Playboi Carti

Did You Know?

• Carter's favorite designer label is Balmain and his favorite designer is Raf Simons.
• In 2017, Carter was arrested for domestic battery after an altercation with his girlfriend, though charges may not have been filed.
• In January 2019, Carter was convicted and fined £800 for assaulting his tour bus driver at an incident that took place in February 2018 in Gretna, Scotland.

Early life

Jordan Terrell Carter, whose birth date is listed as either September 13, 1995 or 1996, came into the world in Atlanta, Georgia, and spent his childhood in the nearby suburb of Riverdale. He has one older brother and went to North Springs Charter High School in Sandy Springs. Carter once told Complex that he had no real desire to go to college or join the military, preferring instead to find ways to earn cash. Before he got into rapping, his big dream was to play professional basketball, but he gave up the sport after falling out with his coach.

That shift led him to pour more energy into music, often ditching class to record tracks or clock in at an H&M. His interest in music started early, with a stint in choir that he initially joined to get close to girls but eventually found creatively fulfilling. As a teen, he started rapping under the name Sir Cartier, making songs inspired by Wiz Khalifa, Currensy, and Odd Future. His early videos show him performing in South Atlanta strip malls and parking lots with friends, and he credits his older brother for turning him on to Gucci Mane and other local rappers who shaped his sound.

Fashion also grabbed his attention early on. He picked up punk-inspired looks from Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, thrifted for unique clothes that made him stand out, and sometimes caught flak for his style. At 18, he left Atlanta for New York City, crashing with family and friends while chasing a music career.

Career

Before he was Playboi Carti, Carter went by Sir Cartier, posting his first songs to SoundCloud in 2011. Two years later, he switched to the name Playboi Carti and started putting music on Newgrounds as well. In 2014, he connected with Ethereal, a producer from Atlanta’s Awful Records collective, and soon joined the label. Carter says Ethereal helped him shape his signature style.

Once he decided to go all-in on music, he moved to New York City and crashed with a drug dealer he knew. While there, he kept running into members of the ASAP Mob. He met ASAP Bari, who then introduced him to ASAP Rocky. That connection proved crucial: Rocky took Carter on a trip to Texas, kicking off his climb in the industry.

By 2015, Carter was getting buzz for the singles “Broke Boi” and “Fetti,” the latter featuring Dash and Maxo Kream, both released on SoundCloud. Around the same time, he was working with other Atlanta underground artists like UnoTheActivist, Thouxanbanfauni, Yung Bans, and Lil Yachty, plus producers MexikoDro and Icytwat. In 2016, he signed to Rocky’s AWGE imprint, a joint deal with Interscope Records. That year, he opened for ASAP Ferg on the Turnt & Burnt Tour and co-headlined the Left Right Tour with Lil Uzi Vert.

He also appeared on two songs from ASAP Mob’s first album, Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends: “Telephone Calls” and “London Town.”

Artistry

Carter is recognized for his unusual vocal style and fashion sense, and is often called a key influence in modern hip-hop as well as a pioneer of the rage microgenre. He draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, including ASAP Rocky, Kanye West, Jay-Z, MF Doom, Slayer, Michael Jackson, the Sex Pistols, and Kiss. He carries a rock star image and is noted for a style that is playful, hard-hitting, and melodic. Nearly all of his raps are freestyled, a technique he picked up from Lil Wayne.

His music prioritizes atmosphere over traditional lyricism; critics have pointed out that his rapping can be spare and repetitive, focusing more on flow and catchy phrases. His work fits into the mumble rap category, which emphasizes catchy hooks and infectious beats. Early on, his music had a carefree, youthful feel and avoided serious topics. As he developed, he started using more experimental sounds, especially in later projects.

Tracks like "Earfquake" and "Pissy Pamper" show him trying out different vocal techniques, including a high-pitched, frantic "baby voice." This style helps create a playful but edgy mood in his music.

Other ventures

Opium is an American record label and rap collective founded in 2019 by Carter. The label, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, currently holds five acts: Carter himself, rappers Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and ASAP Nast, and rap duo HXG, 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, and F1lthy, 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 Atlanta rage rap scene and is influenced by the 70s and 80s punk rock era. In June 2022, Carter became a founding partner of the ready-to-drink cocktail company Thomas Ashbourne. As part of the launch, he introduced a signature vodka-based cocktail called the Hardscatto, alongside founding partners Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashley Benson, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Hudgens, and John Cena.

In 2025, Carter launched the fashion brand YVL (short for Young Vamp Life), a name he had previously popularized through his music, merchandise, and personal branding. On November 24, 2025, popular battle royale game Fortnite announced that they would be hosting an in-game collaboration with Carter.