"Not a fan of the demonic lyrics" - Internet reacts as Playboi Carti's new single 'All Red' raises eyebrows

Rapper Playboi Carti dropped his latest single All Red across all music streaming devices on September 13, the day of his 29th birthday. The song is the first single from his long-anticipated upcoming studio album I Am Music slated to release fully by next year.

Please note: This article contains references that may be upsetting to the readers. Discretion is advised.

Currently available on YouTube and other DSPs (Digital Service Providers) such as Spotify, the lyrics of All Red have turned heads online. For instance, the chorus “Upside-down cross tat' on my neck, shut 'em up, uh, uh/ Upside-down cross tat' on my neck, shut 'em up,” is deemed as satanic or anti-Christ.

“Uh, the Bentley's parked outside/ My broad tryna go for a ride/ I put VETEMENTS right on her thighs/ I put the mask on 'cause I be fried/ All red, I stay with the Fives,” he further raps.

While Playboi Carti has been known for having an upside-down cross inked on both his shoulders, the lyrics have now caused quite a stir. Likewise, some even alleged that he was sounding like rapper-singer Future. For instance, X user @exzisd commented on NFR Podcast’s post on the song drop, by calling the lyrics “demonic” and expressing their disappointment with the Atlanta rapper.

“Not a fan of the demonic lyrics. They always act like the upside-down cross isn't a symbol of evil but they know d*mn well what they are doing. It's a shame bc I think Carti is one of the most interesting and unique voices in rap when there's not a ton of that out there. I'll wait for his gospel album sipping lean with Jesus,” the user wrote.

A netizen slams Carti's new song lyrics. (Image via X/ exzisd)

Many others joined the conversation and shared similar reactions calling out the ASAP Mob member for All Red’s seemingly controversial lyrics.

“Playboi Carti’s new song literally says ‘upside down cross on my neck.’ Why does he try so hard to be different? Not only that but it’s just disrespectful,” a person wrote.

“Upside down cross?? Playboi Carti demonic asff,” one person wrote.

“‘Upside cross tatted on my neck.’ Yeah Carti we gonna get you baptized gang,” wrote another.

Some even drew comparisons between Playboi Carti and Kendrick Lamar’s new songs.

“Carti management should have read the room. Kendrick trying to cleanse and bro comes out the gate in some upside-down cross vibes,” an individual wrote.

“This new Carti is just the sh*t Kendrick talking about, wtf was that,” another individual wrote.

Meanwhile, some claimed that Playboi Carti’s voice on All Red sounded like that of fellow rapper Future.

“Are they using AI to make him sound like Future? Been listening to both of them heavily lately and Carti is almost indistinguishable in the first half of the track… so weird,” a fan noted.

“Why does he sound almost identical to Future,” another asked.

So far, Carti hasn’t commented on the queries raised by his listeners. However, the upside-down cross has often been considered an ancient symbol of martyrdom associated with Saint Peter or Peter the Apostle. Elsewhere, such a cross is often deemed as satanic or anti-Christ.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Playboi Carti has used such a symbol. Earlier, he used the same during his 2021 King Vamp Tour and later in August 2022 when he was spotted with an inverted cross tattoo and another one allegedly reading “Satan.”

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All you need to know about Playboi Carti’s recent music drop

On Friday, Playboi Carti released the first and lead single of his forthcoming album I Am Music. The song has been dropped under the labels of AWGE and Interscope Records and was written by Philadelphia producer F1lthy, songwriting duo Ojivolta (Mark Williams and Raul Cabina), and longtime Carti collaborators Lucian, Lukrative, and Twisco.

In the wake of the single-verse song’s release, Playboi took to the Instagram page of his record label Opium and wrote, “THIS 1 FOR Y’ALL, I CAN’T LIE.” Later, on his personal account, he shared a post comprising a carousel of images of vinyl covers with the caption, “I AM MUSIC, THE ALBUM. LINK IN BIO” written on it, which directed him to his website.

Notably, in June this year, the father of two performed All Red while headlining the Lyrical Lemonade’s 2024 Summer Smash Music Festival in Chicago and subsequently kept teasing it on his social media.

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So far, the exact release date of the whole I Am Music album remains undisclosed. However, as per the rapper’s website, it is slated to arrive before October 2025. Meanwhile, All Red is Playboy Carti’s first music drop on streaming devices after 2020’s album Whole Lotta Red.