Playboi Carti is stealing the spotlight once more, and honestly, isn’t that the kind of drama we live for in the music world? With the highly anticipated release of his album I AM MUSIC set for March 14, the rap community is buzzing. The excitement is so palpable you can almost taste it—like those spicy chips everyone pretends not to eat after midnight! And when a figure like Kanye West jumps in to rally behind Carti, you know it’s a big deal. Seriously, name any major artist, and I bet they’re either on this project or cheering Carti from the sidelines like his personal hype squad. Now, if you’ve ever wondered what makes Carti such a hot commodity in the game—his distinctive style and offbeat flair certainly contribute, but it’s more than that. Kanye, who’s thrown in his weight as both a collaborator and fan, even dubbed him a “Don.” You see, this isn’t just any album drop; it’s a historic moment where musical legacies intertwine! So, grab your favorite snacks, folks, ’cause we’re diving into the world where playfulness meets profound artistry, where every beat is a heartbeat in the ever-evolving narrative of hip-hop.
Playboi Carti is the man of the hour. He’s confirmed that I AM MUSIC is releasing on March 14, and the rap world is rallying around him. Name a famous artist, and they are either involved with the album or are praising Carti for his singular vision. Kanye West happens to be someone who falls under both camps. He got on Instagram shortly after I AM MUSIC was announced, and made it clear that he is team Carti. West claimed that the rapper was not only a star, but a “Don” who descended from his musical family tree.
Kanye West has since deleted the Instagram post, but the co-sign was screenshoted and shared all over the internet. The rapper reposted the video revealing I AM MUSIC‘s released date and gave his blessing, Mafia style. “Only Dons come from Donda,” he wrote in the caption. The play on words not only hints at the nobility he’s affixed to Playboi Carti, but the musical lineage he feels they share. Kanye West makes reference to his late mother, Donda West. Fittingly, Carti appeared on “Off the Grid,” a standout song on West’s Donda album.
It’s impossible to know how many changes I AM MUSIC has gone through since it was first announced. We do know, however, that Kanye West has been involved with the album at different junctures. Playboi Carti announced that West is a producer on the album in November. “Shout out to my n**ga Kanye, you know what I’m saying,” the rapper told a Las Vegas audience. “He over here making beats and sh*t. That album gonna be [great], I can’t wait to show y’all n**gas.” A month earlier, Carti blew up Instagram by teasing new songs with West. “Ye can’t wait 2 show the world what we been working on wit dis album,” Carti posted. “We da real 5L no doubt.”
Kanye West has been similarly complimentive of Carti throughout the years. The rapper gushed about the ways in which Carti pushed sonic boundaries during his 2021 appearance on Drink Champs. In his estimation, Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert are the future of music. “It’s always two,” he told host N.O.R.E. “Always two at a time. It’s really Carti and Uzi. Given that West had just scored a feature on Carti’s 2020 single “Go2DaMoon,” we can understand the sentiment.