Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red was one of the most anticipated albums in recent hip-hop history. Fans were expecting a return to the lush, atmospheric vibes of Die Lit, but what they got was something completely different. The album’s chaotic and aggressive energy, paired with its distorted and abrasive sound, led to a mixed reception upon release. Some criticized the unorthodox production, while others coped the best they could by defending it.
Today, I’m going to explore how Whole Lotta Red isn’t just an experimental trap album—it’s a punk album in disguise, and it’s shaping the future of hip-hop in a way that’s reminiscent of hardcore punk’s influence on rock music.
Section 1: The Unexpected Nature of Whole Lotta Red
Fans were expecting Whole Lotta Red to carry forward the vibey, atmospheric energy of Die Lit, but it was anything but that. Instead, it leaned into stripped-down synths, distorted 808s, and bizarre vocal choices and mixing. The production was muddy, chaotic, and abrasive—which left a lot of listeners confused or even outright angry.
Tracks like “Stop Breathing” and “Rockstar Made” really set the tone. These songs represented a more radical approach, with louder, punchier beats that felt jarring compared to what people expected from Carti at the time. A lot of the elements were pulled from the underground SoundCloud scene, with the producer F1lthy playing a huge role in curating that sound.
The album’s vampire aesthetic was another unexpected move. It played into themes of darkness, chaos, and excess, but the execution felt inconsistent and confusing. Some fans embraced the look and energy, while most people thought it was underdeveloped, forced, or even corny.
Fast forward a year, and the rage genre is born—a subgenre of trap built around loud, aggressive, chaotic energy. Rage found its footing in the underground and is now bleeding into mainstream hip-hop. Artists under Carti’s Opium label, like Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely, are continuing to push that sound forward.
Section 2: Whole Lotta Red and Hardcore Punk’s Influence
Just like hardcore punk flipped rock music on its head, Whole Lotta Red did the same to trap. Hardcore punk was born out of rebellion during the Reagan era—when the U.S. was shifting toward hyper-capitalism and conservative evangelicalism. The music was fast, raw, aggressive, and often violent. Underground scenes in LA, DC, and NYC exploded with new bands and energy.
In a similar way, Carti has brought underground trap into the mainstream. Trap had been in a kind of stale place by 2020, still riding on a lot of pop elements from the previous five or six years. No one was really pushing the sound forward.
And while Carti’s lyrics aren’t politically charged, that’s never been the focus of his music. His appeal is more about energy, delivery, and raw feeling than lyrical content. The aggression and rawness of Whole Lotta Red was more important than the words themselves.
Like Kanye’s Yeezus, Whole Lotta Red used a kind of intentionally “bad” mixing. The distorted bass, harsh hi-hats, and piercing vocals feel confrontational—mirroring the DIY, lo-fi ethos of hardcore punk. What some might call a flaw actually became part of the album’s charm, just like how rough recordings gave punk its edge.
Section 3: Comparing Whole Lotta Red to Hardcore Punk in Detail
Hardcore punk was a reaction to its time—and so is Whole Lotta Red. Punk stripped rock down to its rawest form. Carti has done something similar with trap, taking familiar elements and twisting them into something harsher, weirder, and more minimal.
Carti has also said he’s been influenced by punk culture. In a 2018 interview with Dazed, he talked about his “new punk phase,” pointing to a shift in his mindset and style. The Whole Lotta Red cover even pays homage to the punk fanzine Slash. Visually, he’s clearly borrowing from punk’s style and energy. The whole vampire aesthetic feels like a nod to bands like The Misfits or even Type O Negative—it has that horror-core, ’80s vibe. But honestly, I don’t think he translated that vibe all that well into his actual image.
He also has a tattoo from Bad Religion, one of the first melodic hardcore bands. Whether he actually connects with their political and philosophical lyrics is up for debate—I think he just likes the upside-down cross. That symbol has always stood against authority and the status quo, and that’s the core idea Carti seems to be pulling from punk: rebellion.
Hardcore punk was anti-evangelical and anti-establishment. Carti isn’t exactly making a deep statement about religion, but he definitely leans into anti-God imagery and themes. It fits his aesthetic more than anything else, but it still plays into that punk idea of rejecting norms and traditions.
Punk music has always been about rebellion—whether that’s political, social, or cultural. Whole Lotta Red might not have a clear message, but it breaks all the rules of trap and challenges what people expect from mainstream rap. The album is a form of aggressive self-expression, just like punk was.
And that energy really comes out in Carti’s live shows. Punk shows were known for being chaotic, with mosh pits and intense crowd energy. Carti brings that same energy to his performances. Fans aren’t just vibing—they’re screaming, moshing, and losing their minds. It doesn’t feel like a traditional rap concert. It feels like a punk or metal show, where the emotion and chaos matter just as much as the music.
Conclusion
Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red might not be a punk album in the traditional sense, but it shares the same rebellious, experimental spirit that defined hardcore punk in its prime. The abrasive production, unorthodox style, and chaotic energy make it a genre-breaking project that’s already influencing the future of trap and hip-hop—just like punk did for rock.
Do you agree with the comparison between Whole Lotta Red and hardcore punk? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more music breakdowns!
Check out my video covering this topic here: