On Dec 25, 2020, rapper Playboi Carti released his well-anticipated album “Whole Lotta Red” and after the release, he was met with an onslaught of hate. Carti switching from his past melodic vibe to punk-rap style sounds led people to create memes like ‘Whole Lotta Skips’ and ‘Whole Lotta Trash’, but throughout the past year due to ferocious concerts, and second listens mass amounts of people have formed completely new opinions on the record.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Rockstar Made”

This isn’t an experimental track. It is exactly what you are going to get out of the album and a quite remarkable version of it. It’s loud and in your face. It’s Carti! After over a two-year wait showing the fans his excitement to put out a project. It’s seeing your best friend after a few years and them having a completely different style and energy. This song is the moment in the movie when the main character gets the big glow up. The switch from what some call “Cash Carti” to “Vamp Carti” wasn’t a long and slow-moving one. It is apparent and immediate in this track. 

“Go2DaMoon” featuring Kanye West

This album features a total of three people. All of them are Carti’s idols. This track features the ever-exuberant Kanye West delivering a complex beat and verse. The track pulls from Kanye’s changing sound and Carti’s aggressive new attire, flaunting common themes from both of their careers. Go2DaMoon was widely appreciated upon initial release. Kanye executive produced the album as well. This song’s equal balance of the two vastly different styles ranks it high on the tracklist.

“Stop Breathing”

Stop Breathing pays homage to artist Gucci Mane’s “Shirt Off” but incorporates Carti’s newfound punk rock swagger. The track maintains this almost piercing bass that intensifies the feeling of the song. While being a diss at another artist the song was one of the first people started to gravitate towards. The track’s opening lyrics even became a Tik Tok trend.

 “JumpOutTheHouse”
 “Jump out the house! Jump out the house! Jump out the house!”

“Metamorphosis” featuring Kid Cudi
“Metamorphosis” is a transformation from an immature form to an adult form. Carti literally describes his metamorphosis and the fact that it has already occurred. Kid Cudi talks about his evolution as well. The track is Carti’s explanation for this sudden change and how nobody can tell him otherwise. It comes off incredibly well, the heavy synth is new from Carti and it is well-engineered the whole way through. Overall one of the best songs off this record.

“New tank”

As stated, “New tank” feels like Carti is driving in on a tank. The beat’s bass is like the tank he is driving in, the wheel rolling on the hard sediment. This song does well in immersing you in the punk-rap culture, and truly isn’t for everyone. It’s quick, there’s one verse and the chorus is repeated only twice. Despite that, this song propelled the overall morale on the album. Carti would open with this high-energy track and automatically get everyone jumping. 

“Teen X” featuring Future 

Teen X was a disappointing track, not because of the repetitive lyrics but the song as a whole. The Future verse, as expected, was boring and bland, just the same predictable trap verse. While I applaud producer Maaly Raw for the experimental beat, it just didn’t cut it. The main instrument used to make it angered me a bit, it blended with Carti’s signature baby voice too much and sounded very obnoxious. 

“Meh”

Meh beautifully mixes Carti’s old trap sound with his new punk rock vibe. The minute the beat comes on you feel as if “Cash Carti” is back. The song’s heavy bass reminds me of Lil Yachty’s “Count Me In ” track off of his album “Lil Boat Two”. In true Carti fashion, he raps about new designer clothes, and supercars he’s recently purchased. Even though it feels as if he is aligned with new priorities, Carti does well to mix the two eras. He mixes the beat to perfection and adds older lyrics with some of his newer adlibs.

“Vamp Anthem”

Vamp anthem samples Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” and is without question the most enthralling track on this project. It was the one that instantly hit Tik Tok. It was the most identifiable, instantly being recognized upon listening. Producer Jasper Harris took a risk with this track that paid off in more ways than one. Carti’s new style mixed with this incredible beat creates magic. 

“New Neon”
Producer Maaly Raw redeems himself with this beautiful track. New neon is an older leak but still such an astounding listen. For fans not enjoying the change, this song is definitely for them. This is not a callback, it’s going straight back in time. Carti performed this at a concert back in 2018 but never released it, well now he has.

“Sky”
The coveted “Sky” is a song that was loved and memed upon release of the album. The “Wake up, it’s the first of the month” line being posted as a joke used on the first of every month. “Sky” is popular and for good reason. The neo-punk trap sound on the beat is beyond sublime.

“Over”
This hit is not the final song on the album but it is a proper ending. It’s the morning after the sleepover, your parents are on their way, or that end of the summer feeling. The energy begins to calm. It’s synth-heavy and introduces a beat that just adds a slightly depressing tone. No anticipation of anything, just the repeating synth instrumental. That doesn’t stop it from being more than a fantastic song.

“Whole lotta red” has its misses but so does every other album. Some of the songs are for an incredibly specific type of person, but Carti does well in incorporating the old style with the new flow, and sometimes even just bringing out the old version. It takes a second maybe even a third listen, but it’s fun and different and keeps you awake. If you want “Cash Carti” listen to “Die Lit” or “Self-titled”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t cover every song on the album, so here it is if you want to listen yourself.