WHAT IS A MIXTAPE?

Mr. D-Sane · Nov 30, 2005

Ahh yes.....time for another D-Sane rant!! Somebody has to attempt to set the game straight once in a while.

So....does anybody around here know? I see all this talk about mixtape this and mixtape that....frankly I'm gettin' tired of seeing this wack shit. What is the infatuation with mixtapes that has developed in the past couple years?

Do people realize that mixtapes have been around for like 20+ years? Why do you think they're called mixTAPES? I used to make mixtapes my damn self when I was in high school for my friends (I used to DJ back in 1988 for all of you who don't know).

Let's explore the term mixtape.

MIX = To combine or blend. Usually done by a DJ
TAPE = Well....for 2005 terms we'll allow it to refer to any form of media available. i.e. CD, MP3, etc

A shitload of these so-called mixtapes aren't really mixtapes. Most of them are compilations. A *REAL* mixtape consists of a DJ mixing songs together / hosting it. The songs are usually (I say usually because mixtapes have evolved a bit) songs that are well known and have been remixed or blended. New York DJ's took it one step further by throwin' in an occasional freestyle track from a hot MC or hot up and comer. This...as we all know...is how several rappers have made themselves popular. 50 Cent for example.

Anywayz.....call your "mixtape" what it is! It's a *COMPILATION* with jacked beats! Do you think you're gonna get a deal because you did a so-called mixtape? Are you doin' it just because everybody else is? Maybe that's half your problem?

Do it right or cut the fuckin' crap. Good day......

KALYN · Nov 30, 2005

... I'm not a fan of them myself.. maybe I've listened to the ones done wrong- maybe not... who 'in your opinion' has put out a decent mixtape in the past couple years..?

ejukated_ent · Nov 30, 2005

im not trying to start shit but let me see..
would you rather put out
SLR PRESENTS: XXX MIXTAPE or
SLR PRESENTS: XXX COMPILATION WITH JACKED BEATS
you mentioned evolution. don't you think that the term has evolved into even more? i mean, we all know that just about anyone can afford to produce they're own music with computers these days, but beats is a whole other game that more of these folks aint up on really. you can't just hit record on the comp to make beats.

Now, we still have mixtapes true to the name i.e. A-Wax - F. Suckaz, which is "mixed" by daric b. Maybe this is what you're reffering to? I'm working on a so called mixtape right now with "jacked beats" as well as my own production, however it isn't mixed or blended as i'd like it to be. this is due to me not being a dj or knowing a dj who can do so for me. does that make my mixtape like everyone else's?

Mr. D-Sane · Nov 30, 2005

Basically I'm sayin' that first off....if a DJ hasn't touched your shit how can it be a MIXtape???? Second....a mixtape is not and has never been some cat and a his homies rappin' over other people's instrumentals.

If you would like to know what real mixtapes are.....go here: http://www.mixtapemurder.com/ - Them are the real deal.

As far as mixtapes I've heard and liked.....not many. I like DJ Scene....DJ B-Mello and DJ Supa Sam's mixtapes....(but wait....they're not rappers!?! No shit Sherlock!) I like P-Cutta (his Street Wars series is classic shit) and Kay Slay to name a couple of the more well knowns. I like 151's Barz Association Mixtape that Dj Roc'Phella did. Funkdaddy and DJ Chill have tight mixtapes too.

We need to come up with new term for what cats are doin'.....because it's misleading. And when I speak about evolution of mixtapes....I mean they got R&B ones....P-Cutta got the Street Wars series with strictly diss tracks from people (50 vs. Ja Rule) and then interviews inbetween to shed light on the beefs.

Downloading a bunch of instrumentals off the internet....rappin' to them and then puttin' them on a CD is not a mixtape IN MY OPINION. The concept was BORROWED from mixtapes....but that's not what mixtapes are.

And you got to be kiddin' me that you don't know any DJ's?

Nonstop · Nov 30, 2005

^^ yeah pretty much... (EJukATED_ENT)*edit

cause every guitar center producer, that bought a triton and an mbox and a rode nt1a does the exact same thing...

theyll throw a few album songs on there... get some freestyles over whatever-the-hot-50-cent-song-is-at-the-time's mp3, and try to remake the beat to in da club, or encore, then throw it all together and call it a mixtape....

maybe if there really hustlers they'll have the game or young jeezy host it...

but really... try to spice it up a little.. try to hire a live dj to kinda set you apart...

ejukated_ent · Nov 30, 2005

ok ok you've shed some light and i think i may agree with you however there still is no name for what we right now call mixtapes. you're right about everything but for some reason this is the way it is. im already knowing about them "real" mixtapes im personally a fan of dj vlad's blends. anywho...there remains no real name for these "mixtapes." as far as dj's, im sort of new to san diego but yea i don't know any real dj's around here. i mean, there's a shit load of mp3 djs, ipod dj's and such, but no one who is a "real" dj. so...im left in the gutter on this one. plus i aint exactly cousins with folks like daric b...which is why im willing to "sacrifice" right now so i can get my product in peoples hands. i feel as though everyone is quick to say im a rapper or a producer or a ceo or all 3 and and its become so bad that no one "up and coming" with no product out is taken at all seriously. even folks WITH product on hand aren't taken so seriously. so i want to SHOW people im real and walk the walk instead of being all talk you know? but thats a WHOLE OTHER TOPIC

ejukated_ent · Nov 30, 2005

nonstop_ga said:

damn dog its funny you say that....EJACULATED. man its EJUKATED as in "EDUCATED". the reason i say its funny that YOU say it is because thats the entire reason for me having started nonstop heat. people always mistook it for ejaculated...that aint good for business haha. so yea..

nonstop_ga said:

and i think that may be my next move....

Nonstop · Nov 30, 2005

i knew that.. lol

im a lil dyslexic at times...

its EJUKATED, i had to tell myself that

nonstop heat aint good for business either... but theres a nonstop in erry city that produces or raps...

BUT NONE A YALL CAN FUCK WIT ME,, so i aint trippin lol

Dirty Shoez · Nov 30, 2005

There are many different kinds of mixtapes.

Jackin For Beats -- This is what is being done a lot now, by people who don't know any better. People jack 15 or so beats and make an album. This is the worst kind of mixtape. The only thing that can salvage a project like this is at LEAST using lesser-known beats, or more old school ones. Anyone still making tracks to Nothin But A G Thang or In Da Club in the year 2006 needs to be bitch slapped.

Hits and Unreleased -- This is like a Greatest Hits. New songs, old songs and freestyles. Usually, one artist or one group. These are the best because they catch you up and let you know whats about to come, all at the same time. Cool Nutz had something like this a while back with his "The X Filez" mixtape.

NY-Style -- See: Kay Slay, DJ Clue, etc. And i don't mean The Professional or The Street Sweeper. I mean like the Renegades series Kay Slay had a while back, the kind you DON'T find in Sam Goody or FYE. This is all the hottest new songs, a host (who usually provides 3-4 songs from an upcoming project), and a few freestyles. Other things can include tracks that didn't make albums, diss tracks, and so on.

Blends -- This is the kind i hate the most, because they are a waste of time, IMO. This is about the only kind of mixtape where you really do "need" a DJ's help. Just a bunch of crap mixed together, if you're into that kind of thing and can't be bothered spending the $5 it costs to hear the same thing live.

Overall, the main thing that makes a mixtape is some kind of element that makes it unsellable in stores, the main culprit being borrowed beats. If you want to keep your name in the streets inbetween projects, a Mixtape is definitely the way to go. But if artists knew better, they would stop making the JFB mixtapes (found almost exclusively on the West Coast), and focus on Hits and Unreleased ones (very popular out East).

Dirty Shoez · Nov 30, 2005

And because I'm bored:

NY-Style Mixtape: http://www.mixtapemurder.com/mixtapes/djsmallz_southernsmoke23.html -- Great example, but Kay Slay don't really fuck with the freestylers any more.

Jackin For Beats (a GOOD one though): http://www.mixtapemurder.com/mixtapes/diplomats_titleharlem.html -- Haven't even heard it, and I already know it's a mix of BOTH Mainstream beats AND original beats. The mainstream stuff provides the easy out to the question "Why didn't you just release this as an album?"

Hits and Unreleased (aka Best of): http://www.mixtapemurder.com/mixtapes/teaminvasion_bestofgreenlantern_shadyaftermath.html -- Lots of old tracks, lots of freestyles, and a few new tracks. Great example.

Blends: http://www.mixtapemurder.com/mixtapes/djjuice_vol63.html -- Click this and you'll see why i care less. Every track is as mainstream as possible and there's basically no exclusives because it would defeat the purpose. But hey, if thats your thing...here one is.

There you basically have it. The one thing i would LOVE to see more of (especially from a Big Squeeze, FunkDaddy, Syko, etc.) is a Producer Hits and Unreleased. Very rare, very hard to promote.

DJ Coma · Nov 30, 2005

I agree with you D-Sane. The market is oversaturated with so called "mixtapes" right now. There's nothing that pisses me off more than wack rappers using mainstream beats on mixtapes. If you can't do it better than the original then please don't do it. A good example of one done better than the original is that "Go Dumb" track by J. Valentine and Bailey, that shits on the original. Also throw in original beats and songs if you're an artist putting out a mixtape with all you on it.

I'm about to drop my first mixtape for free download in 1-2 weeks. It's going to be the best of all the 2005 bay shit blended together. I'll definitely give the NW forum a heads up when its available to get your opinions.

Flossalini · Nov 30, 2005

Who care's... what the "real" definition is. I don't like to hear good beats remade poorley, but if you can put you twist on it and make it stand out in your own way... do it! D.J's is just getting mad because in a sense... they damn near aren't needed! D.J Whoo Kid uses an "Instant Replay"(sampling machine) jus tlike radio stations do, and most D.J's work off of computers! The real D.J's are the one's with the vinyl... but with CD scratchers, Pro Tools Mixing, and samples you can damn near recreate the art. From Paint brushes to Photoshop... it's still art, but I would like to hear more original beats sprinkled on the mixtapes... if ya budget can permitt that! Broke niggas use what ever, so freestyle over a beatbox into a voice recorder, put it on a CD, give it a cover and it's a mixtape track! Mixtapes is bascily saying... this is free publicity untill I budget my album. Is it over saturated... yes, but so is all of rap! Hide ya mixtapes... the hip hop police is coming to show you how to do it right, and obey the laws set on making mixtapes.

SYKO · Nov 30, 2005

a mixtape is promotion......
if u sayin fuck a mixtape..your sayin fuck promotion your skills....
niggas like lil wayne killin the mixtape shit...thats what got people hungry for the carter 2 (which is dope as fuck)

ill do a mixtape before every album if its gonna gain new attention from people who dont know who the fuck i am.

Pig-Homo · Nov 30, 2005

Necro has sum dope mixtapes...

KALYN · Nov 30, 2005

DJ Coma said:

... Amen..!

Young E.A.S.T · Nov 30, 2005

I don't see nothing wrong wit it........

Notes · Nov 30, 2005

DJ Coma said:

A good example of one done better than the original is that "Go Dumb" track by J. Valentine and Bailey, that shits on the original.QUOTE]

that's the cut! Do they even play that in the NW?

KALYN · Nov 30, 2005

Notes said:

.. they do now.. :devious:

... lol.. sup Notes.. how's the Bay treatin' ya..?

Notes · Nov 30, 2005

KALYN said:

what up Kalyn? The bay is the place to be. I love the NW but they are really getting money out here. Did you have fun when you came out?

KALYN · Nov 30, 2005

Notes said:

I LOVED the Bay when I was out there.. but I worked my ass off.. lol.. I need to come back out when its less work and more play..
I'm already planning to come back out early Spring..

WHAT IS A MIXTAPE?

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