How to Make Playboi Carti Type Beats

The Carti Sound Evolution

Carti's beats evolved through distinct eras: • Self-Titled / Die Lit (Pi'erre Bourne) — bouncy, melodic, 150-160 BPM • Whole Lotta Red (F1lthy, Richie Souf) — aggressive, distorted, punk energy • Music / Opium era — rage beats, hyperpop influence, maximalist The current Opium/rage sound is what everyone's searching for. It's built on aggression, distortion, and energy.

Rage Beat Drums

Tempo: 150-165 BPM

Key differences from standard trap: • Faster BPM (150+ vs 140) • Double snare hits (step 15 and 16 — that snare stutter) • All 16 hi-hat steps active • Add ×2 or ×3 rolls on steps 4, 8, 12, 16 — constant roll energy • Hard, aggressive sounds — distorted kicks, sharp snares

The Hi-Hat Approach

Carti/Opium hi-hats are relentless. Every step is active, and rolls are frequent but short:

Add ×2 subdivisions on steps 2, 6, 10, 14 (every other even step). This creates a subtle double-time pulse that drives the beat forward without going full machine-gun. For drops and transitions, switch to ×4 on the last 4 steps of the bar. Use ramp Up to build into the next bar. Velocity ramp: Flat, not Down. Rage beats don't decay — they attack.

808 Bass — Distorted and Aggressive

Clean 808s don't work here. You need distorted, clipping 808 samples. • Load a heavily saturated 808 sample • Pitch it low — -3 to -7 semitones from the root • Keep patterns simple: 2-3 notes max • Let it clip — in this genre, distortion IS the sound

The 808 pattern has a bounce to it — not evenly spaced hits. That gap between steps 1 and 7 creates a lurching feel that matches the aggressive energy.