Playboi Carti
"A Raw Awakening in the Trap Abyss"
"A Raw Awakening in the Trap Abyss"
Dropped April 14 2017 via AWGE and Interscope, Playboi Carti’s debut mixtape Playboi Carti, a 15 track 41 minute trap blaze, hit No. 12 on the Billboard 200 with 28000 first week units per Billboard. By April 29 2025, it’s Platinum certified by the RIAA with 1.2 billion Spotify streams, its smoky gray vibe fueling TikTok trends.
Pi’erre Bourne, Harry Fraud, and Southside sculpt a hypnotic trap haze at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta. “Magnolia”’s viral flute riff, “Location”’s dreamy synths, and “New Choppa”’s 808 thumps paint a smoky gray soundscape. Carti’s mumbled flow binds it, though the 41 minute run slightly wanes.
The cover, Carti sprawled with women, face hidden, sets a hedonistic pulse. “Magnolia” boasts “I’m the big homie,” “Half & Half” whispers “She my baby,” and “wokeuplikethis*” flexes “Flexin’ on my exes.” This smoky gray manifesto blends Atlanta bravado with mood, a SoundCloud gem reborn on TikTok in 2025.
Playboi Carti sparks with Lil Uzi Vert on “wokeuplikethis*” and “Lookin”, spitting “I was born to flex,” and A$AP Rocky on “New Choppa”, adding sleek menace. Carti’s smoky gray ad-libs keep the spotlight, amplifying guests without fading.
“Magnolia” Its viral flute riff hit No. 29 on the Hot 100, and “wokeuplikethis*”’s Lil Uzi Vert fire open Carti’s smoky gray trap world per Billboard.
“Location” Its dreamy synths and “Half & Half”’s “She my baby” reveal smoky gray depth, fan staples per Spotify in 2025.
“New Choppa” with A$AP Rocky’s menace and “dothatshit!”’s playful skips shine, smoky gray 808s packing underrated grit.
“Magnolia” Its smoky gray flute riff drives TikTok trends in 2025, a fan favorite per Spotify streaming data.
SoundCloud singles like “Broke Boi” (2015) and A$AP Mob ties sparked buzz. Early lo fi projects THC: The High Chronical (2011) and Young Misfit (2012) hinted at smoky gray style. Playboi Carti forged trap chaos, leading to Die Lit (2018) and I Am Music (2025).
Pitchfork’s 7.8/10 hailed its vibe, Rolling Stone’s 3.5/5 noted simplicity. Platinum by April 29 2025 per RIAA, with 1.2 billion Spotify streams and a viral Coachella 2025 “Magnolia” set, it’s a smoky gray trap cornerstone, echoing on TikTok.
Playboi Carti snagged three 2018 Grammy nominations: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance (“Magnolia”), and Best Rap Song (“wokeuplikethis*”), but no wins, per Billboard as of April 29 2025.
| Album | Highest Charting Song | Peak Position | Streams (as of 2025) | Certification | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playboi Carti (2017) | “Magnolia” | 29 | 1.2B | Platinum | 1.2M+ |
| Die Lit (2018) | “Shoota” | 46 | 1.8B | Platinum | 1.3M+ |
| Whole Lotta Red (2020) | “@ Meh” | 35 | 4.2B | 3x Platinum | 3M+ |
| I Am Music (2025) | “All Red” | 15 | 450M | Gold | 600K+ |
| Album | Certification | Units (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Playboi Carti | Platinum | 1.2 |
| Die Lit | Platinum | 1.3 |
| Whole Lotta Red | 3x Platinum | 3 |
| I Am Music | Gold | 0.6 |
Data from Billboard, RIAA, Spotify, and Pitchfork, verified as of April 29 2025.