Best Deluxe Album

7.5.20

Honestly I do not even know if I am a fan of where this bracket netted out, but it is safe to say this is where it all began. Deluxe albums have been on the rise this year. But where did it all begin?

I did breakout the brackets by location. It seems like deluxe albums are more of a thing in Toronto than the West Coat, so they live together for the sake of the bracket.

Deluxe albums have become super popular as of late, as a way for artists to become more consistent when dropping new music. To me, a deluxe has to fit in well with the original tape. It also has to bring just as much fire as the original, or why even bother sharing? Deluxe versions can be a few songs, or basically a whole other album. One fun way to get more length on your deluxe, is to make remixes with fun features, or share some uncut, unreleased songs or versions of songs no one has heard before. A lot of these deluxe albums were dope, so here is my take on the best.

WEST COAST

Victory Lap is not necessarily a Deluxe album, but when the fans wanted more, Nip gave them more. An original fourteen track album released in March of 2018, became Nipsey’s first album to make the Billboard Top 10 Album charts. A month later, Nipsey rereleased the album with two bonus tracks, one of them being Double Up which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. An incredible move from Nipsey, who was once “too street” for the radio.

Nip goes head to head with the Weeknd first found, where he did something similar with his latest album, After Hours. After Hours, originally released in late March of 2020, debuted at number one and had over a million pre-sale orders. A month and a half later, The Weeknd released three bonus tracks and six remixes to previous songs on the album. The album did well but I think this is overkill - should have just done six unheard songs and made it a real deluxe. 

Nav came to us with the lengthy deluxe album. Good Intensions drops with eighteen songs, which is a good length for an album when nowadays people want to drop seven and call it an album. Nav, as always, came through with some great features, from Young Thug, to Future, to Pop Smoke and many more. Three days later, Nav drops his deluxe which is an additional fourteen tracks. He announces these are leaks, snippets, and other tracks that were originally archived from the final album cut. Out of these fourteen, only two had features, one from Quavo and one from Lil Duke. The concept is cool but I feel like when you come through with another fourteen on top of eighteen, it has to be a bit more exciting than a Lil Duke feature. Anyways, I think we know where he got this idea from, his round one opponent, Drake. 

I took Drake all the way to the end, not because he is my favorite, but because who has done a Deluxe album as good as him, thus far? Everyone is trying it for fun, and some of them are great, but they’re not all great. Drake’s original album included thirteen bangers. No skip album, which is important. Following up with a Deluxe that matches that heat, is even greater. Drake did just this, with Come Thru, All Me, and The Motion. All Me is definitely a contender for one of the top songs on this project, featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean, produced by Key Wane. Now, this is not an entire two albums by any means, but it opened the doors for deluxe albums and doing such things. Drake followed up with Scorpion  a year later, where he basically dropped two albums together “Side A and Side B.” So yeah, the Drake album was dope, but it also paved the way for our little trend right now. This is why I pushed it all the way. To be honest, my favorite is probably G Herbo or 42 Dugg. 

EAST COAST

I have Eternal Atake loosing in the first round, which is probably hurtful to some. When the original album came out, I listened to the first half and was like, hey this is dope. Then the second half came around, and it was a total snooze-fest. Mind you, do you remember how long we waited for Eternal Atake? Uzi was supposed to drop so many times prior to him actually doing so. With that, and the fact that he told us once he dropped Rihanna would drop (which has yet to happen), he likely felt that he owed it to us to drop a deluxe. So, although Uzi gave us an additional fourteen with some good features, the best songs were still on the first half of the original. Thirty-two songs but more than half are boring, I can’t even get to the deluxe songs. Sorry Uzi. Drop that Rihanna for us.

Pop Smoke dropped Meet the Woo 2 plus a deluxe version, that changed the way we look at New York hip-hop today. A Boogie is on this list, but was more R&B than anything. He rolled with Don Q who was heavy, but just not sticking. Then you have people like Takashi 6ix9ine and Lil TJay, who New York is probably trying to un-claim. Pop Smoke’s album brings real hip-hop back into the city. Pop has a couple of features from his New York crew, then follows up with five bonus tracks. Dior plus the remix make up two of these, which have both been the anthem all year. This was one of my favorite projects prior to Pop passing, but as usual, with tragedy, comes the streams. Now, it is everyone’s favorite project, and with the biggest hit coming from the Deluxe, Pop takes the win for the East Coast.

A Boogie’s deluxe is a bit interesting. Typically, a deluxe is an instant rerelease of the album. Artist dropped Artist 2.0 on Valentine’s Day this year, which of course was back in February. Almost five months later, Artist dropped the Deluxe. He stated it was bad timing in-between with the coronavirus and protesting going on. Which, is valid. A lot of artist did not get to do the proper promotions for their music they had hoped during these times, as brands were tied to being quiet and respectful, rather than pushing consumers to go buy something. Still, some wonder why he did not just drop a whole new project. A Boogie definitely came through with his deluxe, sharing nine new tracks and making its way up to number three on the top album charts. Two things I love about A Boogie and they’re both represented well on this deluxe album. First, his incredible voice and love for his family. Artist and Melody just brought in their second child together, and a number of these songs are for Melody, which is the absolute sweetest. Second, because of this, I never really would have thought A Boogie was ever on the streets, but he is great at keeping his voice and telling us where he came from, which you’ll hear on songs like 7 Mac 11s. A true Deluxe album that did not go over the top with the amount of tracks, so we can truly enjoy them all.

Circles is Mac Miller’s posthumous album that was released at the top of the year, after his family confirmed he was well into completing the album, and wanted the world to hear. They confirmed this would be the last project we’d hear from Mac, as they would respect his work that was not spoken about being released. The album was amazing, and landed number three on the Billboard Top 200, right behind Eminem’s Music to be Murdered By. A few months later, a deluxe was released with two additional songs, Right and Floating. Posthumous music to be is touchy. I want all of the Mac Miller hits, but when you say this is all, anything further I am questioning where it is coming from. Perhaps these two songs should have been on the album, and needed a bit of extra work. They are great, and I do feel that Floating is one of the top hits on the project. Still, touchy subject overall. Rest In Peace Mac.

MID WEST

G Herbo’s PTSD is one my favorite albums to release this year. When everyone was dropping Deluxe albums left and right, I could not wait for G Herbo to do the same. He has definitely grown a lot as an artist, and is working his way to becoming more relevant in the mainstream world. By dropping this Deluxe, it shows his attention to the game, what the people want to hear, and also displays his continuous grind to be a serious artist in hip-hop. I definitely think the original was the best. PTSD the single should win an award. Glass In The Face, Shooter, there were so many good songs. Still, G Herbo showed out on his deluxe. He has been speaking a lot on his friendship with Lil Uzi Vert, which makes sense as Uzi has his second appearance on the Deluxe album with Like This, which also comes with a music video. Friends & Foes was the first single released from the deluxe version, which shoes G Herbo in his attempts to use his vocals and tell his story. It is a much different look from him, that could go either way on your “liking scale,” but nonetheless, he is trying his shot at diversity in music, and being vulnerable to his true fans. I am giving G Herbo the win for the midwest, as he continues to grow and prove himself as an artist (and a father, for that matter).

Earl Sweatshirt dropped off a deluxe of his latest project Feet of Clay, likely in attempts to hop on the trend and make his way back into relevancy. I have not heard much from Earl since Tyler, The Creator was a straight, vulgar, rapper. Though, back then, Earl was his right hand man and a key member of the Odd Future rap collective. Earl’s original project holds just seven tracks, and the deluxe shares an additional two. It is great to see him continuing to drop some new music, but it does not make it out of round one, with the heat coming from the midwest nowadays.

42 Dugg is from Detroit, though you may have figured he was from the south with his new crew. Yo Gotti brought him on to the label last year around this time at his own Birthday Bash concert, and he has been making a run for success ever since. 42 Dugg was on Lil Baby’s My Turn deluxe, with the track We Paid, which is pretty much a fan favorite of everyone. On his own album, Mr. Woody is probably my favorite song, which is funny that this one is a solo track with no feature. His sound is very unique. It is raspy, and sounds like he is almost singing, but it’s more hip-hop than anything. His sound really makes everything song a hit, which is why this deluxe was just as dope as the original. The deluxe gave us nine new songs, including two remixes to hits on the original.

Here is where it gets tough. Lil Durk of course put out a deluxe to Just Cause Y’all Waited 2. The deluxe added an additional seven tracks and three music videos to songs previously released. The deluxe was dope, no doubt about it. For me, it does not beat 42 Dugg, because from Durk, I expect some crazy tracks with other friends from the midwest where they just go off. I want the hard stuff we were not ready for on the original. The new seven tracks were a continuation to the original album, but they did not have any features and probably could have sufficed receiving them all together. Close call, still love Durk.

THE SOUTH

If anyone was going to take down Drake in this battle, it would have been Lil Baby and his My Turn Deluxe. Funny enough, because I have been discussing how I think Lil Baby would have stolen Lil Wayne’s heart if they had met the same time Wayne and Drake got together. My Turn was already twenty songs which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. The deluxe shared an additional six tracks, including We Paid which made it’s way to all hip-hop playlists as one of the top jams of the summer. Lil Baby knows how to make hits, and he won't stop.

Pi’erre Bourne is mostly known for his producing skills. He works with a ton of huge rappers in the south, and is extremely talented. What you may not have known, is that Pi’erre writes and raps as well. With all of these skills wrapped up into one, it is no surprise that Pi’erre has a gigantic volt of heat he has came up with over time. The Life of Pi’erre 4 Deluxe holds over thirty songs. Quite impressive, though unfortunately he goes up against Lil Baby, and there are little survivors.

Moneybagg Yo brought my interest back into hip-hop from the south. T.I is in my top five list, but southern hip-hop today is much different. I would say Atlanta from Houston is different overall, but Atlanta is starting to swing similarly to the CMG crew. Time Served is another album that I was like, if all his boys from the South are dropping Deluxe albums, I better get one from him, too. Of course, he came through, with an additional seven songs. Moneybagg has dropped pretty consistently over the past two years. His style has changed a bit. I remember when he previously dropped 43VA HEARTLESS he said he was going to drop his love-rap and take it all the way back to the streets. Well, I do not think his sensitive side ever left him. Still, he brings the energy to every song he creates. Almost every song on the original is a banger, and Match My Fly from the Deluxe is one of my top favorites overall.

Finally, Ralo dropped a deluxe for Free Ralo. Overall, eighteen tracks with some cool features including Shy Glizzy, Tee Grizzley and Young Dolph. I’d love to have seen this album done better if Ralo did not go to prison and remained brothers with Gucci Mane. However, that is not the case, and Gucci seemed to have found a direct replica of Ralo in his new artist, Ola Runt (they have very similar twangy rap voices). Great to see him to continue to put out music, however.

ashley riley