The sole purpose of self titled projects should be bringing you into the world of the artist, right? Helping you understand who they are and what they have to bring to the table. Whether that be what they’re capable of or the potential they have. Basically, their story. Playboi Carti, the artist, has had appeal since early on in his career. The appeal itself is about as clichè as hip hop could get. Adlibs (so much adlibs), topics ranging from expensive clothes to how many bad b****es he f***s, beats that are loud and obnoxious at surface level. Core fans will tell you the tedious rollout this mixtape went through for years but the better topic would be the sound Carti developed for the project.

The lead single, Wokeuplikethis*, is essentially the perfect introduction of the punk rock influenced aesthetic that Carti carries throughout his career. It was the breakthrough for Carti and Pi’erre Bourne individually to the mainstream audience, thanks to the guest Lil Uzi Vert appearance. The production on the tape is majority handled by Bourne and to this day but at the time especially, the beats were a breath of fresh air. They’re very video game and 2000s cartoon influenced and it makes for a really fun and nostalgic listen.

Location sets the tone of everything with space driven synths produced by Harry Fraud. I find it a little out of place in the grand scheme of the tracklist but if there’s anywhere it would fit, it’s as the opener. No better way to follow than the smash 2017 hit, Magnolia. Resurrecting the milly rock dance craze and dominating the entire summer, this was the initial household name moment for Carti. 2 back to back Uzi features are some of the only guest verses on the project. The previously mentioned Wokeuplikethis and the pretty but stagnant Lookin.

Let It Go is a fan favorite to this day and a snippet few fans can recall. The snippet was ultimately the biggest teaser we had for the actual mixtape. Very gritty instrumental with an eerie reversed melody and insane 808s. Bangers back to back with the Southside produced Half & Half and New Choppa featuring an A$AP Rocky verse. Southside also handles production on the second to last track Kelly K. Fun, catchy, and even gorgeous. Other S*** is a song carried by the instrumental. Not that Carti doesn’t carry his own, but the Hit Boy produced beat has so much to offer. No. 9 is one of my favorites even though it’s so repetitive. Something about the Chrono Trigger-esque flutes and the stuttering flow Carti has is super entertaining.

3 awesome Pi’erre Bourne produced tracks follow after. My favorite being Yah Mean. Euphoric synths and signature drum bounce. Pure ear candy. “Money sittin tall Yao Ming” is a bar and idc that’s that. Flex sees Carti at some of his most vulnerable but he keeps all his swag. He sounds proud of himself. The Leven Kali vocal performance is absolutely beautiful, as if the beat wasn’t already. Easily one of the highlights of the record. Such an important song in Carti’s discography soundwise. And finally, we end with Had 2. A nice ode to Carti’s sound prior to this mixtape. It sees the only song produced by long time collaborator MexikoDro. Great finish to a great body of work.

The tape does its job well in introducing you to the sound Carti has to offer. It made for a lot of my favorite memories in 2017 which is probably the best year of my life. Every song has a special place in my heart and the tape should be the standard for how great a debut project should be. Good s***.

8/10
Favorite Tracks: Flex, Yah Mean, Let It Go
Least Favorite: Lookin

raw thots on this masterpiece?

briefly discussed on page 1

favorite tracks being venetia, bust me, and lo mein. least favorite secure the bag. very worth the wait

damn im blind

cutest blind guy ive met🙈

ea artwork is so awesome i cant believe nerds really hated on it and wanted 1 or 3 over it lmao

Dont think anything except pnd dropping Friday. Not too excited but eh Im sure it’ll have some nice songs

Everyone please listen to Yung Mal - 6 Rings

Hardest tape you’ve heard this year. Got overshadowed bc it dropped on the same day as EA but believe me, its crazy good

gave s/t a 8 but die lit 10....

Raw

thots

He right

Review Friend or Foux brr

Let it go best carti song tho

air bnb lackin on no rodeo or dbr review yet

or flex

shut the fk up

Maybe soon

Rt

I like it but I like it more as a placeholder for the next Thug or Carti projects more than I like it as its own body of work. Length is nice but it definitely does have alot of songs. The highs are crazy though and the production is super fire. Its fun to hear all the cool stuff he does with his voice

6/10
Favorite Tracks: Girl at Home, Elon Musk, So Psyked
Least Favorite: Whole New Wave

Nice. S*** got crazy replay value too, bro got potential

Most definitely! Its only up from here for him