Playboi Carti born Jordan Terrell Carter and previously known as $ir Cartier is a 25-year-old American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He gained traction with his 2017 self-titled mixtape. Playboi Carti, after being discovered and signed by A$AP Mob since which he has released two albums: Die Lit (2018) and Whole Lotta Red (2020).
Carti’s album “Whole Lotta Red” secured the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart in January 2021 after it was released on December 25, 2020. Prior to his 2017 mixtape, Playboi Carti released two mixtapes as Sir Cartier (THC: The High Chronicle and Young Mi$fit) releasing “Young Mi$fit at just 16 years of age.
Basically, if you haven’t heard his music, just wait, and if you haven’t seen him on your music feed, keep a lookout for him on TV, movies, and fashion too.
If you are new to Playboi Carti, check out this list of his top 15 songs. If you are an OG fan, what is your favorite Playboi Carti song? Did it make the list of Top 15 Playboi Carti Songs?
Top 15 Playboi Carti Songs
1. Magnolia
From the Playboi Carti mixtape, released in April 2017 “Magnolia” is arguably Playboi Carti’s biggest hit yet, with 169 million views and nearly 2 million likes on YouTube. “Magnolia” was one of Carti’s first singles and is one song connected to his rise in popularity.
“Magnolia” intros with a sample from The Jamie Foxx Show. “Yo Pierre, you wanna come out here” which is used as a producer tag for Pi’erre Bourne, one of Playboi Carti’s producers.
The song title refers to the Magnolia Projects in New Orleans, though the video shows Playboi Carti and his crew in New York City on the streets, in the club, in the barbershop, and being escorted away by police.
Expert Tip: The song reached #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spot #7 on the US Hot Rap Songs from Billboard.
2. Sky
“Sky” comes off of Playboi Carti’s 2020 Album, “Whole Lotta Red”. While the “Sky” Official Audio video on YouTube has 31 million views, the Official Music Video has an additional 46 million views, with a total of nearly 1.5 million likes on YouTube.
With a green-washed video of Carti and his boys storming a grocery store, the song is characterized by themes of sex, drugs, and numbness, citing. “I’m tryna get high til I can feel nothin’. I could fall out of the sky and I still won’t feel nothin’.”
“Sky” is an excellent example of Playboi Carti’s ability to capture the audience with repetitive lyrics, a catchy melody, and a hype vibe.
3. Wokeupliekthis* (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)
“Wokeuplikethis” is another single from Playboi Carti’s 2017 self-titled mixtape and currently sits at 78 million views on YouTube. The music video showcases the rapper in prison and also rapping alongside the featured artist, Lil Uzi Vert.
The song expresses Playboi Carti’s experience of waking up to others copping his style, aesthetically and musically. The song hit #76 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
#32 on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs from Billboard, and #25 on the Hot Rap Songs from Billboard, “wokeuplikethis” is a trap song, with a beat and flow that is sure to make you hit the replay button.
4. Shoota (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)
“Shoota” intros with Lil Uzi Vert rapping about his success and his lavish lifestyle, with Playboi Carti coming in afterward spitting lyrics about money, women, and implied gun violence. “Shoota” comes off of Playboi Carti’s 2018 Album “Die Lit” and currently has 46 million views on YouTube.
Expert Tip: The song moves away from his dark, mysterious vibe and displays his ability to spit hardcore lyrics alongside a bubbling melody. “Shoota” hit #46 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #25 on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs from Billboard.
5. R.I.P.
Off his “Die Lit” album “R.I.P.” has over 43 million views on YouTube. In this hype, punk-inspired anthem. Playboi Carti basically raps about how he can get what he wants when he wants. If you’ve seen the “Die Lit” album cover art, the “R.I.P.” music video will feel familiar.
This black and white video shows Playboi Carti in a mosh-pit of leather-clad rockers and is over three minutes of hardcore moshing. If you haven’t moshed before, the “R.I.P.” vibe and video will make you want to thrash.
6. New Choppa (ft. A$AP Rocky)
With over 29 million YouTube views, “New Choppa” was an earlier release for Carti off his ‘Playboi Carti” mixtape. “New Choppa” showcases his trap rap style. Playboi Carti and A$AP Rocky alternate verses but rap the chorus together.
One of his most creative and involved videos yet, we see Carti and Rocky, alongside a handful of beautiful women, shooting pistols and ARs in the desert.
7. @MEH
Pronounced, “at me” this song is a swift change from the trap sound of “New Choppa.” “@MEH” displays an upbeat melody and high-pitched vocals. The song has over 27 million views on YouTube and was released to promote his second studio album. “Whole Lotta Red.”
Despite the upbeat sound of this song, the lyrics outline his dangerous side, as he calls out rivals who “ain’t bout that S**V. The upbeat sound also contrasts the dark video in which we see the silhouette of both Playboi Carti and a woman twerking.
Expert Tip: @MEH reached spot #35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #17 on the US Hot R&B/ Hip- Hop Songs by Billboard.
8. Fell In Luv (ft Bryson Tiller)
Playboi Carti raps alongside the Louisville, KY-born rapper, Bryson Tiller, for his hit “Fell in Luv.” The song is off his “Die Lit” album and currently has over 30 million views on YouTube. Playboi Carti opens and closes the song, with Tiller rapping and singing the middle verses.
The song follows one of Playboi Carti’s most popular themes: sex. However “Fell In Luv” shows a less abrasive view of the women he raps about since in this song he’s “Fell in Luv.”
9. Yah Mean
“Yah Mean” comes from the “Playboi Carti” mixtape. The song follows Carti’s common themes of drugs, women, sex, and money and displays his upbeat sound and repetitive lyrical style.
Though there is no official music video, the official audio video on YouTube has over 22 million views and is simply a red screen, a common color displayed throughout Playboi Carti’s wardrobe and other music videos.
10. Location
“Location” was released on Playboi Carti’s self-titled 2017 mixtape and currently has over 19 million views on YouTube. “Location” is Carti’s softest and chilliest hit named so far, giving definite “high on that Indica” vibes. The song contains samples of “Endomorph” by Allan Holdsworth.
The “Location” lyrics outline Carti’s style and the “Location” title comes from his poems. “Pull up I sent the location.”
11. Vamp Anthem
“Vamp Anthem” opens with Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” a common piece played on the organ in horror movies that give flashbacks to Dracula. It brings a creepy and ominous vibe to the song, which musically reflects the aesthetic vibe of its album, “Whole Lotta Red.”
This song is one of Playboi Carti’s shorter songs, clocking in at only two minutes and four seconds. Despite the short length, this song strongly illustrates Playboi Carti’s darker tones and is one reason that Carti is known as mysterious, dark, and “gothic.” “Vamp Anthem” showcases Playboi Cart’s musical range and unique style.
12. ILoveUlHateU
From his “Whole Lotta Red” album, “ILoveUlHateU” has over 16 million views and over 264 thousand likes on YouTube, despite only being an audio video and not an official music video. Playboi Carti raps about drugs, including Pills, Oxy, E. Molly, Codeine, and Promethazine, making it one of his more explicit songs related to drugs.
Further, the chorus lyrics “I mix all of my problems and Prometh” until I roll on my death bed” make “ILoveUlHateU” one of his darkest songs yet.
13. M3tamorphosis (ft. Kid Cudi)
Playboi Carti raps alongside Kid Cudi for his hit “M3tamorphosis.” Cudi brings a trance-like vibe to the song, introing with vocals that sound like Gregorian chanting. Don’t worry though. Carti’s lyrics and higher-pitched rapping hype the trance-like song way up, not to mention that Kid Cudi brings the hype for his verses too.
Expert Tip: “M3tamorphosis” comes from Carti’s album “Whole Lotta Red” and has 13 million views and 284 likes on YouTube.
14. Poke It Out (ft Nicki Minaj)
“Poke It Out” currently has over 12 million views on YouTube. “Poke It Out” is not only an upbeat and bubbly hit but also Playboi Carti’s biggest hit featuring a female rapper, which is ironic since he dated a female rapper. Iggy Azalea, off-and-on for two years and even fathered her child.
In addition to appearing on Carti’s “Die Lit” album, this song also appears on Season 43 of Saturday Night Live, when Nicki Minaj brought Playboi Carti with her to perform this song.
15. Stop Breathing
Another song describes Playboi Carti’s aesthetic and sexual appeal, he begins the song. “I take my shirt off and the hoes stop breathin’.” Despite the self-confident intro lyrics, this song is actually one of Playboi Carti’s darkest and most lyrically powerful.
He raps, “Ever since my brother died. I’ve been thinkin’ bout homicide.” giving fans a glimpse into a more vulnerable and mentally depleted side. He also lists his homies still in jail and how he keeps himself and his circle safe.
Carti moves away from his more upbeat and higher-pitched rap vibes for this dark and intense song, with harsher lyrics and harsher vocals. Arguably one of Playboi Carti’s most unique songs. “Stop Breathing” brings the heat and leaves an impression.
Playboi Carti has produced some big hits and rapped alongside a lot of big names. He continues to grow in his music and stands out for his melodies, vocals, and freestyle- sound. His musical style, lyrics, and aesthetic fittingly match one of his most prominent tattoos: anarchy.
Which side of Playboi Carti do you like most? His songs are characterized by his upbeat, cheerful melodies matched by high-pitched vocals. Carti’s hype, trap songs? Or is it his darker, ominous vibe matched by harsh vocals and a melody that makes you want to mosh? Or maybe it is a little mix of it all.
Nonetheless, it is needless to say that Playboi Carti is more than just one type of musical artist. If you hadn’t heard of Playboi Carti now you have. But again I say: just wait. There will certainly be more to come. Did I mention that Playboi Carti has a new album in the works as we speak? What was your favorite Playboi Carti song? Did it make the top 15 cuts?