few tracks (Walk, Dis 1 Got It) feel like filler, and Twin Trim wastes its potential. But over 30 songs and 77 minutes, Carti’s chaotic vision mostly holds. He doesn’t just ride the beat—he bends it to his will, often sidestepping it completely in freestyle bursts. Music is a messy, maximalist, and totally enthralling album—one that justifies the years of hype with a bold, genre-blurring triumph. Carti may have kept fans waiting, but he knew exactly what he was building.