If you’re a fan of Pi’erre Bourne, you are probably familiar with his album saga, The Life of Pi’erre (also known as TLOP). Pi’erre Bourne has released an array of TLOPs as of 2022: The Life of Pi’erre 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 deluxe, and 5. The fan base has been going back and forth about his two most recent albums of the collection. So, which is better? TLOP 4 Deluxe or TLOP 5?
For background, TLOP 4 Deluxe was released in 2020 with 31 tracks, while TLOP 5, with 16 tracks, was released just a year after.
Both belong to a collection that has been ongoing since the year 2016 when Pi’erre released the first TLOP. To compare the two albums, I will be utilizing three criteria: Technical Quality, Vibe/Feel, and Artistry.
Technical Quality
Pi’erre is an icon in the producing world for his signature usage of 808s, hi hats, melodies, and more. Both albums are evident of his talent in his realm.
One of the ways in which he is well known is his ability to create seamless transitions from track to track on his albums. He masters this on both TLOP 5 and TLOP 4 Deluxe…but TLOP 4 Deluxe runs just a little bit more smoothly.
Though TLOP 5 also has smooth transitions, some of the transitions sound a bit choppy from a musical standpoint. The transition from “Practice” to “40 Clip” feels a bit unsmooth as the melody for the second song feels like it’s kind of plopped at the end of the previous.
This, in my opinion, is one of the most obvious examples of when this happens on the album. TLOP 4 Deluxe, however, doesn’t seem to have any transitions that feel rough on the ears. Though some could argue some of the beats sound too similar as a result, 4 Deluxe definitely takes the cake with transitions.
Vibe/Feel
TLOP 5 easily takes first place in this category. I’d say the majority of
the songs on the album are feel-good songs. Some will have you raging like you’re in a mosh pit, while others will make you feel like you’re floating slowly through outer space. Though the pacing on the songs aren’t all unified, every track on TLOP 5 has a “vibey” feel: ones that fit this the most off the album are HULU, Biology 101, 40 Clip, and Butterfly.
TLOP 4 Deluxe definitely has its vibey tracks, like Sossboy, Feds, Be Mine, and Speed Dial. However, what makes TLOP 4 Deluxe a zero-skips album is not as much about its ability to make the listener vibe to it. The last criteria is where TLOP 4 Deluxe dominates.
Artistry
TLOP 4 Deluxe crushes TLOP 5 in terms of artistic quality. Not only is the album stand-alone a creative masterpiece, but it also demonstrates his immense growth as a rapper and producer when comparing it to TLOP 3. 4 Deluxe was the album where Pi’erre fully mastered the art of seamless transitions.
His albums before didn’t quite capture his ability to do so. The variety of lyricism across all 31 tracks doesn’t quite hit you the first time you listen to the mixtape. It’s not something that is easy to catch right away because the album is rich with various samples, vocal layering, and intricate melodies that simply weren’t heard from Pi’erre Bourne until the time of its release.
4 Deluxe has greater substance than the more recent TLOP 5. Songs like Deja Vu, Ballad, and Romeo Must Die will have you thinking about a past relationship as he gets vulnerable about shaky relationships in those tracks.
The first three songs of the album are where he dedicates time to talk about his experience with blowing up as an artist, with honorable mention being the last track of the album, Speed Dial. He even dedicates Jay P to a late friend from his upbringing.
So Which is Better?
Though both albums provide different feels and both are telling of Pi’erre Bourne’s creative genius, the winner overall would have to be TLOP 4 Deluxe. It has more seamless transitions, substance per song, creativity, and just sticks with you in a way that just isn’t fully achieved with TLOP 5.
Don’t take this as a TLOP 5 diss, though. The artist is arguably one of the greatest producers of the new wave of rap happening right now.