Backd00r


"Backd00r" is a song by American rapper Playboi Carti, featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar and American singer Jhené Aiko. It was released to US rhythmic radio on October 14, 2025 as the second single from Carti's third studio album, Music. The song was written by Playboi Carti and Kendrick Lamar, alongside producers Ojivolta, Keanu Beats, Darius Rameshni, Jugraj Nagra, and Jarrod "Twisco" Morgan. The song contains a sample of "Mutual Feeling" by Beverley Knight.

Composition

The song finds all three artists performing in a crooning, melodic style, over production that music critics have described as "Hungarian psych sample underpinning the superb Philly, dainty chipmunk-soul" and a "swishy Evilgiane-type beat". Kendrick Lamar and Jhené Aiko both sing on the chorus, where Playboi Carti also repeatedly chirps "backdoor". Lamar displays a vocal style that has been compared to his performances on his collaborations with SZA, "Luther" and "30 for 30".

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews. Billboard ranked it the best song from Music and also at fourth place in a list of the album's best guest features, writing that Playboi Carti's verses "add the perfect bit of spice" to Kendrick Lamar's melodies and "Kendrick has yet to spit any serious bars at this point in the album, but hearing him and Carti together remains exciting as they chart this new territory together." Kyann-Sian Williams of NME considered it the best collaboration between Carti and Lamar on the album. Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine called "Backd00r" the "antithesis to Whole Lotta Red shifty paranoia", additionally commenting "The result is the one of the most seductive Carti tracks ever."

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Tidal.
Musicians
  • Jordan Carter – vocals
  • Kendrick Lamar – vocals
  • Jhené Aiko – vocals
  • Mark Williams – production
  • Raul Cubina – production
  • Keanu Torres – production
  • Daruis Rameshni – production
  • Jugraj Nagra – production
Technical