2021 has been a great year for hip-hop, with a host of artists announcing and releasing new songs and albums. Not only did Lil Baby and Lil Durk teamed up for a collaborative album, but J. Cole also made his return. Among all of this new music, Pi’erre Bourne stands out with the long-awaited fifth installment in his The Life of Pi’erre series.
Released earlier this month, The Life of Pi’erre 5 has been on the minds of fans ever since it was revealed following The Life of Pi’erre 4’s release back during the summer of 2019. Despite the long wait, Pi’erre was able to hold fans over with the release of The Life of Pi’erre 4 (Deluxe) last summer. After the long wait, fans were rewarded with his sophomore album, consisting of 16 tracks, a one hour runtime, and a documentary detailing Bourne’s journey throughout the TLOP series.
The album only features Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Sharc, giving Bourne the majority of the stage to show off his skills. Although it doesn’t have the same cohesion as The Life of Pi’erre 4, The Life of Pi’erre 5 is still sonically pleasing. Tracks like “42” and “Butterfly” show how far Bourne has come as an artist since his last project. The production is intricate, with a host of synths, warped 808s, bells, and other instruments layered over each other to create a soundscape that keeps the listener in awe. With Bourne’s relaxed, repetitive flow, listeners are able to get lost in the production while being soothed by the bars. Another soothing part of the album is Pi’erre’s melody; it draws the listener in and keeps them enveloped while masking any lapses with ad-libs.
While Bourne knocks his melodies out of the park, his overall flow is a bit of another story. The repetitive flow he enlists is good in spurts, but proves to become an earsore on tracks such as “YNS” and “40 Clip,” showing his prowess within his verses but slacking on the choruses. Luckily, the production is able to take away from some of his lower moments.
The singles that were released prior to the album (“4U,” “Groceries,” and “Sossboy 2” feat. Lil Uzi Vert) serve as a nice sense of familiarity. When paired with Bourne’s signature transitions, this elevates them to the next level, as the overall sounds flow together better than they could’ve as singles.
While the album isn’t as cohesive with its story arc, it definitely scratches the itch fans have had since it was first revealed a few years back. Pi’erre’s sound has become something completely in a lane of its own, integrating unique instruments and sound effects in ways that today’s production rarely opts for. Bourne earned his stripes a long time ago, and The Life of Pi’erre 5 serves as a much needed reminder of what he can really accomplish.
What are your thoughts on The Life of Pi’erre 5? Are you a fan of Pi’erre Bourne’s latest album, or do you think it was a bit underwhelming due to the wait? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section.
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