Playboi Carti is the most elusive person in hip-hop. That’s saying a lot for as long as Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar have existed. When it comes to things to do with the album, Cardi stands head and shoulders above the other two and then does the complete opposite. He’s been teasing the release of I Am Music for a few years now, but it feels like we’re still far from it becoming a reality. Or maybe it drops during the holidays, like Whole Lotta Red. Playboi Carti loves to confuse his fans, and he did it again on December 18th.
Playboi Carti decided to post a new photo of himself with Metro Boomin on Instagram. The two posed together in front of a Jeep, with Cardi covering her face with a hat. No collaborations were mentioned, but Cardi did write “Me N Tro 2 Tough Fr.” We all knew Playboi Carti was working on a new album, so the decision to collaborate with Metro Boomin felt very intentional. The rapper knew this would draw attention to “I Am Music.” Playboi Carti and Metro Boomin have proven to be a formidable duo in the past. They collaborated with NAV on “Minute” and Future and Travis Scott on “Type Sh*t.” Cardi also appeared on “Popular,” a song that was dropped from Metro’s Heroes vs Villains album.
Playboi Carti poses with Metro Boomin
Metro Boomin is the latest superstar to be teased as an “I AM MUSIC” collaborator. Playboi Carti hinted at upcoming collaborations with musicians including Lil Baby and Mustard on Instagram last week. He posted screenshots of a text message conversation with Lil Baby’s manager, hinting that the rapper plans to make contact in the near future. Playboi Carti also posted a screenshot of Mustard’s Instagram DM. The man who produced “Not Like Us” suggested that he and Cardi join forces to create some magic in the studio.
And then there’s the aforementioned Kanye West. Metro Boomin announced that West will serve as a producer on “I AM MUSIC” during their recent Las Vegas show. “Shout out to my black person Kanye, you know what I’m talking about,” the rapper said. “He’s making beats and shit here. That album is going to be [wild]I can’t wait to show you n**gas. Like this, who knows?
About the author
Elias Andrews is the music and entertainment writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH in 2024 as chief night writer, which means he covers new releases every week. In the year since joining, Elias has covered some of the biggest, most tumultuous stories in music. He’s been covering Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s battle on the fly, especially with the release of topics like “Family Matters” and “Meet the Grahams.” He also detailed a list of ongoing allegations and criminal charges against Diddy. Elias’ favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808s Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He likes L.A. hip-hop, but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he bought was Will Smith’s “Big Willie Style,” which he thinks still sounds great.
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