Jordan Terrell Carter (born September 13, 1995, or 1996),[a] known professionally as Playboi Carti, is an American rapper. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion,[9][10] he is considered an influential figure in modern hip-hop and a pioneer of the rage microgenre.[11][12]
Carter's debut studio album Die Lit (2018) saw further commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200. Following a two-year hiatus, his second studio album, Whole Lotta Red (2020), debuted atop the chart and received positive reviews; it was listed among the year's best albums by Rolling Stone and The Washington Post, with Rolling Stone ranking it as one of the greatest hip-hop albums.[14][15][16][17] He guest performed on ¥$'s 2024 single "Carnival", which became his first song to top the Billboard Hot 100. Carter's third studio album, Music (2025), received positive reviews and became his second consecutive number-one album on the Billboard 200.[18]
Aside from his recording career, Carter founded the record label and rap collective Opium in 2019, through which he has signed aesthetically-similar fellow Atlanta-based rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely, as well as the trap duo Homixide Gang.[19]
Early life
Jordan Terrell Carter was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 13, 1995 or 1996,[a] and grew up in the nearby suburb of Riverdale.[20][21] He has one older brother and attended North Springs Charter High School in Sandy Springs.[20][22] In a 2016 interview with Complex, Carter stated that he had little interest in pursuing higher education or military service, instead seeking ways to make money.[23] Before beginning his rap career, Carter aspired to play professional basketball.[20][24] In an interview with The Fader, he recalled focusing on basketball during his youth but eventually quit the sport following a disagreement with his coach.[20] He then began dedicating more time to music, sometimes skipping class to record songs or work at an H&M.[25]
Carter developed an interest in music at a young age, first participating in choir, which he admitted he initially joined to meet girls but later found creatively inspiring.[26] During his teenage years, he began rapping under the name Sir Cartier and recording songs influenced by Wiz Khalifa, Currensy, and Odd Future, releasing projects and music videos that circulated locally in Atlanta.[20] His earliest videos show him performing in South Atlanta strip malls and parking lots with friends, and he credited his older brother with introducing him to Gucci Mane and other Atlanta rappers who shaped his early style.[20]
Alongside music, Carter developed a strong interest in fashion. He recalled being among the first in his neighborhood to wear skinny jeans and ride a skateboard, drawing inspiration from punk aesthetics he observed at Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark.[27] He frequently shopped at thrift stores, experimenting with clothing that set him apart from peers, sometimes attracting ridicule for his unconventional style.[28] He later said he rarely attended school in his later high school years, focusing instead on recording and attempting to secure a record deal, which prevented him from being recognized in categories such as "best dressed" despite cultivating a reputation for fashion among classmates.[25] At 18, he left Atlanta for New York City, where he lived with family and friends while further pursuing a music career.[20]
Career
Carter performing in November 2016
2011–2016: Career beginnings
Carter began his musical career under the moniker Sir Cartier in 2011, initially uploading his early tracks on SoundCloud.[6] By 2013, he rebranded himself as Playboi Carti and expanded his reach by sharing his music on platforms like Newgrounds.[29] In 2014, after meeting fellow Atlanta native, Ethereal, a producer and member of the underground collective Awful Records, Carter soon joined the Awful roster.[30] Carter credits Ethereal with helping him discover and develop his distinctive sound.[31] As Carter committed to pursuing music full-time, he made the significant decision to relocate to New York City, where he temporarily stayed with a drug dealer he knew.[23][32] During this time, he frequently encountered members of the influential ASAP Mob, eventually meeting ASAP Bari, who introduced him to ASAP Rocky.[32] This connection was instrumental in Carter's career, leading him to accompany Rocky on a trip to Texas, marking the beginning of his rise in the music industry.[23][1]
In 2015, Carter began attracting widespread attention with the release of his singles "Broke Boi" and "Fetti", featuring Dash and Maxo Kream. These tracks, shared on SoundCloud, quickly gained traction within the underground scene.[28] Concurrently, Carter was actively collaborating with artists in Atlanta's burgeoning underground rap scene, including UnoTheActivist, Thouxanbanfauni, Yung Bans, Lil Yachty, as well as producers MexikoDro and Icytwat.[33] In 2016, he officially signed to ASAP Rocky's AWGE imprint, a joint venture with Interscope Records.[1][34] Later that year, he'd support ASAP Ferg on the Turnt & Burnt Tour[35] and to co-headline the Left Right Tour alongside Lil Uzi Vert.[36] Carter was featured on two tracks from ASAP Mob's debut studio album, Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends, released on October 31, 2016. He contributed to "Telephone Calls" alongside ASAP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, and Yung Gleesh, and appeared on "London Town" with ASAP Rocky and ASAP Ant.[37]
2017–2020: Self-titled mixtape, Die Lit, and Whole Lotta Red
In May 2018, Carter released his debut studio album, Die Lit. Marketed with no radio play or much press coverage, it was a commercial success and was positively reviewed by several publications.[57] To support the album, Carti embarked on the Die Lit Tour during the summer of 2018, performing across various cities in North America.[58][59][60] Later that year, in August 2018, Carter announced his second studio album, Whole Lotta Red, which would be released two years later.[61] During the next two years, numerous tracks, including "Pissy Pamper" were leaked online, amassing tens of millions of streams unofficially.[62] Carter did not release any new original music during this period, though he was featured on several songs, including "Baguettes in the Face" with Nav and A Boogie wit da Hoodie from Mustard's album Perfect Ten, "Almeda" by Solange, from her album When I Get Home, and "Earfquake" by Tyler, the Creator, from his album Igor,[63][64][65] as well as opening up for ASAP Rocky's Injured Generation Tour[66] and Wiz Khalifa's Decent Exposure Summer Tour.[67] In the same year, Carter launched his own imprint, under the name of Opium.[68]
In April 2020, Carter broke his musical silence by releasing the single "@ Meh", which peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.[69] The following month, Carter appeared on Drake's mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes, on the song "Pain 1993", which debuted at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Carter's first entry into the chart's top ten.[70] In November 2020, Carter announced that Whole Lotta Red was complete and had been submitted to his label.[71] The following month, Carter was featured on Lil Yachty's deluxe album Lil Boat 3.5 on the track "Flex Up", alongside Future.[72] In December 2020, Carter released his second studio album, Whole Lotta Red, on Christmas Day,[73][74] after announcing its release date four days earlier.[75] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming Carter's first chart-topping album on the chart.[76]Rolling Stone deemed it "one of the most forward-thinking rap records since Yeezus", and later crowned it the best rap album of 2021.[77] In 2022, the magazine also included it in "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time".[17] To support the album, Carter embarked on the King Vamp Tour, originally titled the Narcissist Tour, for fall 2021.[78]
On March 10, 2021, just three months after Whole Lotta Red was released, Carter hinted at a new album on Instagram.[79] By August 2021, he had revealed the album's title, Narcissist, and set a release date for September 13, although the date ultimately passed without the album's release.[80] In June 2021, Carter was featured on Pi'erre Bourne's "Switching Lanes", from his The Life of Pi'erre 5,[81] and Lil 1 Dte's single "Homixide".[82] In August of the same year, he appeared on ABRA's song "Unlock It"[83] and contributed to several tracks on Kanye West's album Donda, including "Off the Grid", "Junya" and "Junya Pt 2".[84] In July 2022, Carter served as an executive producer for his signee, Ken Carson's album X.[85] In March 2023, Carter performed an unreleased track at Rolling Loud California.[86] In June 2023, Carter collaborated with the Weeknd and Madonna on the song "Popular", which was originally released as the lead single for the cancelled soundtrack album, The Idol, Vol. 1.[87][88] In July 2023, Carter performed "Pop Out", which later appeared on Music, at Wireless Festival.[89] Later that month, Carter appeared on Travis Scott's album Utopia, on the track "Fein".[90]
On December 8, 2023, Carter released the track "Different Day" through the Opium Instagram account, accompanied by a full-length music video.[91][92] In the following weeks, Carter released a series of promotional singles ahead of his third studio album, Music: "2024" on December 14,[93] "HBA" on December 19,[94] "Backr00ms" featuring Travis Scott on January 1, 2024,[95] and "Evil J0rdan" on January 15.[96] In February 2024, Carter made a guest appearance during Travis Scott's performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[97] Later that month, he was featured on Kanye West's and Ty Dolla Sign's album Vultures 1 on the tracks "Carnival" and "Fuk Sumn", with "Carnival" becoming his first chart-topping single.[98][99] In March 2024, Carter released the sixth promotional single for Music, "K Pop", through the Opium Instagram account.[100] The same month, he was featured on Metro Boomin's and Future's song "Type Shit", from their album We Don't Trust You,[101] as well as featuring on Camila Cabello's single "I Luv It", from her album C,XOXO.[102] In August 2024, Carter was featured on Kanye West's and Ty Dolla Sign's Vultures 2, on the track "Field Trip".[103][104] In September 2024, Carter released the single "All Red", marking his first solo streaming release since 2020's "@ Meh".[105] Later that month, Carter collaborated with the Weeknd on the song "Timeless", as the lead single for Weeknd's album Hurry Up Tomorrow.[106]
On December 15, 2024, Carter performed at Rolling Loud in Miami; he had announced weeks prior that he intended to play Music during his one hour and fifteen minute set,[107][108] ultimately, he played five new songs.[109] In March 2025, Carter released his third studio album, Music, after following teasers by Spotify.[110][111][112] It became his second consecutive number-one record on the Billboard 200, with 290,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week.[113] Later that month, Carter released the album's deluxe edition, titled Music - Sorry 4 Da Wait, alongside a music video for "FOMDJ",[114] as well as featuring on Nav's album OMW2 Rexdale, on the song "Unlimited".[115] In April 2025, Carter featured on Ken Carson's album More Chaos, on the song "Off the Meter", alongside Destroy Lonely.[116] After the release of Music, Carter embarked as a supporting act for the Weeknd's 2025 North America After Hours til Dawn Tour leg, alongside Mike Dean.[117][118] In August 2025, Carter announced the Antagonist Tour, with support from Opium signees Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, the duo Homixide Gang, and affiliate ApolloRed1.[119][120][121][122] The tour was originally planned to begin in July 2023 but was postponed and cancelled.[123][124][125]
Fashion and modeling
Carter's fashion style is one of the main features of his public image. He has called himself a "thrift store kid" and often prefers vintage garments.[28]GQ has defined Carter as the "leader of a youth style", and said that he represents a stylistic midpoint between the "fashion gloss of ASAP Mob, the punk-rock attitude of Lil Uzi Vert, and the playful camp of Lil Yachty."[126]
Carter's favorite designer label is Balmain and his favorite designer is Raf Simons, whom he met at a 2017 fashion show in New York City.[127] Carter is featured on the song "Raf" by ASAP Mob, which was dedicated to Raf Simons. The music video for the song included Carter, ASAP Rocky, and Quavo wearing rare Raf Simons-designed clothing.[128] In 2017, Carter told Vogue that he considers Kanye West and ASAP Rocky his fashion inspirations.[28]
Carter cites ASAP Rocky, Kanye West, and MF Doom (all respectively pictured from left) as some of his main musical inspirations.
Carter has cited influences from a variety of artists, including ASAP Rocky, Kanye West, Jay-Z, MF Doom, Slayer, the Sex Pistols, and Kiss.[135][27] He embodies a "rock star" persona and is known for his playful, hard-hitting, and melodic style.[21] Almost all of Carter's raps are freestyled, which was directly inspired by Lil Wayne.[136] Carter's approach to music emphasizes atmosphere over traditional lyricism, with critics noting that his rapping is often "spare and repetitive", focusing more on flow and catchy phrases.[137] Briana Younger at Pitchfork said that "Carti's music is less about lyricism and more about atmosphere", going on to say that "whatever Carti lacks in substance he makes up in sheer audacity."[138]
Carter's music primarily falls under the "mumble rap" genre, characterized by a focus on catchy hooks and infectious beats.[139][25] His early work showcased a carefree and youthful vibe, often steering clear of serious themes. However, as his artistry evolved, he began to incorporate more experimental sounds, particularly in his later projects. Songs like "Earfquake" and "Pissy Pamper" reflect his exploration of various vocal techniques, including his distinct "baby voice", which features high pitches and frantic cadences. This vocal style contributes to the playful yet edgy atmosphere of his music.[140]
In 2020, Carter released Whole Lotta Red, which further showcased his experimentation with sound, featuring inspirations of punk and metal into his hip-hop roots.[141] This album marked a significant shift in his artistic direction, allowing him to delve into more intense themes while maintaining his signature melodic style.[142]
Carter is recognized for his unique vocal delivery, often described as a "baby voice" technique that captures attention with its high-pitched, unclear pronunciations.[9] He has used this technique on popular songs such as "Almeda" with Solange, "Earfquake" with Tyler, the Creator, and "Pissy Pamper" with Young Nudy and Pi'erre Bourne.[140] After the release of Whole Lotta Red, he has also experimented with various metal-inspired vocalizations, such as his coarse "deep voice" first being displayed on the song "Mr. Miyagi" with Kanye West and Future, later being displayed on other songs like Travis Scott's "Fein", the collaborative single "Type Shit" with Future, Metro Boomin, and Scott, and Camila Cabello's "I Luv It"; but it is more common on many unreleased, non-album songs.[143]
The New York Times noted that Carter's style seems to emphasize performance and persona over conventional rapping skills, allowing him to create a captivating experience for listeners.[144] His aesthetic choices often incorporate Satanic imagery and vampire influences.[145]
Personal life
Early in his career, Carter was romantically involved with Rubi Rose, a model and rapper who rose to fame after appearing in the music video for "Bad and Boujee" by Migos.[146][147] He allegedly fired a gun in the air after Rose hid his phones from him before he was due to board a flight. Carter argues his intention was not to shoot Rose.[148] They broke up after Carter allegedly cheated on her.[149] In 2017, he briefly dated American model Blac Chyna.[150]
Later in 2018, Carter began dating Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, whom he met while he was overseas on tour. In December 2018, they moved in together in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta.[151][20] They split in December 2019.[2][3] In 2020, Azalea gave birth to Carter's first child, a son, Onyx.[152] In December that year, Azalea accused him of missing their son's birth and cheating on her. As of 2020, Carter has not signed their son's birth certificate.[153] In December 2023, Carter revealed that he has a second child, a daughter, Yves.[154]
As of June 2019, Carter is living and working in and around the Atlanta area after relocating from Los Angeles.[20]
In January 2019, Carter was convicted and fined £800 for assaulting his tour bus driver at an incident that took place in February 2018 in Gretna, Scotland.[157][158]
In April 2020, Carter was arrested on gun and drug-related charges in Clayton County, Georgia. After Carter was stopped by police for having an expired tag on his Lamborghini, authorities found 12 bags of marijuana, three guns, Xanax, codeine and oxycodone.[159] After an altercation between Carter and the police, he and another man named Jaylon Tucker, were arrested and taken to Clayton County jail.[160][161] Carter was charged for expired tags, possession of marijuana and improperly passing an emergency vehicle.[162] The following morning Carter was released on bond.[163]
On September 21, 2022, Carter was arrested for reckless driving. Footage of the incident was released on January 9, 2024.[164][165]
It was reported by TMZ on February 14, 2023, that Carter had been arrested on December 29, 2022, on a felony assault charge after allegedly choking his girlfriend, who was 14 weeks pregnant. Carter was released on bond a day after his arrest.[166]
It was reported on July 15, 2025, that Carter was denied entry to Canada, forcing the cancellation of scheduled opening acts for the Weeknd on July 15, 16 and 19. The shows were otherwise scheduled to continue.[167]
Opium (occasionally stylized as 00pium) is an American record label and hip-hop collective founded in 2019 by rapper Playboi Carti. The label, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, currently holds five acts; Playboi Carti himself, rappers Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, ASAP Nast, and the duo Homixide Gang. The label is also affiliated with producers including KP Beatz, Lil 88, and F1lthy, each of whom contributed to Playboi Carti's second studio album, Whole Lotta Red.
Acts signed to Opium usually utilize a dark sound and aesthetic built on the Atlanta's rage rap scene. Also influenced by the 70s and 80s punk rock era, many of the label's signees have garnered cult followings.
↑ Jenkins, Craig (March 18, 2025). "Playboi Carti Gets Lost in the Music". Vulture. Vox Media. Retrieved May 6, 2025. Early works like 2017's Playboi Carti and 2018's Die Lit documented the birth of an increasingly bit-crushed mutation of southern hip-hop.
Schwadron, Eli (September 13, 2016). "Happy Birthday, Playboi Carti!". XXL Magazine. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Reported turning 20 years old on September 13, 2016.
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