Lil Uzi Vert is now in an elite club that only consists of Drake and J. Cole following the success of their latest album, Pink Tape.
Released earlier this month, the Philly rapper’s new LP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – making for both the first No. 1 rap album of 2023, as well as Uzi’s third top-charting album overall. With this, they became one of only three rappers to have every one of their studio albums top the Billboard 200…but there are some caveats
On Tuesday (July 11), Twitter blog HipHopAllDayy shared the fun fact in a now-viral tweet, writing, “Drake, Lil Uzi Vert & J. Cole are now the ONLY RAPPERS to have EVERY one of their studio albums go #1 on Billboard.”
While this is partially true, the defining factor is that more than one album was released by said artist. Technically, Cardi B could say all of her albums have also gone No. 1 – but she’s also only ever released one album. Uzi was also technically in this trifecta before the release of Pink Tape as both of their two prior albums went No. 1, but perhaps the idea is that three or more albums have to qualify.
As for other top-of-mind greats: Young Thug missed the mark by one spot with the release of his latest album, Business is Business, debuting at No. 2, despite his two prior efforts going No. 1.
JAY-Z‘s first two albums peaked at No. 23 and No. 3 respectively, Eminem‘s No. 1 streak didn’t begin until his sophomore studio effort, The Marshall Mathers LP, and Kanye West would have made the cut if his debut album didn’t peak at No. 2.
Meanwhile, Pink Tape‘s No. 1 debut means that Lil Uzi Vert fans will have even more new music soon. After telling fans they were going to “drop a whole ‘nother album” instead of a deluxe version of the LP just days after its release, Uzi then took it a step further and told fans they’d drop the project if Pink Tape debuted in the top spot.
“Get this 2 number one and I will drop the album y’all really looking for,” Lil Uzi Vert wrote alongside a photo of the album’s cover on their Instagram Story on July 4. They then even updated their bio to add “Luv is rage 3” – seemingly another hint at what’s to come
However, in a further update just this week on Monday (July 10), Uzi hinted at their next musical endeavor being the Barter 16 mixtape.
“Sitting here thinking /bout how I went #1 on a experimental tape,” they wrote. “My apologies Barter 16 mixtape on the way.”
Lil Uzi Vert added in a salute to Young Thug: “Free Slime.”
It’s unclear if Barter 16 is an homage to the incarcerated YSL head honcho or an actual joint project with Young Thug.
