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Wish It Can't Be This Way is the third mixtape by American rapper Rarri Rocket. It was released on November 17, 2023, through Cactus Jack Records, and Republic Records. The album features a sole guest apperance from label-mate Travis Scott.

Wish It Can't Be This Way was met with widespread acclaim, who praised its experimental approach and Rocket's clever wordplay, confident delivery and lyricism. The mixtape debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 with 38,000 album-equivalent units, later peaking at number four. On December 7, 2024, the album was certified double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Background
On March 2023, Rarri Rocket first announced that he was working on a new project during a performance in London. On May 2033, Rocket's creative director Edwin Gonzalez teased his progress on the album via Instagram, where the caption read: "Album mode". On June 2, Rocket announced the title of the album.

Recording
In October, Rocket was reported to be recording in France with Travis Scott, The Kid Laroi, Hit-Boy, Baby Keem, and Metro Boomin while further teasing a album with Bad Boy Tribe.

Critical reception
Wish It Can't Be This Way was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 86, based on six reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.2 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Paul A. Thompson from Pitchfork stated, "Wish It Can't Be This Way shatters the notion of Rarri Rocket as a specialist with a narrow purview and audience, and recasts him as a star in waiting, all without forcing him into unflattering contortions. It also cements him as a far more original stylist than other hopefuls from Orlando". Consequence critic Michael Pementel said, "Rarri Rocket's ability to express a variety of feelings allows the music to stand out at times and become more than a generic pop star presentation. It's unfortunate, then, that the record finds itself held back by unfeeling and monotonous takes on issues like toxic masculinity. Overall, Wish It Can't Be This Way is a mixed bag of experience that offers enough solid tracks to keep fans latched on".

Commercial performance
Wish It Can't Be This Way debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 2,000 pure album sales) in its first week, becoming Rarri Rocket's first US top-ten album. In its second week, the album fell down to number 12, earning 21,000 units. In its third week, the album fell down to number thirty with 12,000 units. In it seventeenth week, the album reached a new peak at number four, selling 45,000 units, boosted by the deluxe version. The album has spent 21 non-consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard 200, making it the eighth best-selling album of 2024, and 89 weeks overall. On December 7, 2024, the album was certified double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Following the release of Wish It Can't Be This Way, three songs debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100. The singles "Wolves" and "Friends Say", reached a new peak at number 19, and number five in its twenty-second and eighth week, respectively.

Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and Tidal.

Performance
 * Rarri Rocket – main artist
 * Young Thug – featured artist (track 5)
 * Don Toliver – additional vocals (5)

Production
 * Metro Boomin – production (tracks 1, 3, 5-6, 9 and 10)
 * Prince 85 – production (track 1)
 * WondaGurl – production (tracks 4 and 12)
 * Mike Dean – production (tracks 4, 8 and 12)
 * David x Eli – production (track 6)
 * Dez Wright – additional production (track 4)
 * Allen Ritter – additional production (track 6)
 * Steven Shaeffer – production (track 8)
 * Cubeatz – additional production (track 12)

Technical
 * Mike Bozzi – mastering (all tracks)
 * Mike Dean – mixing (all tracks), recording assistance (all tracks)
 * Rarri Rocket - recording (all tracks), mixing assistance (tracks 3, 7 and 10)