Playboi Carti Reveals Details on Album, Opium Label, Lil Uzi Vert

If there’s one thing Playboi Carti can put his bottom dollar on, it’s that his fans are die-hard and have been watching social media feverishly for news on a follow-up to his Whole Lotta Red album and any other Carti-related venture that’s in the pipeline. As mysterious as he may seem, the elusive rapper unleashed many unheard truths in his cover story for XXL magazine’s Spring 2022 issue.

In early March, Playboi Carti spoke with XXL for his cover story in his hometown. During the conversation, he revealed details about his forthcoming album and its title, which he’s aptly named Music.

“I was about to name my album Music because that’s where I’m at, you know what I’m saying? Music,” he tells. “Music because that’s all it is at this point,” Carti adds.

The ATL rhymer also touches on his sound: one that some fans have described as a “baby voice.” A sound that has seemingly been adopted by some of Carti’s peers as well.

“Hmmm,” he says when asked if he’s offended by the “baby voice” descriptor his sound has been given by fans and music listeners alike. “I don’t know. I don’t judge. I can’t get mad at my fans for saying baby voice. That’s how it’s.”

Music will be Playboi Carti’s fourth album. Regarding the difference between this opus and his prior projects, (Playboi Carti, 2017; Die Lit, 2018; Whole Lotta Red, 2020), Carti explains, “Yeah, then it’s that. Like I said, it’s music. That’s what it’s for so everybody can just… I got a lot of people that I got to take care of so I’m here, forever. So, the music that I’m making is forever. I’ve been listening to Mayhem, The Weeknd, a lot of old Atlanta shit, ratchet shit. Do you think sometimes I need to dumb it down? Do people think I’m too ahead? Because sometimes I feel like dumbing it down makes more money.”

Additionally, Playboi Carti has a new track called “Wicked,” which has a sonic appeal unlike what fans have heard before. His voice has more depth this time, but Carti says it’s still true to himself.

“I have a lot to say, I’m ready to speak my mind and just let it all go,” he shares. “It’s me.”

On the album, transparency about Carti’s mental health is also a topic he divulges on when telling about the subject matter of his latest labor of love.

“Love. Sex. Drugs. Changes in my life,” he begins. “I’ve been rapping about going to rehab. I want to go to rehab because I think I’m bipolar. I want everybody to feel free. I want this album to make everyone feel free. I hope this album brings peace to the world, honestly. I’m in love with what I’m doing. Like I told you, you can’t put a genre alternative [on me]. My little brother told me that all the time.”

And then there’s Playboi Carti’s relationship with Lil Uzi Vert, a subject many had questions about dating as far back as 2020 when Carti dropped his single “@ Meh” and it appeared that their once impenetrable friendship may have had a few cracks in it. In response to the track, Lil Uzi Vert wrote on Twitter, “Just Meh.” For those wondering, it’s all good in the hood between the two multiplatinum-selling artists. They’re still as thick as thieves.

“I love Uzi,” Carti affirms. “I forgot to mention him. I love Uzi to death.”

The Carti-Uzi joint project, 16*29, isn’t just an idea that won’t ever materialize either.

“Uzi is working on mad music right now,” Carti expresses. “I don’t know if he’s serious about a lot of things. But I hope one day we can change the world with that, for sure.”

Playboi Carti has been making his mark ever since he had the music world in a trance with the Pierre Bourne-produced “Magnolia” in 2017. Now, he’s paying it forward by launching his own label, Opium, which is the home of artists like Ken Car$on and more.

“Opium is my label,” Carti states before offering details surrounding his musical imprint. “My artists that I have are Ken Car$on, Destroy Lonely and Homicide Beno! And Homixide Meechie. I have a gang of producers. I came in first just signing a gang of producers. Ken and Lonely, they are two kids who grew up where I’m from. And they are family. As they got older, they started rapping.

“I met Homicide about three years ago,” the former 2017 XXL Freshman adds. “And when I first got with them, my cousins, they good friends with them—boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. I had Beno! with me every day and one day he just sent me a song and I was just like, “Wow!” They’re superstars. I love them. They have my full focus. That’s it.”

Playboi Carti asserts that his musical journey is far from over and he’s set out to prove that notion with his new music.

Look out for Playboi Carti’s new cover, and check out the other interviews in the magazine with Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J, Fivio Foreign, Latto, DaBaby, Hit-Boy, Denzel Curry, Joey Bada$$, RZA, Big K.R.I.T., Saba, Morray, Nardo Wick, Kali, Sleepy Hallow, SSGKobe, ATL Jacob, Pink Sweat$, Saucy Santana, Jason Lee, Angie Randisi and Colby Turner when the issue hits newsstands later this month and XXL’s online shop.

See Playboi Carti’s XXL Magazine Spring 2022 Cover Story Exclusive Photos