Playboi Carti turned heads and lit up livestreams during his headlining set at Rolling Loud Los Angeles on Sunday (March 16), when he handed influencers Kai Cenat and Dabo his custom “YVL” chain onstage. The moment went viral almost instantly, with Kai and Dabo reacting wildly, showing off the chain backstage and posting photos online. Carti’s “YVL” piece—representing his “Young Vamp Life” persona—is more than just flashy jewelry. It's a gothic symbol of the artist’s mysterious, vampiric aesthetic that echoes through his music and fashion.
PLAYBOI CARTI JUST GAVE DABO AND KAI CENAT HIS YVL CHAIN 😭🔥pic.twitter.com/0YEqMwPtBk
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) March 17, 2025
The performance came on the heels of Carti’s latest album, I Am Music, which critics are already calling one of the most daring hip-hop releases of the year. Featuring 30 genre-defying tracks and collaborations with stars like Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott, the project embraces Carti’s self-made mythology. The track “Y0UNG VAMP L0VE” makes a direct nod to his “Young Vamp Life” mantra, and the gifting of the chain symbolically extends that legacy.
“Musically, I Am Music pushes boundaries,” the article notes, with Carti blending classic Atlanta rap with industrial synths, electropop textures, and unorthodox song structures. Guest spots from Lil Uzi Vert and Kendrick Lamar only add to its depth. Critics have praised the album’s ambition, calling it “a sound that defies easy categorization” and proof that Carti is “rewriting the rules.” With his latest era in full swing, Carti is not only embracing his evolution—he’s handing the next generation a piece of it.
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