Playboi Carti set to drop "I Am Music" after four-year odyssey with producer Cardo

"It's been crazy fun," says producer Cardo on crafting Playboi Carti's highly anticipated new album.

Playboi Carti's upcoming album "I Am Music" has been a labor of love and creativity, evolving over four years in collaboration with producer Cardo. 

In a recent interview with Lucid Monday at SXSW, Cardo shared his excitement about the project, describing the experience as both "crazy" and "fun."

"I’m going to Atlanta to finish up Carti’s stuff. It’s been crazy — in a good way. It’s been crazy fun, just being able to wake up and he decides to drop a song you produced. It’s weird," Cardo explained. 

He has known Carti since 2016, but their collaborative effort on this album marks a significant period of their careers spent crafting what promises to be an explosive release.

Earlier this year, during a conversation with Billboard, Cardo expressed his close bond with Carti. 

"That’s my little brother, man. Just being around him, the young one, you know, and gaining some kind of different kind of energy and inspiration from what he’s doing, seeing what levels he’s going on, it kind of gives me an idea of what levels I should just keep going,” he stated, highlighting the inspirational exchange between the two.

The excitement for "I Am Music" surged when Carti appeared on streamer Adin Ross’s Kick channel, promising an album that is both "mindblowing" and his "very best." 

Despite releasing several singles earlier this year, including "2024" produced by Kanye West, "Backr00ms" featuring Travis Scott, and "H00dByAir," Carti has recently retreated from the public eye and even canceled his Antagonist Tour.

Nevertheless, 2023 remains a standout year for Carti, punctuated by high-profile collaborations such as "Carnival," a track with Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign featuring Carti and Rich The Kid, which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Another collaboration, "Type Shit" with Future, Metro Boomin, and Travis Scott from the album "We Don’t Trust You," also made a significant impact, peaking at No. 2 and earning a gold plaque.

As fans eagerly await the full release of "I Am Music," the excitement and speculation continue to build around what is poised to be one of the most anticipated albums in the rap community.