Whole Lotta Red
2020 studio album by Playboi Carti
Whole Lotta Red is the second studio album by the American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on December 25, 2020, through AWGE and Interscope Records. It was primarily produced by F1lthy and Art Dealer, with contributions from Pi'erre Bourne, Maaly Raw, Lil 88, Jasper Harris, Ojivolta, and Wheezy, while Kanye West and Matthew Williams served as executive producers. Diverging from the melodic trap style of Playboi Carti (2017) and Die Lit (2018), Whole Lotta Red is an experimental hip-hop, rage, and trap album that incorporates punk and electronic influences. Its lyrical themes include guns, wealth, and hedonism. Music critics highlighted its loose structure and frenetic pace; several songs abandon traditional verse-chorus structures in favor of chants or ad-libbing with an emphasis on atmosphere over narrative. The album features a dark, vampire-themed tone in which Carti adopts the persona of a vampire rock star, and its abrasive sound drew comparisons to West's Yeezus (2013). Guest appearances include West, Kid Cudi, and Future.
Whole Lotta Red received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its production and Carti's vocals but criticizing its guest appearances and lack of depth. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 100,000 album-equivalent units, becoming Carti's first US number-one album; in January 2022, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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