Carti Has Even More Music in Store

Drake will be appearing on Adin Ross’ stream on April 13th. In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• We’re going from ‘MUSIC’ to ‘BABY BOI’ 👀

• Where in the world is J. Cole’s ‘The Fall Off?’ 🤔

• Industry Insights 🔎 

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here

Billboard Hot 100

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

For seven weeks and counting, Kendrick and SZA’s collab “luther” is still number one. At the same time, thanks to his recent visuals, Drake’s “NOKIA” is now in the top three of this week’s charts as Doechii’s “Anxiety” continues to rise up. Unfortunately for K. Dot, though, his other tracks, like “Not Like Us,” are beginning to dip.

Is Playboi Carti’s Next Album Really Done?

After years (and years) of waiting, Playboi Carti finally dropped his third studio album, MUSIC, on March 14. The project secured the rapper's second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, and he became the first rapper to have all 30 songs from an album debut on the Hot 100. 

While he basks in the success of his long-awaited project, frequent collaborator DJ Swamp Izzo says the rapper won’t be waiting another 5 years to release his next project—enter the BABY BOI era.

It's time for the BABY BOI era

Featured on a dozen tracks on the new project as a hypeman, Izzo has been able to study Carti and his approach to music for years now. 

"I judge every artist by how much they study hip-hop. [Young] Thug studied it more, so he can input more ideas. Same with Carti… Carti listens to Wu-Tang. He's attuned. He's paying attention. You can't tell," he said in an interview with Complex. 

The samples on MUSIC are from literally everywhere, from "LIKE WEEZY" sampling ATL rap group Rich Kidz's 2010 track "Bend Over," NBA YoungBoy's 2019 track "Carter Son" being heard on "PHILLY," to even the guitars off of Ashanti's 2004 song "Only U" being featured on "COCAINE NOSE."

Izzo says a typical studio session with the vamp rapper depends on his current vibe. 

​​" Every studio session is not the same because he rents out the building. So it's a bunch of rooms. So you might have one room where there's just a bunch of clothes. He's just vibing that day. So the vibe that day is he's trying on clothes, and he's just styling. You might get in a studio setting, and there just be like bags of money everywhere … It's never a plan…" he said. 

Working on the album until literally the last second, Izzo was both excited and stressed. 

"I knew it was going to change the world. But you got to think, we still in there fighting over a hundred songs trying to get it down to 24, 25. Still couldn't do it. It was already 24, 25 at midnight. It was locked. Something happened behind the [scenes] that he was like, 'let's go back in.' So the song selection started changing. What you heard, the final, was a whole different shuffle. Because he's still storming in his mind, he's still creating," he said. 

Now, with MUSIC in the rearview, Izzo confirmed that BABY BOI (the next album Carti has been teasing) is both ready and done. 

“[It’s] new music. He got over 50, 60 songs done. Completed to his liking? I couldn't say. But they're done. If I was still in that mixtape era, we'd have BABY BOI one through nine. Fifteen years ago, we were so heartfelt on them exclusives. We couldn't even sleep until we put it out before everybody," he said. 

To be realistic, it will probably be a while before fans finally get this project in their hands. Nevertheless, there's no harm in dreaming. 

J. Cole's Dreamville Festival Lives On

On the weekend of April 5, J. Cole finished his Dreamville Festival run in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a bang. Over 52,000 people each day turned up to artists, including J.I.D, 21 Savage, GloRilla, and, of course, Cole, as the final set on April 6. 

Previously announced as the fifth and final festival, people have wondered what's next. Luckily, Cole and his team were able to provide some answers—and perform a showcase full of deep cuts for his day ones. 

Dreamville isn't gone for good

During a press conference on April 3, Dreamville and Live Nation festival producer Sascha Stone Guttfreund gave fans the news they had hoped for. 

"We're going to be here for years to come…This is a multi-year deal, and we're so excited to be working with the city of Raleigh together on something new and exciting and to continue to build on this incredible thing that we've done over the years," he said. 

Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David also said that the festival will continue to focus on hip-hop music and culture. 

"We're going to continue on the same path that's been successful for us. Our consumers have told us what they like, and we're going to try to provide that to them for the next four years… We're using the Dreamville label to a certain extent. [J. Cole] will obviously be involved, whether or not he headlines. That's probably not going to be an occurrence, but he is a local resident. He is totally committed to this community, and he is totally committed to this festival," she said. 

It might be rebranding, but at least rap lovers and the Raleigh community can look forward to another party in Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park for the next four years. While it's still up in the air if Cole World will be headlining, at least fans have this legendary setlist to reminisce about. 

J. Cole went down memory lane

Performing from a set inspired by his former apartment, the rapper went through all his eras. He kicked off the show (twice thanks to tech issues) with 2007's "Rags to Riches (At the Beep)" off of his debut mixtape, The Come Up. 

His only special guest that night was Erykah Badu, despite those crossing their fingers for K. Dot to step on the stage. Nevertheless, the duo performed the 2010 song "Too Deep For The Intro" for the first time together live. 

Of course, he had plenty of stories to tell, from when he recorded with Jay-Z and Beyoncé was casually in the room to first hearing the sample for 2011's "Work Out." If you were looking for updates about The Fall Off, the rapper unfortunately didn't provide any — but his producer and frequent collaborator DZL did on April 4.

"It's Cole in his bag…Top tier raps, top-level rapping, top-level storytelling. This project is going to give people a deeper insight into him as a man, him as a human being, him as a father, and him as a husband," he told Complex during Dreamville Fest Public Access. 

Luckily, there's still plenty to look forward to from Dreamville and Cole for years to come, and fans can hardly wait. 

• Rick Ross makes a pledge. His upcoming car show will be wheelchair-accessible after being previously sued by a disabled attendee last year.

• Revolve Festival 2025 has dropped its lineup. Lil Wayne, Tyga, and special guest Cardi B will headline the invite-only party on April 12. 

• Real Boston Richey is in real legal trouble. He is facing a felony family violence charge after allegedly choking his pregnant girlfriend at least 20 times. 

Like sports? 🏀🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.