Maps of Music

Music (2025)

Where the lyrics of Music take you, and where it was really made.

Part of this album was recorded in a cave-like studio in Paris, yet its title went from Narcissist to Music to I Am Music and back to plain Music at release.

Key places

Recording in a cave-like studio in Paris (2025)

Recording site Pathé Marconi studios — Much of the album was recorded in a cave-like studio in Paris, where Carti spent three months immersed in the creative process. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Means Street Studios in Atlanta (2025)

Recording site DARP Studios (Atlanta) — Carti also recorded at DJ Drama's Means Street Studios in Atlanta, according to his November 2023 interview. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Music (also referred to as I Am Music): third studio album by American rapper Playboi Carti
• Released March 14, 2025 through AWGE and Interscope Records
• Trap album; a deeper, rougher vocal delivery replaces the "baby voice" of Whole Lotta Red
• Standard version: 30 tracks
• Guest artists: Travis Scott, the Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Jhené Aiko, Skepta, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dolla Sign, Young Thug
• Hosting by DJ Swamp Izzo
• Production: Ojivolta, Cardo, F1lthy, Bnyx, Kanye West, Maaly Raw, Metro Boomin, Wheezy, TM88, Southside
• Deluxe edition Music – Sorry 4 da Wait released March 25, 2025, with four additional tracks

Background

• Follows Whole Lotta Red (December 2020), which became Carti's first number-one album on the US Billboard 200
• Narcissist revealed as the initial title in August 2021; the set release date passed without a release
• In an April 2022 XXL interview, Carti said the title had changed to Music
• Much of the album was recorded in a cave-like studio in Paris and at DJ Drama's Means Street Studios in Atlanta
• Production from Ye revealed on November 17, 2024
• Completion announced March 9, 2025; release date confirmed March 12 after Spotify teasers

Recording

• According to DJ Swamp Izzo, recording continued until the night of release, with final adjustments made only hours before availability

Cover

• The cover kept the tentative title "I Am Music" even though the album was officially released as Music

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Jordan Terrell Carter, known as Playboi Carti, is an American rapper born in Atlanta, Georgia.
• He began his career in 2011 as Sir Cartier, self-releasing tracks on SoundCloud, and rebranded as Playboi Carti by 2013.
• He signed with Awful Records in 2014 and with ASAP Rocky's AWGE imprint, a joint venture with Interscope Records, in 2016.

Career

• His self-titled mixtape (2017) debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.
• His debut album Die Lit (2018) debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.
• Whole Lotta Red (2020) became his first number-one album on the Billboard 200.
• Carter's "Carnival" with Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign (2024) became his first number-one Billboard Hot 100 single.
• His third album Music (2025) became his second consecutive Billboard 200 number-one.
• He founded the label and collective Opium in 2019.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Generally positive reviews; critics praised the production and Carti's vocals, while some criticized inconsistency and runtime
• NME's Kyann-Sian Williams: a refinement that turns Carti's chaos into something cinematic
• The Guardian's Ben Beaumont-Thomas: praised an almost mystical level of vocal range and called the record "jaded"
• Sputnikmusic's Dakota West Foss: called the album "too much" and cited its messy, out-of-control nature as a weakness
• Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre: praised the range of vocal performances but criticized the overlong runtime, uneven quality control, and guest features
• Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves: praised Carti as an era-defining talent and highlighted his dramatic tonal shifts
• Slant Magazine's Charles Lyons-Burt: described it as thrillingly all-encompassing, while criticizing unfocused stretches
• AllMusic's Fred Thomas: wrote that it never feels cohesive enough to register as an album

Reappraisal

• Metacritic: generally favorable reviews, 73 out of 100 from ten critic scores
• AnyDecentMusic?: 6.8 out of 10 from eight critic scores
• Rolling Stone chose it as the 10th best album of 2025

Records

• Debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 298,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, including 14,500 pure album sales
• Carti's second number-one album and his fastest-selling album; the highest-selling rap album debut of 2025
• Number one on the UK Official Albums Chart, his first number one there
• Number one on the ARIA Album Chart in Australia and the Top 40 Albums Chart in New Zealand

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album's release was expected in January 2024, but that month passed without a release
• Carti posted his first tweet since 2022 to confirm the March 14, 2025 release date
• Rolling Stone named the album the 10th best album of 2025
• Recording included a cave-like studio in Paris and Means Street Studios in Atlanta
• The album was officially released as Music even though the cover kept the tentative title I Am Music

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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