Mixtape

Artist Lil Wayne, who has over 20 mixtapes, He is regarded as one of the most successful mixtape artists.

For video, see Video mixtape. For other uses, see Mixtape (disambiguation).

In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or EP. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists more creative freedom and less commercial pressure. The term has significantly increased in popularity over the years, due to high-profile artists marketing their projects as such. Mixtapes also have been inconsistently referred to as albums by notable media outlets such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Complex. This has caused notable confusion on the differences between an album and a mixtape.

Prior to the decline of physical media, mixtapes were defined as homemade compilations of music played through a cassette tape, CD, or digital playlist. The songs were typically beatmatched and consisted of seamless transitions at their beginnings and endings with fades or abrupt edits.

History

Cassette Mixtapes (1970s - 1990s)

A compact audio cassette mixtape with a handwritten label: "Funky Stuff"

An early pirated 8 track mixtape from 1974

The idea of mixtapes were conceived in the early 1970s with the genesis of hip-hop. In the 1970s, DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, and DJ Hollywood would often distribute recordings of their club performances through cassette tapes, bringing a wider audience to the hip-hop sound. These cassettes eventually became colloquially known as mixtapes. The introduction of the Sony Walkman in 1979 saw major improvements in the mobility and practicality of mixtapes.

In the 1980s and 90s, mixtapes evolved as recordings of exclusive tracks, freestyles, and remixes. They also started becoming a visible element of youth culture. This blended both the underground and commercial appeal of mixtapes together. A notable development in mixtapes at this time was the "chopped and screwed" technique created by DJ Screw in Texas. This technique created a slow-tempo sound for mixtapes, later becoming a staple of Southern hip-hop. Another development of the mixtape were the creations of the remix and the mashup, which gave pre-existing songs a new sound to their original counterpart.

In the 1990s, mixtapes eventually moved to CD burners and MP3 players as the cassette tape declined. The peak of mixtape culture in this time period is considered to be when Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity, was released in 1995.

Transformation of the Mixtape (2000s - 2010s)

By the early 2000s, mixtapes started changing by definition. They became album-like projects instead. They also became crucial to artist development, especially those on the edge of mainstream recognition. Artists like 50 Cent used mixtapes to build their reputation before being signed to a label. This also allowed for more artistry as mixtapes were not released through labels, and thus cannot be restricted by them. As a result of his mixtapes' success, he released his critically acclaimed album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

By the mid to late 2000s, the definition of the original mixtape in the 1970s seemed to vanish, and instead became the term for any musical project to promote rising artists that did not have the budget for traditional distribution. The creation of the streaming platform DatPiff introduced the publishing of mixtapes online and for free, which made mixtapes easier to obtain.

In 2015, Canadian rapper Drake released his mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late significantly muddling the line between mixtapes and albums, setting the precedent that an album-like project could be promoted as a mixtape.

Streaming Era: The Modern Mixtape (Present)

Currently, the popularization of streaming platforms and the rapid decline of physical media such as CDs and cassettes have significantly altered the definition of a mixtape and rendered the physical mixtape obsolete. Today, mixtapes are generally considered an alternative to studio albums, especially in genres of hip-hop, R&B, and indie music. They allow artists to release music without industry-level expectations expected from the likes of a concept album. Mixtapes have become staples in the music industry and are sometimes released as holdovers or low-key releases between studio albums. Lesser-known artists may release them free online on more accessible streaming platforms like SoundCloud to gain exposure, while prominent industry artists may release "commercial mixtapes" on streaming services. Notable examples of commercial mixtapes include Street Gossip by Lil Baby, MMM (Money Making Mitch) by Puff Daddy, and Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake

Purpose

Mixtapes give give artists the ability to explore themes, styles, and sounds that may not be supported by traditional commercial projects. Some artists may use the mixtape-format to test new sounds or take risks without the obligational weight of an album. The absence of formal promotion, industry-standard production, or chart performance makes mixtapes often feature a more raw and experimental project, which may be preferable to their fans.

Release and Marketing

While mixtapes used to be distributed for free, Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud have blurred the line between what is considered a full-on album versus what is considered a mixtape.

However, artists typically distinguish an album from a mixtape in two ways:

Atypical promotion for the mixtape, Faces by Mac Miller. People downloading the mixtape would have to make their own sandwich before being able to listen.

Marketing

The marketing of a mixtape is usually minimal, spontaneous, and unorthodox. In contrast, studio albums often have more professional media campaigns, music videos and a set release. Because of a mixtape's "unpredictability" that varies from artist, mixtapes may entertain fans with excitement due to surprise releases.

Digital Release and Promotion

On streaming platforms, mixtapes are nearly identical in format, as both include album art, titles, and track lists. However, mixtapes may lack the proper promotion and radio play that traditional albums offer. Artists may informally promote their mixtapes by posting to their own social media (as opposed to having a management team do it) or by directly engaging with their fans online. Mixtapes are usually a more personal rollout of music.

Cultural and Artistic Value

Rapper Travis Scott performing his mixtape at a concert in anticipation for his album.

The mixtape's role in modern music has become popular among all artists. For independent and emerging artists, mixtapes are a gateway to building a fanbase and experimenting with their sound. For established artists, mixtapes can be used as an outlet for personal expression and experimentation to escape the pressures of a record label or commercial appeal. The value of a mixtape lies in its ability to define the artist rather than an industry standard, making it an important concept in music.

Mixtapes can also serve as a precursor to an upcoming album for artists. As an example, Travis Scott released his mixtape, Days Before Rodeo as an anticipation project for his debut album, Rodeo. Another example is While We Wait by singer and songwriter Kehlani. The mixtape was released in interim to promote the upcoming release of her album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't. Generally, mixtapes can be used as both a standalone project or an invitation to another upcoming project.

Current trends

Singer and songrwriter PinkPantheress, who released her debut mixtape as a result of her hit singles "Pain" and "Break It Off".

Mixtapes allow artists to share their music in a lowkey setting with their fans, and likely encourage feedback and interaction from fans rather than professional critics. This idea of engagement and experimentation is often popular with artists who care more about building their fanbase rather than mainstream success.

While the traditional album might stick to one theme, mixtapes allow artists to present music that could be considered eclectic or genre-blending, challenging the expectations of conventional concept albums. For example, the debut mixtape Drunken Babble by Kali Uchis was described by GQ as "dreamy R&B vocals with tough-talk rap lyrics, DIY beats, samples and influences spanning soul, reggae, doo-wop and synth-pop."

In an era of short-form content, mixtapes are valuable in that they give room to maintain relevance and adapt to the fast pace of social media. One song can blow up an artist, and mixtapes give the ability for artists to answer quickly to their recent success and ride their wave of fame. Because of the flexibility that mixtapes allow, releasing them on platforms like TikTok can instantly increase an artist's mainstream recognition and reach a broader audience, and of course, without the expectations of a full album rollout. As an example, R&B artist 4Batz released his debut mixtape U Made Me a St4r after the overwhelming success of "Act II: Date @ 8".

Legal issues

Many well-known mixtapes are ineligible to be released on streaming platforms due to sample clearance issues or any licensing issues as well. This has prevented many praised mixtapes from being released on bigger streaming platforms. Among these are Kush & Orange Juice by Wiz Khalifa, Friday Night Lights by J. Cole, and Nostalgia, Ultra by Frank Ocean.

However, some mixtapes have overcome their sample clearances, granting them the ability to be released on major streaming platforms. Some of these include: Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper, Live.Love.ASAP by ASAP Rocky, and So Far Gone by Drake.

See also

• Compilation album
• Compressed audio optical disc
• DJ mix
• Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture
• Portable media player
• Video mixtape

Further reading

• Gallagher, David (30 January 2003). "For the mix tape, a digital upgrade and notoriety". The New York Times.
• Hornby, Nick (1995). High Fidelity. ISBN 1-57322-551-7.
• Hornby, Nick (2003). Songbook. ISBN 1-57322-356-5.
• Keller, Joel (22 January 2004). PCs killed the mix-tape star. Salon.
• Mobley, Max (5 December 2007). "Requiem for the Mixtape". Crawdaddy!.
• Moore, Thurston (2004). Mix Tape. ISBN 0-7893-1199-2.
• McMahon, Andrew (2005): "The Mixed Tape", Everything in Transit—Jack's Mannequin.
• O'Brien, Geoffrey (2004). Sonata for Jukebox. ISBN 1-58243-192-2.
• Paul, James (26 September 2003). Last night a mix tape saved my life. The Guardian.
• Sante, Luc (13 May 2004). Disco Dreams. The New York Review of Books. (This review of Songbook and Sonata for Jukebox describes the mix tape as "one part Victorian flower album, one part commonplace book, one part collage, and one part recital.")