Playboi Carti came to play with his new album Music. On Friday, the same day the rapper dropped his long-awaited third studio album, he also broke a Spotify record. The audio stre

With features from Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and, perhaps most notably, Kendrick Lamar, the album is a major statement for Carti, who has long commanded the adoration of hip-hop’s younger generation. With Music, He is cementing his position as one of the biggest names in the genre. Here are five takeaways from Playboi Carti’s new album Music .

Rage rap meets a soulful sample. There are times when clashing aesthetics and opposites attract, but this isn’t one, as Swamp Izzo’s tag feels overbearing. Carti touches on substance abuse, from using pills to ketamine, and even compares himself to Young Thug. “OPM Babi” could’ve been taken to another level. — MICHAEL SAPONARA