A year after the release of his debut mixtape, Atlanta rapper
Playboi Carti
issued his first official studio album,
Die Lit
. Featuring varied production by
IndigoChildRick
,
Maaly Raw
, and
Carti
himself, the set balances
's sing-rapping with playful triplet delivery in a style similar to
Lil Uzi Vert
Post Malone
Lil Yachty
.
also recruits an impressive list of guests like U.K. grime MC
Skepta
("Lean 4 Real"),
Travis Scott
("Love Hurts"),
Nicki Minaj
("Poke It Out"),
Bryson Tiller
("Fell in Luv"),
Chief Keef
("Mileage"),
Young Thug
("Choppa Won't Miss"), and more.
and
Minaj
emerge on top, pairing with
on the more memorable collaborations. Content-wise, there are few surprises, with graphic sex and youthful hedonism occupying much of the album's narrative. "R.I.P." boasts a big game about what he'd do to foes and their girls, while "Pull Up" delivers lightning-quick bars over skittering production that leans more heavily on random noises than on actual rhyming. Like
Rae Sremmurd
Migos
, these big-bass trap anthems owe much to their club-friendly vibe, but offer little in terms of substance or lasting impact. ~ Neil Z. Yeung