Comments on: The Mixtape Over The LP

By: steve sarria

steve sarria — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:53:52 +0000

yo word up! when the artist hence the word art-ist. mos def needs that space of creative atmosphere.I agree with the mixtape concept its part of the foundation.hip=hop as an entirety has a foundation .without that concept of thought nd roots being displayed with that fresh emotional content coming from the mc ur killing the wave of wut real is.the element of mc’n has mixtapes i believe to make the mass aware of skill, word play,fresh voice display,story telling,vocab, delivery..my brother shared that earlier” a catalyst”……(305) stigma-1 love

By: mav

mav — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:01:38 +0000

i agree that most mixtapes r killin albums and it is bcuz you have more freedom and bcuz you dont always have hooks you can concentrate on just spittin i make music and i dont have a deal or nothin but yo mindset makin an album is all about it being a success there is way more pressure so u try to appeal to as many people as possible so it takes away your creative edge cuz you might find yourself makin lovey dovey records and shit 4 kids which is not why hip hop was created or why i make music sometimes i listen to my mixtapes and i feel like im spittin more but my songs mean more on an album cuz it usually has a message that im stickin to and thats the reason why album suck no message go back and listen to nas nigger album i used to think that album wasnt very good but he stays on topic and if u look at whats happenin to him now hes payin the price that knowledge he was droppin fried chicken project roach n.i.g.g.e.r
sly fox queens get the money yall my niggas etc real good songs

By: TM

TM — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:40:15 +0000

its crazy that an artists best music comes out thru their mixtapes,but thats the way or rather the direction the corporate heads in them big buildings have pushed it.main reason is because they are used to sticking to a partiular formula which is usually something along the lines of rapper+rnb singer equals a succesfull single. this equation has not worked in recent history. and if that doesnt work they force or coerce an artist to do music in a way that has worked for another artist.(hence the influx of dance music following the sucess of souljaboy).mixtapes give creative control.that means that an artist can do whateva they want without the politics of an album.where did the album go?nowhere. if anything a lack of talent is the reason for poor LPs.a an up and coming artist i have more fun doing mixtapes because either i am trying to outdo the artist that originally made the song or i am putting my writing to the test and trying to make something out of something. to make a long story short,mixtapes are where its at. they appeal to a bigger audience and they a great catalyst for longevity.

By: Mr. 306

Mr. 306 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:53:58 +0000

The mixtape scene has had many many many solid selections. There’s probably a good mixtape for every good album but the fact is that I can’t help but think the mixtape game and general over saturation has seriously aided in the loss of sales. I hate songs that are 30 seconds long and I hate even more songs that are called freestyles simply because an emcee goes continually for x number bars without a hook. Also you may be semi retarded because Eminem sells as well as anybody still. He also has never been too huge into the mixtape game. T.I. won’t sell this go around and neither will Jeezy. I’m a fan of both of them but that’s just what i think. Frankly Jay-Z could fuck around and squander his ability on another album with so-so lyrics and good production and not sell. I’d say that minus slim shady nobody in the game is safe from an album dud. Dr. Dre too….but you know what i’m saying.

By: aquma

aquma — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:06:19 +0000

I actually thought about it some more and I think part of why mixtapes seem so much better than albums is two fold. 1) Rappers are free to just rap on mixtapes and don’t have to worry about doing something to please somebody else. The point is to show off their skills, isn’t it? At the same time 2) Mixtapes many times have a certain themes and concepts that go with them, much like an album should. This way the whole tape is like an experience that you listen to. I feel like the labels, many times, don’t really give a shit as far as a cohesive album goes and they would rather have a collection of radio friendly singles, which equals a much less creative product.

By: mw2

mw2 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:11:25 +0000

cosign dv8. victory is my shit!

By: aquma

aquma — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:22:23 +0000

I think it all depends. The mixtape market is straight flooded these days. I definitely agree that mixtapes allow the artist more creative control and freedom compared to sending 20-30 tracks to a record company, they pick which 12 THEY want and throw it all together on an album, though. Plus mixtapes help to get away with more uncleared sampling/beat jacking. BUT the main reason why labels turn their heads to uncleared samples and beat jacking on mixtapes is because they know that the tapes serve as free promotional material for the artist, and in theory, their eventual album. I see it as sort of a symbiotic thing.

By: DV8

DV8 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:49:58 +0000

I see your starting to catch on to what makes the X-spot crowd tick.

I feel you on this subject Ms. Civil

I fux with mixtapes more then albums most albums suck nowadayz.

BTW my current favorite mixtape is by an artist who has yet to drop a album and I actually hope he doesnt for fear that it may be a shit sandwich.

Jay Electronica-Victory

So your a industry insider huh? Thats why you have been playing it extra safe on the blog tip. Hey there is nothing wrong with pointing out the obvious. If an artist gets salty about something you said, then chances are there is some truth in what you said.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:42:09 +0000

At least Lil Cease might at least be entertaining! That’s MY point…she ISN’T entertaining or interesting. She has not demostrated writing skills at all. Sorry if you think I”m insulting your dream boo. lol

By: alderman j

alderman j — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:38:37 +0000

That wasnt the point!!!The point is she knows what she is talking about, she is actually around it. She may still be a weed carrier and a jump off, if lil cease had a story to tell about BIG, you would listen, but he still a weed carrier?? Get the point!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:28:38 +0000

Well….she sure doesn’t write like she’s CONNECTED!!! Working for a rapper doesn’t make you a good writer or commentator. I don’t think being able to come up with interesting blogs and new ideas are a prerequisite. Most people that “work” for rappers are either weed carriers, “yes men”, or jumpoffs. LOL.

By: alderman j

alderman j — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:24:27 +0000

Karen Civil is a HIP HOP insider, shes been around for a while homey!! You could learn something from her, she has actually worked for a couple of rappers and held positions at labels!! Do your research slime!!! SHES CONNECTED!!!

By: alderman j

alderman j — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:22:03 +0000

If you just make an album of HIGH QUALITY material, the label wont put it out, they will keep sending you back in the studio to come up with a hit!! Thats when rappers start forcing it and come up with these duds, anybody thats been around hip hop for the last 20 years,(oh, most of you dudes are between 21-25 so this doesnt apply to you) can tell the decline of the art form coinsided with the commercial success of it. The label usually chooses(pays for) the lead off single and the videos, if you think they dont dictate the content, you are useless in this debate!!!!

By: Kappamike1

Kappamike1 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:01:14 +0000

Ummm…..how did this chick get a blogger’s spot on the site?? She is absolutely horrible and boring. Waste of space.

By: The real chris

The real chris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:18 +0000

i mean mixtapes really are really annoying stupid yelling dj’s yelling over the damn songs and than they starts the song over once it first get started. mixtapes are terrible and albums are the best, trust me its still some good albums out there so give them a chance.and im not just not just talking bout radio rappers.

By: TicNitty86

TicNitty86 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:18:43 +0000

I actually think the opposite…I feel mixtapes help kill the game more so than help it. If you are a true artist and have luv for the culture you will put your all in an official album that people are supposed to buy. Why would I give my all on a mixtape thats free and when most check it out they will not connect with it personally its just whats “hot” in the streets right then. And they will be on to the next one once my mixtape full of just random crap runs its short course.

I don’t know how deep the person who wrote this blog digs for there hip hop but I have heard some surefire albums in the last few years. If you only listen to what the radio and kiddie shows tell you to than of course you are not hearing many good-great albums. Expand your search.

By: Teddy

Teddy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:29:58 +0000

the album is what the mixtape used to be some throw away shits mixtapes all i basically listen to no one is even dropping albums u get like maybe 4- if lucky 5 good hip hop official releases a year dont even bothered actually i just bothered the other day copped the battl..oh wait downloaded for free battle of the sexs and id be pissed if i spent money i mean its goood its mmmmeh listened to it once n had no desire to listen to it again in the next few months just reinforced the idea more albums a doosh even lupe man his mixtapes were killer his albums lack that raw live feel of his takes he over does over thinks songs non of them sound natural they all sound so forced same as carter 3 compared to say dedication 2
dono any albums that would have a track like weezys where he spints a billion bars no hook that shits ill no one even does that shit on albums no one wants to be creative they rather same formulated music same formatt hoook verse hook verse do something different damn

By: hiphopbaby76

hiphopbaby76 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:06:12 +0000

i would really just focus on mixtapes cause it gives u a much broader veiw of the artists. if i buy a cd i generally wait till 2 or more songs come out b4 i buy it. like im 34 yrs old n i’ve been a hiphop fan like forever, but not all this bs that hits the airwaves like lil wayne,drake,wack flocka…like those r bullshit artist.

By: Pierzy

Pierzy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:14:02 +0000

I love that album.

By: Pierzy

Pierzy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:13:22 +0000

I wrote basically the same thing a year ago:

http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=41003