Following the massive success of their latest album, Pink Tape, Lil Uzi Vert has joined the exclusive club consisting of only Drake and J. Cole.
Pink Tape, released earlier this month, made its debut at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the first rap album of 2023 to achieve this feat. It also became Uzi’s third album to reach the pinnacle of the charts. With this accomplishment, these three artists have become the only rappers to have all of their studio albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. However, there are some important details to consider.
On Tuesday (July 11), the Twitter blog HipHopAllDayy shared this fascinating fact, which quickly went viral. The tweet stated, “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 statement holds some truth, it’s crucial to note that it applies specifically to artists who have released multiple albums. Cardi B, for instance, could technically claim that all of her albums have reached No. 1, but she has only released one album so far. Before the release of Pink Tape, Uzi already had a strong case for being part of this exclusive group, as his two previous albums also reached No. 1. However, it seems that the criterion is to have at least three albums qualify.
In terms of other prominent artists, Young Thug narrowly missed joining the club. His latest album, Business is Business, debuted at No. 2 despite his previous two efforts securing the top position.
In addition to the remarkable achievement of Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, and J. Cole being the only rappers with every studio album reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts, there are other interesting facts to consider. JAY-Z, for instance, saw his first two albums peak at No. 23 and No. 3 respectively, while Eminem’s No. 1 streak began with his second studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Kanye West would have made the cut as well if his debut album hadn’t peaked at No. 2.
The No. 1 debut of Pink Tape holds even more significance for Lil Uzi Vert fans, as it signals the release of even more new music in the near future. Shortly after the album’s release, Uzi informed fans that instead of a deluxe version of the LP, they would be dropping an entirely new album. They went a step further by challenging fans to push Pink Tape to the top spot on the charts, promising to release the anticipated project if it achieved that feat.
On July 4, Uzi took to their Instagram Story, sharing a photo of Pink Tape’s cover and writing, “Get this 2 number one and I will drop the album y’all really looking for.” They even updated their bio, adding “Luv is rage 3,” which appears to be another teasing hint at what’s to come.
In a recent update on Monday (July 10), Lil Uzi Vert provided further hints about their next musical project, suggesting that it might be the Barter 16 mixtape.
Reflecting on their success with Pink Tape, Uzi took to social media and wrote, “Sitting here thinking ’bout how I went #1 on an experimental tape. My apologies Barter 16 mixtape on the way.” This statement implies that Barter 16 could be their upcoming release.
Lil Uzi Vert also gave a shoutout to Young Thug, saying, “Free Slime.” It remains unclear whether Barter 16 is intended as a tribute to the incarcerated Young Thug or if it signifies a collaborative effort between the two artists. Further details regarding the mixtape and its connection to Young Thug are currently unknown.