Album of the Year #6: Playboi Carti - Die Lit - HipHop | HipHop Channel

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Album of the Year #6: Playboi Carti - Die Lit - HipHop

Album of the Year #6: Playboi Carti - Die Lit - HipHop

Album of the Year #6: Playboi Carti - Die Lit

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 01:40 PM PST

Artist: Playboi Carti

Album: Die Lit

Listen:

Apple Music

Spotify

Tidal

Youtube

Background:

"i put all my opps in Ah Group Chat and told them *link up ! i want all da smoke ! _SLATT ! Fuc it !"

Review:

The cover of Playboi Carti's debut album Die Lit shows him suspended mid-flip above a moshpit middle fingers out. In many ways this acts as a thesis for the album, with Carti in a blissful high amongst chaos, standing out in a sea of energy. A clear punk influence can be found here, but where the cover perfects the portrayal is not simply in sonics (R.I.P.) but also in intent and execution. Punk's straight edge tendencies are totally absent on this project; instead it exists in a singularity of an intense, ignorant high. With this state comes all the haziness, the distortion, and sense of shifted reality, which Carti utilizes to full effect.

Long Time serves as the perfect introduction, creating a bittersweet nostalgic feeling which permeates many of the songs on Die Lit. It acts as the only song where Carti feels still human, reflecting on his rise and mirroring the come-up of a high. One of the only non-Pierre Bourne beats on the album, the song is effectively utilized to exist within the same world, drawing on that nostalgia, with almost childlike synths and effects that feel like a coming of age story. All of the feelings evoked serve to set the listener up for when R.I.P. kicks in and the true life and energy of Die Lit is found.

R.I.P. brings every shitty blog article about Soundcloud artists being the new punk to its knees the second the bassline kicks in. Pierre Bourne sets the scene with an incredible, driving bassline that makes the song so defining. The aggression feels almost too chaotic and overwhelming at points, which works to strengthen the song more. "I GO PSYCHO BITCH" only works so well because of the pummeling, hectic energy. Moments like these reveal the amazing symbiotic relationship of producer and artist that are found in the pair. The two work in tandem, at no point does it feel like a vocal track over a beat. Every sonic and feeling intended to be created is purposeful and organic, and together they push all of the elements of their sounds together and further them, creating something wholly unique and truly trailblazing. It's the sound of a pit when you're so overwhelmed you can't even make out the song being played but you're too fucked up to care.

Lean 4 Real, one of the greatest songs of the decade and Carti's greatest work, is the perfect relief from the previous song. It feels like walking out onto the street after being let out from a high energy show and you and your friends are soaked in sweat, laughing and talking about it sparking a blunt. IndigoChildRick proves himself a worthy contributor to Pierre's sonic carnival, providing a perfect beat that reflects the nostalgic, ethereal feeling concurrent throughout the project. The catchiness is unparalleled, as both Carti and Skepta provide some of the most earworm quotables and inflections. Skepta sets a precedent for the features to follow on the album, which is an extension of Carti's vision and character more than an addition. This is my most played song of the year by far.

While the tracklist totes some big names with Nicki and Bryson Tiller, Die Lit never comes out of Carti's hands. Every feature acts to strengthen a song in a way that feels less intentional and moreso the consequence of Carti's infectious and undeniable charisma and energy. Where Nicki chooses to emulate his cartoonish inflections and "baby voice" on Poke It Out, Uzi brings unique character and energy that can only rival Carti's. Bryson dominates Fell In Luv's blend of poppy gloss and Oneohtrix Point Never-esque ambience with a verse that feels organic and inspired. Verses like these show Carti and Pierre's vision best, because they feel like carefully picked out vessels to extend their creativity through each artists' strengths.

Much of the production on the project exists in a consuming high; the pop sensibilities are off-kilter, distorted and hazy, the aggression almost falling over itself in confusion and sound. Love Hurts has a consuming bass that envelopes your entire ear canal until your skull is vibrating. It's the sound of a world where no one is sober and the highs are constantly shifting and evolving. Take any three song run on the project and none blur together in sound or style. The project remains both suspended in the peak of a high and dynamic and moving, much like its cover. Pure bliss in the haze of Flatbed Freestyle can exist next to a wonderfully messy, bubbly anthem in Mileage. Songs like Pull Up and Home (KOD) almost sound disjointed and intentionally disorganized, but the more listens given reveals the deliberation in trying to capture the unorthodox and blend it to their liking. R.I.P. Fredo, a standout among a supreme tracklist, almost sounds like a sped up waltz in how it stops and twists, commanded by Carti in a slurring, smoke fueled mania that more than earns its track title.

Die Lit earns its rightful title as a masterpiece through its excellent, unique production and one of the best vocal performances on an album in a while. Carti and Pierre invite us into their alien, smoke filled spaceship and give us a version of their drug fueled reality. Hiding in plain sight, Carti is an anarchist in the sense that Die Lit plays by no rules and follows no standard, it simply exists as a fantastic, singular piece of work for others to follow the playbook on. It does not meet any expectations set by his past work, it merely evolves beyond his sound into something wholly original and sets the precedent for what artists like Carti can do with the right vision and execution. It acts as a questionably perfect entity, as if Soundcloud became sentient and tried to make the best music it algorithmically could. With Die Lit, Playboi Carti cements himself as a creative mastermind soaring high above his peers in an ignorant bliss.

Favorite Lyrics:

I'd rather get caught with it than without it

Wake up and smell the motherfuckin coffee

I'm 'bout to put these boys in a coffin

Carti, Long Time

Did it all off computers, hey

Pierre Bourne, Right Now

Watch me pull up, take yo chain lil bitch

I'm on Deebo lit, I'm on migo lit, I'm on kilo lit

I go psycho bitch, watch me sock yo bitch

Carti, R.I.P.

Man, I ain't throwing peace

I just throw up the V

Drinks spillin on my shoes

Weed spillin on my seats

Skepta, Lean 4 Real

You a copier, Yeah you like to copy shit (Carti)

You ain't even on the style till young Carti popped the shit

Carti, Choppa Won't Miss

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think this album compares to the self titled tape? Where does it improve or lack to you?

  2. What is your favorite era of Carti? Awful era, Broke Boi / Soundcloud singles era, etc?

  3. How much credit do you think Pierre should be given for his role in Carti's sound's evolution, especially on Die Lit? Do you think they're symbiotic or is one relying on the other?

  4. What's your top 3 favorite tracks and why is it Lean 4 Real three times?

  5. What are you expecting out of Whole Lotta Red? Is Cancun the best snippet video of all time? Why was Carti's shtummy hurting? Will Uzi's mom let him stay the night at Carti's so they can stay up and play Halo 3 even though it's a school night?

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Daily Discussion Thread 12/06/2018

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 08:30 AM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

  • Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed, as stated in the guidelines.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

  • If a question has been asked many times before, provide a link to a thread that contains the answer.

Weekly/Monthly Threads

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

New to /r/hiphopheads or hip-hop in general?

Check out these:

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[FRESH ALBUM] XXXTENTACION - SKINS

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[FRESH ALBUM] Gucci Mane - Evil Genius

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Mortal Kombat 11 Trailer features new music from 21 Savage

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[FRESH VIDEO] XXXTENTACION - One Minute Ft. Kanye West

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Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "All the Stars" has been nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes

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Domo Genesis: "Social media is a monster, low-key. There’s people out here getting new depression symptoms that never existed before."

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21 Savage uncovers album cover and album title: "I Am > I Was"

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MSNBC guest quotes DOOM live on T.V.

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Trippie Redd quits Astroworld tour with Travis Scott because “the crew took too long to assemble the stage”

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[FRESH ALBUM] Tabby - Peachfuzz!

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[FRESH] Ice Cube - Everythangs Corrupt

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[FRESH VIDEO] Ski Mask The Slump God - LA LA

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21 Savage announces I AM>I WAS will drop December 21st!

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[FRESH EP] Domo Genesis - Facade Records

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[DISCUSSION] Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs (One Week Later)

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 01:10 PM PST

It's been about a week since it released and it's one of my favorite projects this year. Thoughts?

submitted by /u/ltrob
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[FRESH ALBUM] Shoreline Mafia - OTXmas

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 09:06 PM PST

Spotify 2018 wrapped is out

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 12:20 AM PST

Ski Mask the Slump God - Stokeley ALBUM REVIEW

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[FRESH] Saba - Papaya

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[FRESH] Denzel Curry - CLOUT COBAIN I CLOUT CO13A1N" Live Performance | Vevo

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Understanding Earl Sweatshirt (feat. Anthony Fantano)

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[FRESH ALBUM] UnoTheActivist - Limbus, Vol. 2

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 09:03 PM PST

[FRESH] Kodak Black - Testimony

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 09:01 PM PST

Wassup HHH, I wanna give y’all some insight to the Charlotte (basically North Carolina) scene that’s been popping off recently.

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 10:05 AM PST

if you guys been paying attention to the underground scene you'd notice that Charlotte NC has ALOT of talent brewing and is heralded as like the next city to blow, so imma give y'all a little introduction / background to some of its more prominent artists, enjoy.

10cellphones- 10cellphones is a member of Disaster Records and is known for his love of guns and you've probably seen this video floating around in twitter. What a lot of people don't know is 10 makes some of the hardest hitting, melodic, and at times eerie music coming out. Here's a song from his new release , 0010.

Jay Storm- Also in Disaster Records, Jay Storm initially vent viral for his song Kehlani, a song expressing his distaste for disloyal thots and famously getting blocked on twitter by the aforementioned. His new song Don't Try It is a banger, and has some white dude singing along to it which again, has also gone viral.

Fonso Rex- Yet another entry in the Disaster Records Crew, Fonso hails himself as the 'New Age Cobain' and is known for aggressive yet restrained flow in majority of his songs. His record Cabbage Patch Kid is a testament to that.

Young iLL - This is the final member in the Disaster Records crew I'm mentioning for today. iLL is known for his funny bars, conversational flow , and energetic adlibs. His single GROW UP highlights all those qualities and more.

NASCAR Aloe- Charlotte's PUNK STAR and the new 'Sid Vicious' . NASCAR's music will make you want to commit several crimes. He's known for his very aggressive, often screamed vocals, deafening self production, and his long spiked hair, drawing comparisons to a Super Saiyan. He has neither confirmed nor denied these rumors. Stream his extremely danceable track, I DONT DANCE! now.

Belis- Belis is Charlottes coveted songstress. That sounded really fucking pitchfork-y. She sounds great dammit. Anyway, Belis is know for her fluttery yet full vocals and confident lyrics over unconventional beats that leaves you feeling like '02 Brittany. Here's her hit single WHEN I GO! produced by Znastyy and Stxne.

Znastyy- Znastyy is a producer , rapper and singer, known for producing RonSoColds single CITGO FLEXING featuring Duwap Kaine. However Znastyy himself makes somewhat somber, reflective music with songs like HATE ME that detail a relationship gone bad. It's sad as fuck.

Isaiah Pharaoh- Charlottes 'STAR BOY'. Isaiahs music sounds like a glow stick in the best way possible. Often rapping in fast melodic flows over synth heavy beats, Isaiah is definitely poised to blow extremely soon. Here's his titular song ISAIAHS WORLD from his album, Isaiahs World.

ApolloTone- ApolloTone is... an enigma. He goes from making songs about love over post-trap, ethereal soul filled beats ( i should really fuckin write for pitchfork) to making 80s inspired dance tracks such as Pulp Fiction about women and cocaine, based on the movie. It's fuckin dope though.

Regular Erik- Regular Erik is a rapper/producer that makes somehow goofy yet threatening music all based in the suburbs that miraculously, doesn't sound like shit. He's known for his lines about white girls with trust funds, Percocet, and beating niggas up. In that order. Here's his song I NAMED MY GLOCK ASHLEE .

DIRTY- DIRTYBUTT is personally one of my favorites. There's nothing i can really say about his music except it sounds like pure emotion, and Adventure Time. Like the show. He dances between extremely bass heavy songs and cute, almost weeb-like music like PERFECT DAY . You really gotta just listen to see what I'm saying.

This is all I'm doing right now, as my fuckin fingers are tired and I'm hungry as a bitch. If y'all like, I'll gladly update HHH with more threads about the Charlotte music scene in the next couple of days. I hope you all enjoy it!

submitted by /u/eriktac
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21 Savage - Ocean Drive

Posted: 06 Dec 2018 02:17 PM PST
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