Opium is an American record label and

creative agency An advertising agency, often referred to as a creative agency or an ad agency, is a business dedicated to creating, planning, and handling advertising and sometimes other forms of promotion and marketing for its clients. An ad agency is generally ...

founded by American rapper and singer Playboi Carti. The label's current notable acts include Carti himself, American rappers

Ken Carson Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr. (born April 11, 2000), known professionally as Ken Carson, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He rose to prominence following the release of his second studio album '' X'' (2022), which be ...

and Destroy Lonely, and hip hop duo Homixide Gang. The label also includes music producers KP Beatz and Art Dealer who both worked extensively on Playboi Carti's second studio album, '' Whole Lotta Red''. Musically, the Opium collective shares a similar sound, with dark, gritty, and avant-garde synths mixed into a rage beat reminiscent of the 70s and 80s punk rock era. This experimental sound strays away from the current trap hip hop genre and has garnered its own cultlike fanbase.

History

In July 2022,

, who signed to Opium in 2019, released his second studio album '' X'', which debuted at number 115 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number 50 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In August 2022, Destroy Lonely, who signed to Opium in 2021, released his fifth mixtape '' No Stylist'', which debuted at number 91 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and number 57 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In October 2022, Ken Carson released deluxe edition to '' X'', titled ''

Xtended ''X'' is the second studio album by American rapper Ken Carson, released through Opium and Interscope Records on July 8, 2022. In the United States, the album entered at number 115 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The deluxe version, titled ''Xtended' ...

'', containing 5 additional tracks. In November 2022, Destroy Lonely released a deluxe edition to '' No Stylist'', titled '' NS+ (Ultra)'', containing several new tracks. In May 2023, Destroy Lonely released his debut studio album '' If Looks Could Kill'', which was supported by the lead single of the same name, released on March 3, 2023, after the unreleased snippet became viral on TikTok. The single debuted at number 30 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. '' If Looks Could Kill'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 18 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, becoming Lonely's highest-charting album. In July 2023, Playboi Carti announced the dates for a global tour called "Antagonist Tour", alongside

, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang. Later in September 2023, the U.S. leg of the tour was rescheduled to early 2024. In September 2023, Destroy Lonely released the deluxe edition of '' If Looks Could Kill'', subtitled ''Director's Cut'', containing all tracks from every edition (including vinyl, CD and

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). In October 2023,

released his third studio album '' A Great Chaos'', which debuted at number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, earning 49,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, and becoming Carson's first US top 20 album. The album was supported by the release of one single: " I Need U", which released on Valentine's Day.

Notable artists

Discography

The label had officially released seven studio albums and two mixtapes.

Albums

Studio albums

Mixtapes

References

{{Authority control Record labels established in 2019 American hip hop record labels