Jordan Terrell Carter (born September 13, 1995, or 1996),[a] known professionally asPlayboi Carti, is an American rapper. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, he is considered an influential figure in modernhip-hop and a pioneer of therage microgenre. His music has been characterized as atmospheric and avant-garde, often marked by unconventional vocal techniques such as his "baby voice", with critics highlighting his focus on mood and persona over traditional lyricism.
Born and raised inAtlanta, Georgia, Carter began his musical career under the stage nameSir Cartier in 2011,self-releasing early tracks onSoundCloud. He signed withAwful Records in 2014 and later withASAP Rocky's AWGE imprint, a joint venture withInterscope Records, in 2016. Carter gained mainstream attention with hiseponymous debut mixtape (2017), which peaked at number 12 on theBillboard 200 and produced the singles "Magnolia" and "Wokeuplikethis" (featuringLil Uzi Vert). His debut studio album,Die Lit (2018), was met with commercial success, debuting at number three on theBillboard 200.
His second album,Whole Lotta Red (2020), became his first number-one album on theBillboard 200 and was later ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums byRolling Stone. After a series of high-profile collaborations, includingTravis Scott's "Fein" (2024) andKanye West andTy Dolla Sign's "Carnival" (2024)—the latter becoming his first number-one single on theBillboard Hot 100—Carter released his third album,Music (2025). The album received generally positive reviews and became his second consecutive number-one on theBillboard 200. It yielded thepromotional single, "Evil J0rdan", which debuted at number two on theBillboard Hot 100.
Jordan Terrell Carter was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 13, 1995, or 1996,[a] and grew up in the nearby suburb ofRiverdale.[6][7] He has one older brother and attendedNorth Springs Charter High School inSandy Springs.[6][8] In a 2016 interview withComplex, Carter stated that he had little interest in pursuing higher education or military service, instead seeking ways to make money.[9] Before beginning his rap career, Carter aspired to play professional basketball.[6][10] In an interview withThe Fader, he recalled focusing on basketball during his youth but eventually quit the sport following a disagreement with his coach.[6] He then began dedicating more time to music, sometimes skipping class to record songs or work at anH&M.[11]
Carter developed an interest in music at a young age, first participating inchoir, which he admitted he initially joined to meet girls but later found creatively inspiring.[12] During his teenage years, he began rapping under the name Sir Cartier and recording songs influenced byWiz Khalifa,Currensy, andOdd Future, releasing projects and music videos that circulated locally in Atlanta.[6] His earliest videos show him performing in South Atlantastrip malls andparking lots with friends, and he credited his older brother with introducing him toGucci Mane and other Atlanta rappers who shaped his early style.[6]
Alongside music, Carter developed a strong interest in fashion. He recalled being among the first in his neighborhood to wearskinny jeans and ride askateboard, drawing inspiration from punk aesthetics he observed at Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark.[13] He frequently shopped atthrift stores, experimenting with clothing that set him apart from peers, sometimes attracting ridicule for his unconventional style.[14] 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.[11] At 18, he left Atlanta forNew York City, where he lived with family and friends while further pursuing a music career.[6]
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 onSoundCloud.[3] By 2013, he rebranded himself as Playboi Carti and expanded his reach by sharing his music on platforms likeNewgrounds.[15] In 2014, after meeting fellow Atlanta native,Ethereal, a producer and member of the underground collectiveAwful Records, Carter soon joined the Awful roster.[16] Carter credits Ethereal with helping him discover and develop his distinctive sound.[17] 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.[9][18] During this time, he frequently encountered members of the influentialASAP Mob, eventually meetingASAP Bari, who introduced him toASAP Rocky.[18] 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.[9][19]
In 2015, Carter began attracting widespread attention with the release of his singles "Broke Boi" and "Fetti", featuringDash andMaxo Kream. These tracks, shared on SoundCloud, quickly gained traction within theunderground scene.[14] Concurrently, Carter was actively collaborating with artists in Atlanta's burgeoning underground rap scene, includingUnoTheActivist,Thouxanbanfauni,Yung Bans,Lil Yachty, as well as producers MexikoDro andIcytwat.[20] In 2016, he officially signed to ASAP Rocky's AWGE imprint, a joint venture withInterscope Records.[19][21] Later that year, he'd supportASAP Ferg on the Turnt & Burnt Tour[22] and to co-headline the Left Right Tour alongsideLil Uzi Vert.[23] 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 andASAP Ant.[24]
2017–2020: Self-titled mixtape,Die Lit, andWhole 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.[44] To support the album, Carti embarked on the Die Lit Tour during the summer of 2018, performing across various cities inNorth America.[45][46][47] Later that year, in August 2018, Carter announced his second studio album,Whole Lotta Red, which would be released two years later.[48] During the next two years, numerous tracks, including "Pissy Pamper" wereleaked online, amassing tens of millions of streams unofficially.[49] Carter did not release any new original music during this period, though he was featured on several songs, including "Baguettes in the Face" withNav and A Boogie wit da Hoodie fromMustard's albumPerfect Ten, "Almeda" bySolange, from her albumWhen I Get Home, and "Earfquake" by Tyler, the Creator, from his albumIgor,[50][51][52] as well as opening up for ASAP Rocky's Injured Generation Tour[53] and Wiz Khalifa's Decent Exposure Summer Tour.[54] In the same year, Carter launched his own imprint, under the name ofOpium.[55]
In April 2020, Carter broke his musical silence by releasing the single "@ Meh", which peaked at number 35 on theBillboard Hot 100.[56] The following month, Carter appeared onDrake's mixtapeDark Lane Demo Tapes, on the song "Pain 1993", which debuted at number 7 on theBillboard Hot 100, marking Carter's first entry into the chart's top ten.[57] In November 2020, Carter announced thatWhole Lotta Red was complete and had been submitted to his label.[58] The following month, Carter was featured on Lil Yachty's deluxe albumLil Boat 3.5 on the track "Flex Up", alongsideFuture.[59] In December 2020, Carter released his second studio album,Whole Lotta Red, onChristmas Day,[60][61] after announcing its release date four days earlier.[62] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, becoming Carter's first chart-topping album on the chart.[63]Rolling Stone deemed it "one of the most forward-thinking rap records sinceYeezus", and later crowned it the best rap album of 2021.[64] In 2022, the magazine also included it in "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time".[65] To support the album, Carter embarked on the King Vamp Tour, originally titled the Narcissist Tour, for fall 2021.[66]
On March 10, 2021, just three months afterWhole Lotta Red was released, Carter hinted at a new album onInstagram.[67] 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.[68] In June 2021, Carter was featured on Pi'erre Bourne's "Switching Lanes", from his albumThe Life of Pi'erre 5,[69] and Lil 1 Dte's "Homixide", from his eponymous album.[70] In August of the same year, he appeared on ABRA's song "Unlock It"[71] and contributed to several tracks onKanye West's albumDonda, including "Off the Grid", "Junya" and "Junya Pt 2".[72] In July 2022, Carter served as anexecutive producer for his signee,Ken Carson's albumX.[73] In March 2023, Carter performed an unreleased track atRolling Loud California.[74] In June 2023, Carter collaborated withthe Weeknd andMadonna on the song "Popular", which was originally released as the lead single for the cancelled soundtrack album,The Idol, Vol. 1.[75][76] In July 2023, Carter performed "Pop Out", which later appeared onMusic, atWireless Festival.[77] Later that month, Carter appeared onTravis Scott's albumUtopia, on the track "Fein".[78]
On December 8, 2023, Carter released the track "Different Day" through the Opium Instagram account, accompanied by a full-length music video.[79][80] In the following weeks, Carter released a series ofpromotional singles ahead of his third studio album,Music: "2024" on December 14,[81] "HBA" on December 19,[82] "Backr00ms" featuring Travis Scott on January 1, 2024,[83] and "Evil J0rdan" on January 15.[84] In February 2024, Carter made a guest appearance during Travis Scott's performance at the66th Annual Grammy Awards.[85] Later that month, he was featured on Kanye West's andTy Dolla Sign's albumVultures 1 on the tracks "Carnival" and "Fuk Sumn", with "Carnival" becoming his first chart-topping single.[86][87] In March 2024, Carter released the sixth promotional single forMusic, "K Pop", through the Opium Instagram account.[88] The same month, he was featured onMetro Boomin's and Future's song "Type Shit", from their albumWe Don't Trust You,[89] as well as featuring onCamila Cabello's single "I Luv It", from her albumC,XOXO.[90] In August 2024, Carter was featured on Kanye West's and Ty Dolla Sign'sVultures 2, on the track "Field Trip".[91][92] In September 2024, Carter released the single "All Red", marking his first solo streaming release since 2020's "@ Meh".[93] Later that month, Carter collaborated with the Weeknd on the song "Timeless", as the lead single for Weeknd's albumHurry Up Tomorrow.[94]
On December 15, 2024, Carter performed at Rolling Loud inMiami; he had announced weeks prior that he intended to playMusic during his one hour and fifteen minute set,[95][96] ultimately, he played five new songs.[97] In March 2025, Carter released his third studio album,Music, after following teasers bySpotify.[98][99][100] It became his second consecutive number-one record on theBillboard 200, with 290,000album-equivalent units sold in its first week.[101] Later that month, Carter released the album's deluxe edition, titledMusic - Sorry 4 Da Wait, alongside a music video for "FOMDJ",[102] as well as featuring on Nav's albumOMW2 Rexdale, on the song "Unlimited".[103] In April 2025, Carter featured on Ken Carson's albumMore Chaos, on the song "Off the Meter", alongsideDestroy Lonely.[104] After the release ofMusic, Carter embarked as a supporting act for the Weeknd's 2025 North AmericaAfter Hours til Dawn Tour leg, alongsideMike Dean.[105][106] In August 2025, Carter announced theAntagonist Tour, with support from Opium signees Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, the duoHomixide Gang, and affiliate ApolloRed1.[107][108][109][110] The tour was originally planned to begin in July 2023 but was postponed and cancelled.[111][112][113]
Fashion and modeling
Carter's fashion style is one of the main features of his public image.[114] He has called himself a "thrift store kid" and often prefers vintage garments.[14]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."[115]
Carter's favorite designer label isBalmain and his favorite designer isRaf Simons, whom he met at a 2017 fashion show in New York City.[116] 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, andQuavo wearing rare Raf Simons-designed clothing.[117] In 2017, Carter toldVogue that he considers Kanye West and ASAP Rocky his fashion inspirations.[14]
Carter citesASAP Rocky,Kanye West, andMF Doom (all respectively pictured from left) as some of his main musical inspirations.
Carter is known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, and has been described as an influential figure in modernhip-hop and a pioneer of therage microgenre.[124][125] Carter has cited influences from a variety of artists, including ASAP Rocky, Kanye West,Jay-Z,MF Doom,Slayer, theSex Pistols, andKiss.[126][13] He embodies a "rock star" persona and is known for his playful, hard-hitting, and melodic style.[7] Almost all of Carter's raps arefreestyled, which was directly inspired byLil Wayne.[127] 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.[128] Briana Younger atPitchfork 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."[129]
Carter's music primarily falls under the "mumble rap" genre, characterized by a focus on catchy hooks and infectious beats.[130][11] 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.[131]
In 2020, Carter releasedWhole Lotta Red, which further showcased his experimentation with sound, featuring inspirations of punk and metal into his hip-hop roots.[132] This album marked a significant shift in his artistic direction, allowing him to delve into more intense themes while maintaining his signature melodic style.[133]
Carter is recognized for his unique vocal delivery, often described as a "baby voice" technique that captures attention with its high-pitched, unclear pronunciations.[134] He has used this technique on popular songs such as "Almeda" withSolange, "Earfquake" with Tyler, the Creator, and "Pissy Pamper" with Young Nudy and Pi'erre Bourne.[131] After the release ofWhole 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", and later appearing on Carter's third album,Music.[135][136]
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.[137] His aesthetic choices often incorporateSatanic imagery and vampire influences.[138]
Personal life
Early in his career, Carter was romantically involved withRubi Rose, a model and rapper who rose to fame after appearing in the music video for "Bad and Boujee" byMigos.[139][140] 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.[141] They broke up after Carter allegedly cheated on her.[142] In 2017, he briefly dated American modelBlac Chyna.[143]
Later in 2018, Carter began dating Australian rapperIggy Azalea, whom he met while he was overseas on tour. In December 2018, they moved in together in theBuckhead neighborhood of Atlanta.[144][6] They split in December 2019.[145][146] In 2020, Azalea gave birth to Carter's first child, a son, Onyx.[147] 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.[148] In December 2023, Carter revealed that he has a second child, a daughter, Yves.[149]
As of June 2019, Carter is living and working in and around the Atlanta area after relocating from Los Angeles.[6]
In January 2019, Carter was convicted and fined £800 for assaulting his tour bus driver at an incident that took place in February 2018 inGretna, Scotland.[152][153]
In April 2020, Carter was arrested on gun and drug-related charges inClayton 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.[154] After an altercation between Carter and the police, he and another man named Jaylon Tucker, were arrested and taken to Clayton County jail.[155][156] Carter was charged for expired tags, possession of marijuana and improperly passing an emergency vehicle.[157] The following morning Carter was released on bond.[158]
On September 21, 2022, Carter was arrested for reckless driving. Footage of the incident was released on January 9, 2024.[159][160]
It was reported byTMZ 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.[161]
It was reported on July 15, 2025, that Carter was denied entry toCanada, forcing the cancellation of scheduled opening acts for the Weeknd on July 15, 16 and 19. The shows were otherwise scheduled to continue.[162]
On October 2, 2025, Carter was charged with assault after allegedly punching his limousine driver, Carl Reynolds, in the face while on tour in Utah.[163]
Opium (occasionally stylized as00pium) is an Americanrecord label and rap collective founded in 2019 by Carter. The label, which is based inAtlanta, Georgia, currently holds five acts: Carter himself, rappers Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, andASAP Nast, and rap duo Homixide Gang, all of whom are natives to the city (besides ASAP Nast). The label is also affiliated with a variety of producers including KP Beatz,Lil 88, andF1lthy, who all worked extensively on Carter's second album,Whole Lotta Red.
Opium artists usually feature a dark rap sound and aesthetic that is built upon the Atlantarage rap scene and is influenced by the 70s and 80spunk rock era. The niche style of its artists strays away from mainstream trap rappers and has garnered its owncultlike fanbase.
^abReliable sources report 1995 or 1996 as the birth year.[5]
References
^Jenkins, Craig (March 18, 2025)."Playboi Carti Gets Lost in the Music".Vulture. Vox Media. RetrievedMay 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 fromthe original on September 14, 2016. Reported turning 20 years old on September 13, 2016.
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