Jordan Carter, or better known as “Playboi Carti ” was born September 13, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia to Mr. and Mrs. Carter. Carti used to go by Sir Cartier, until he was 17 and created the name Playboi Carti. Carti changed not only the rap game but the evolution of fashion. He’s been a part of the Atlanta rap game and frequently collaborated with artists in Atlanta’s underground rap scene like UnoTheActivist, Thouxanbanfauni, Yung Bans, and even Lil Yachty. He created a name for himself with his unique flow and energetic performances. His evolution as an artist began with his mixtapes, but it wasn’t until his Die Lit album that caught the eyes of the world.
Carti’s first self-titled mixtape was released on April 14, 2017, and was the start of the “Cash Carti” era. The “Cash Carti ” era refers to a time period in the beginning of his career where he gained a following and rose to fame. The mixtape gained lots of attention and helped establish his unique style and flow. Some popular songs from the mixtape include “Magnolia,” “wokeuplikethis*,” and “New Choppa.” It was well received by fans and played a significant role in expediting Carti’s career as a rapper.
Carti’s fame didn’t end here. About a year later, on May 11, 2018, Carti’s first album, Die Lit, debuted. This album received love from not only fans, but critics as well. Die Lit reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This album really confirmed his fame and security in stardom, he had “made it out the hood” and even gave back to his mother by mentioning her in songs like, “bought a crib for my mama.” You can also find several musical artists on the cover of this album as well, such as A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, and Nicki Minaj. Their presence on this cover ties together the overall appeal. This album showcased Carti’s growth not only as an artist, but a person as well. This was known as the end of “Cash Carti.” Fans loved the high-energy vibes and contagious beats that make Die Lit a major album in his discography.
Carti’s next and most current album is Whole Lotta Red. This album was released on December 25th, 2020, and includes a distinctive and experimental sound. Before this album, Carti had never experimented with any other beats. With Carti expanding boundaries and exploring musical genres, he created a new aesthetic and vision for himself. He dyed his hair red and started dressing in an “emo-ish” style. During this, Carti faced a ton of backlash, often being asked, “Did he sell his soul to the devil?” In this backlash, Carti stayed true to himself which resulted in some of the best tracks like “Meh,” “Slay3r,” “Sky,” and “New Tank.” When first released, the album received hate from both fans and critics for its delayed release, as well as its “goofy” beats, but as time passed, it grew in popularity, becoming a fan favorite.
After Carti took a step back from the rap game, he came back with a new label called Opium that features artists like Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homoxide Gang. It wasn’t until the creation of his label that Carti gained his following back. Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homoxide Gang had become almost the apostles of Opium and further developed the trend of the style. The “Opium” aesthetic and style is known as the modern version of rock/punk culture. It can typically be seen in nothing but black colors, big boots or shoes, and lots of metallic jewelry. Despite Carti having no recent releases, he is still influencing current trends and ever-changing the rap game.
