When Playboi Carti dropped his long-anticipated album “MUSIC” last month, fans across the country rushed to streaming platforms — and Erie High School was no exception. Known for his eccentric style, genre-pushing sound, and mysterious online presence, Carti’s newest album stirred a mix of excitement, skepticism, and curiosity among listeners. Now, a few weeks later, the dust is settling, and students are sharing their thoughts on the controversial release.
“It was pretty mid at first,” admitted juniors Ethan Garcia and Jackson Jamison in a joint interview. “But after we listened to a couple [tracks], yeah, it definitely got better over time. You gotta let it marinate.”
That “marination” might be the key to understanding MUSIC, an album that builds on Carti’s experimental streak while leaning into a catalog of pre-leaked tracks that had already circulated online. For some, like Ethan and Jackson, the recycled content diminished the initial excitement.
“A lot of it was already, like, released songs. Like leaked,” Jackson said. “We don’t know… it kind of threw us off.”
Still, one track did manage to stand out to the duo: “Fine Sh*t.” While they struggled to pinpoint exactly why, the song’s inclusion seemed to reflect the complicated relationship fans have with Carti’s latest work — at once familiar and fresh, underwhelming and yet intriguing.
The pair gave the album a tentative rating of “maybe like a 6, 7,” citing overhype as a major factor in their lukewarm reaction. “Yeah, he hyped it up too much,” said Ethan. “But I think after a little bit of time, it got better.”
That pattern of growing appreciation also resonated with junior Jeremy Price, who had a more positive first impression.
“I liked it,” Jeremy said. “Like, I heard a lot of songs that I already knew, but it was pretty chill overall.”
Comparing MUSIC to Carti’s earlier albums Whole Lotta Red and Die Lit, Jeremy pointed to a consistent use of the rapper’s signature two-voice technique — a layered vocal approach that’s become something of a Carti trademark. “It’s similar,” he said. “Carti’s kind of known for that… but yeah, it’s pretty diverse.”
For Jeremy, one track in particular stood out: “Like Wheezy.” His reasoning was simple, yet telling of Carti’s appeal. “I think it flows nice. I like the chorus,” he said.
While acknowledging the recycled nature of some tracks, Jeremy still gave the album a solid 8.5 out of 10. “There’s some pretty good songs,” he said. “And like, it’s Carti — kind of the goat.”
Playboi Carti’s MUSIC may not have landed as the game-changer some fans expected, but it has clearly sparked conversation. Whether you’re giving it a 6 or an 8.5, one thing is certain: Carti remains one of hip-hop’s most polarizing and talked-about artists, and at Erie High, the debate isn’t dying down anytime soon.
