Released: 2018
Label: AWGE Label
Featuring: Skepta, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Pi’erre Bourne, Nicki Minaj, Bryson Tiller, Chief Keef, Gunna, Red Coldhearted, Young Thug, Young Nudy
When it comes to raw, anarchic energy, and a unique affinity for transforming minimalistic beats into earworms, no one does it quite like Playboi Carti. This Atlanta visionary, born Jordan Carter, has spent his career pushing the boundaries of the hip-hop genre, and nowhere is that more apparent than his 2018 opus, “Die Lit.”
The album, a 19-track chaos of sound and innovation, sees Carti sharpening his style, stepping further into his own realm of punk aesthetics, and collaborating with a murderers’ row of talented artists – from the moody vibe of Travis Scott to the unorthodox lyricism of Young Nudy. Waves of high-energy tracks like “R.I.P.” and anthems of love disillusionment such as “Love Hurts” showcase Carti’s versatility, cementing his place as one of hip-hop’s most compelling figures.
However, to fully appreciate “Die Lit,” we must venture beneath the intricate beats and Carti’s hypnotic delivery, to break down the lyrics themselves. From the youthful braggadocio of “Old Money” to the evocative narrative in “Pull Up,” the lyrics on “Die Lit” are a captivating combination of Carti’s life experiences, his views on fame, and the cultural landscape of hip-hop. It’s a rhythmic rodeo ride through Carti’s psyche, set to the backdrop of cutting-edge beats and melodies.
So let’s get into it. From “Long Time” to “Top”, here are the Breaking down the Lyrics on ‘Die Lit’ by ‘Playboi Carti.
1. Long Time – Intro
Carti brags about his grind, dropping gems like “I ain’t had shit in a long time / Just to feel like this it took a long time”. He’s making it clear that his glow-up didn’t happen overnight, it’s a result of years of hustle. Carti also defies socio-normative values when he spits, “No cap and gown, I ain’t go to class / I’d rather die before I come in last”, reflecting his prioritization of the streets and rap game over formal education. His audacity is driven by his Atlanta roots, a city renowned for breeding hip-hop royalty. Furthermore, his shoutout to VLONE, a streetwear brand deeply embedded in the hip-hop culture, further solidifies his authenticity in the rap game. The track is a stark confession of Carti’s determination, struggle, and triumphant rise in the hip-hop culture.
2. R.I.P.
Carti’s braggadocio spills over gritty lines about sexual conquests, flexing wealth, and an unwavering commitment to his crew. The self-assured intensity in “I’ma go fuck that bitch (yeah), I’ma go thrash that bitch (yeah)” showcases an unapologetic, almost abrasive, embrace of the rapper lifestyle. Yet, in the midst of the chest-thumping bravado is a clever nod to his own success born from his trademark melodic mumbling style with, “Bought a crib for my mama off that mumblin’ shit.” Littered with visceral imagery and street slang, “R.I.P.” stands as a defiant anthem embracing the rowdy, raucous ethos of Carti’s world.
3. Lean 4 Real
Features: Skepta
Playboi Carti and Grime heavyweight Skepta deliver lines punctuated by the recurrant “I’m on ’em beans for real, I’m on the lean for real”, a nod to the drug-fueled trap scene. This track’s charm lies in its repetitive, trance-inducing lyrics and intoxicating beats, turning what could be seen as a dark depiction of drug use, into a catchy, head-bopping anthem. The line “Nickelodeon, yeah, Way I got that slime” is Carti at his lyrical best, pulling from the archives of pop culture, while referencing the popular street term for lean. The underpinning vibe is one of nonchalant coolness, taking listeners on a wild night out, blurring the lines of reality, laced with Carti’s signature ad-libs and Skepta’s grimy UK flow, making “Lean 4 Real” an intriguing exploration into the mind of these artists.
4. Old Money
The lyrics, “Old money, new ho,” are a testament to the paradoxical reality of hip-hop—while amassing wealth often is the endgame, it’s always about the pursuit of the new, be it in experiences or relationships. Carti’s seemingly simplistic verses have a hefty undertone, talking about sippin’ on Actavis and the raw, unglamorous side of the street hustle. This, in turn, is juxtaposed with “My chain too cold, chandelier,” illustrating the duality of the street life and the allure of glitz and glamour. Carti’s “Old Money” is a hypnotic sonic endeavor, effectively encapsulating the opposing life forces constantly at play in hip-hop culture.
5. Love Hurts
Features: Travis Scott
Carti’s flow is as hypnotic as ever, bouncing over the spare, bass-driven beats like a baller with shoes made of money. Scott matches Carti’s swagger with his own exploration of the hedonistic lifestyle. Carti’s lyrics, “Shawty want a rockstar / Shawty want a Wockstar”, highlight the theme of desire and idolization, merging the worlds of trap and rock ‘n’ roll in a tryst of their over-the-top personas. The line, “All of these flows is mine / All of these hoes is mine,” encapsulates the braggadocious spirit of this track. It’s an ode to the glamorous life that many crave, but only a few can handle. “Love Hurts” might not dive deep into introspective waters, but it sure does skim the flashy surface with style.
6. Shoota
Features: Lil Uzi Vert
It’s a piece of audacious minimalist production, that’s more about setting the mood than illustrating a narrative. Carti rides insouciantly on Maaly Raw’s production casting off phrases like “Used to want a G-Shock, now I’m walking with a bustdown,” painting pictures of a come-up story anchored in absurd extravagance. But it’s Lil Uzi Vert who steals the show, coming in at the tail end of the track with a barrage of bravado, climbing the high energy beat with nimble verses. “We gon’ rob the bank, bring the loot,” he spits, with a devil-may-care swagger. “Shoota” is a celebration of unapologetic excess, a victory lap that’s more about the swag than any specific destination. It’s two rappers enjoying the ride, unbothered with where the trip might lead.
7. Right Now
Features: Pi’erre Bourne
Carti showcases his lyrical dexterity, layering quick-witted rhymes over a heavy trap beat. The line, “I got bitches wanna see Pi’erre right now, I got bitches wanna see Carti right now,” underscores the duo’s fame and appeal, emphasizing their influence in the game. Two powerhouses of the genre unite to craft an anthem that’s as self-assured as it is infectious. Bourne’s refrain “Now, right now” permeates the track, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the present moment – an insight into the immediacy of the hip-hop lifestyle. But, like everything Carti does, there’s subtlety under the bravado. He’s reaching for more, aiming to elevate past the status quo. This isn’t just a brag track, it’s a statement of intent.
8. Poke It Out
Features: Nicki Minaj
The lyrics are punctuated with references to high fashion, jewelry, and the luxurious lifestyle they now lead; “Iced up, ice watch, woah, woah” they juxtapose the excess of their current lives with the hardships of their past. Carti’s minimalist approach collides with Nicki’s intense rhymes to create a dynamic reminder of their iconic statuses in the rap game. Minaj’s standout line “End bitches’ careers, cut them break lines” effortlessly underscores her ferocious disposition. It’s a track that embodies the spirit of braggadocio intrinsic to hip-hop, unashamedly displaying wealth and status as symbols of success and defiance against their hardscrabble beginnings.
9. Home
Dig those 808s in the backdrop, too, creating a vibe that’s something grimy yet glossy at the same time. Carti’s not just rapping about the money – he’s talkin’ about loyalty, grind, and flashing that high life. Standout line that hits hard? “She a loyal bitch, you gotta pay for those,” is a ruthless showcase of Carti’s cut-throat approach to the game, underlining the hustler mentality that permeates the entire track. Yet, the heart of “Home (KOD)” lies in Carti’s unabashed testament of hustle and loyalty, where the triumph of bringing the bag back home forms the crux of the narrative.
10. Fell In Luv
Features: Bryson Tiller
Carti and Tiller serve up verses filled with raw emotion and frank discussions of love and lust. The lyrics revolve around the highs and lows of being in love, capturing its reckless abandon and the ecstasy it brings. One standout line, “I fell in love, fell in love, But that’s okay, ’cause we in love”, reveals Carti’s unapologetic embrace of this complex emotion. Tiller balances this with his own narrative about falling for a woman’s charm, reinforcing the song’s theme. In “Fell In Luv”, the fusion of Carti’s aggressive flows and Tiller’s smooth R&B cadences, tied together with the lyrics’ potent message, epitomizes a love-struck fever dream, making it a definitive highlight of the album.
11. Foreign
He’s not just talking about it, he’s living it – the sippin’ lean, flexin’ diamonds, and globe-trotting are all part of his new reality. When Carti raps, “Ooh, hop in that motherfuckin’ foreign, And that motherfucker be roarin'”, he’s making a statement about how far he’s come from the grit of Atlanta to the glossy sheen of global rap stardom. His diamonds are not just jewelry, they’re symbols of his hard-won status. And the famous line “My diamonds they icey, aye, My diamonds they ice, they bite,” echoes the sharpness of his ascension. But on the flip, Carti also mentions how this new lifestyle has a price. And it ain’t cheap, baby. It’s a testament to Carti’s awareness and ability to reflect on his transition from hustler to chart topper.
12. Pull Up
Unabashed in its glorification of the high life and the gangsta cred, Carti’s drawling repetition of “pull up” hits as both an invite to join his level and a threat to those daring to confront him. He flexes about his AP watches, Gucci flip flops, and Goyard bags, unapologetically elevating materialism as part of his brand. But don’t for a moment think it’s all luxury and no grit. When Carti raps, “All of these niggas they talkin’ / I love my choppa, they talk,” he’s anchoring his street credibility, openly admitting his reliance on firearms amidst the chatter. It’s not just a wealth parade. It’s a brazen, unpolished portrayal of Carti’s wild lifestyle, where opulence and danger coexist.
13. Mileage
Features: Chief Keef
Lyrics like “Don’t care if that pussy got some mileage,” evoke a bold disregard for societal norms and expectations about women’s purity. The repetition of these lines underscore that point, hitting hard with a candid audacity. Throughout the track, Carti name-checks pop culture figures like Miley Cyrus and Kendall Jenner, a testament to his prominent status in the music scene. Despite its apparent superficiality, “Mileage” delivers a potent picture of Carti’s hedonistic lifestyle, which while often criticized, remains unapologetically true to his persona. In the vein of the raw, rebellious spirit of hip-hop, Carti stays authentically himself, manifesting in lyrics like, “Hmm, she got more mileage than a car”. It’s a stark reminder of Carti’s relentless authenticity, even amidst its debauchery.
14. FlatBed Freestyle
Carti opted for an emotion-heavy and freestyle-like delivery, making this track almost semi-instrumental. The lyrics boast a repetitive chant-like quality, coupled with layered ad-libs adding to the track’s hypnotic vibe. Each line introduces a new slice-of-life vignette from Carti’s world, carrying listeners from Atlanta’s streets to high life in L.A., while exploring themes of hedonism, conspicuous consumption, and territorial loyalty. All served with Carti’s signature bravado, as encapsulated in: “You touch down in my city, you better tap. That bih right here, she know she gotta tap.” In “FlatBed Freestyle,” Carti pushes the boundaries of how hip-hop sounds, framing every repetition, every slurred syllable as part of the artistic whole, revealing that sometimes, less indeed can be more in the intricate wordplay game of rap.
15. No Time
Features: Gunna
The refrain, “We ain’t got time / I drop my demons off, yeah / Clear my mind / Ridin’ ’round town with a bad ass bitch / She a dime,” oozes this “live fast, die young” ethos that Carti’s known for. Each verse is littered with brash flexes, like Gunna’s line “Diamonds in the Cartier lenses, you can see ’em in the night”, which hits like a sledgehammer. The prevalent theme is living life in the fast lane, without time for falsehoods, showcased in the repetitive lyric “All these niggas, they cappin’ ’round here / They stay lyin’.” Filled with hedonistic vibes and an underbelly of darkness, ‘No Time’ captures the quintessential Carti aesthetic, steeped in indulgence with an underlying current of existential angst.
16. Middle Of The Summer
Features: Red Coldhearted
Over a hypnotic beat, Carti and Redd flaunt their opulence in a defiant display of swagger that’s quintessential trap at its pinnacle. Red Coldhearted’s verse adds a layer of intensity and angst to the mix, providing a counterbalance to Carti’s cool swagger. This song is steeped in the language of the streets, as embodied in lyrics like “I’m in a hood where niggas don’t bother me / 3500 my cardigan / Shawty gon’ fuck, shawty gon’ swallow me / Shawty gon’ get on top of me.” These lines encapsulate the unvarnished realities of their lives, rendered with a grit and rhythm that’s as real as the concrete they traverse. They’re reflections of the bold, brash culture that birthed them, mirrors held up to a world where the summer is always too short, and the ice is always too cold.
17. Choppa Won’t Miss
Features: Young Thug
Carti drops the braggadocious line, “You ain’t even on the style till young Carti popped the shit,” claimin’ his influence in the rap scene with unapologetic swagger. This defiant anthem leans heavy on the hook, “Choppa won’t miss a nigga,” a chilling representation of the cold realities many rap artists face growing up in rough neighborhoods. Carti and Thug lay down relentless flows about their wealth, success and relentless drive, painting a complex portrait of their ascent from the trenches to the top of the game. This track is all about survival and triumph, echoing with the harsh aesthetic of the streets. It’s a bold, unfiltered exploration of Carti and Thug’s narratives, offering listeners an inside look into what it means to rewrite your destiny.
18. R.I.P. Fredo – Notice Me
Features: Young Nudy
Fredo (Notice Me)” comes through as a gritty ode to moments that often fade into the background. Playboi Carti and Young Nudy go back and forth with verses, painting an authentic picture of their challenging come up, the struggles they faced and their relentless pursuit of clout. Carti reiterates the fight to be seen and taken seriously, with a repetitive refrain – “Hittin’ that boy with that fire, uh…They ain’t even know it’s me”. The line signifies Carti’s undeterred hustle to be recognized despite the odds. While the lyrics can be cryptic, layered with slang and obscured meanings, they present a raw perspective of the rapper’s vision of fame and desire to leave a lasting legacy in the rap game. ‘Die Lit’ is often recognized for its distinctive sound, but “R.I.P. Fredo (Notice Me)” showcases the thematic depth beneath the surface-level hype.
19. Top
Pi’erre Bourne)” is a masterclass of minimalism from Playboi Carti. Our boy weaves a hypnotic cadence around Pi’erre Bourne’s atmospheric beats, using repetitive phrases to create an immersive soundscape. The lyrics seem deceivingly simple as he repeatedly claims, “I’m on the top of the building,” an assertion of Carti’s current dominance in the hip hop scene. Don’t get it twisted though, the track ain’t short on braggadocio. Carti’s moving weight like he’s in the gym with bars like “Reppin’ that 9 ’til I die; Made my first mil’ in July”. He flexes his riches and his sexual conquests, with a swagger that’s undeniable. “Top” encapsulates the essence of Carti: raw, confident, and surreal. It’s the sound of an artist in full control of his art, prowling atop the hip hop scene, undeniably standing his ground.
