The "OG Version" significantly differs from the official "Tha Carter V" in terms of tracklist, features, and production quality. The final version boasts collaborations with artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and The Weeknd, and features more refined and completed tracks. The official release also includes a more cohesive and curated listening experience, reflecting Lil Wayne's artistic vision and the efforts of his team.

The biggest leak occurred years later. On , a full 20-track version of the supposed original Tha Carter V surfaced online, sending fans into a frenzy . Unlike the Shkreli leaks, which were brief snippets or single tracks, this was the full, cohesive project. The leak included many tracks that had never been heard before, including "No Brainer," "Scottie Pippen," "Life of Mr. Carter," and a six-minute extended version of "Mona Lisa" with Kendrick Lamar . This was the "OG Version" that fans had been dreaming of. It was the album as Lil Wayne had intended it back in 2014, untouched by the years of label drama and re-recording.

This official Deluxe edition added 10 tracks to the original album's 23 tracks. While some of the "unicorn" tracks like the Justin Bieber collab didn't make the cut, the official release included the core original songs that everyone had been searching for, such as "Life of Mr. Carter," "Scottie," "Siri," and the fan-favorite "What About Me" with Post Malone.