Oh, what a feeling it was to wake up to a “new release” section on Datpiff filled with Mixtapes from the dopest artist at that moment in time. The Mixtape trend has turned into nothing more than a nostalgic moment in time. Releasing a mixtape is used to build anticipation. I would lose my shit when I found out Lil Wayne was dropping another “Dedication” or Spitta announcing another mixtape. The way mixtapes were presented was timeless. The way DJ Drama would add quality to a mixtape by his braggadocious way with words was instantly stamped as a staple in the Hip Hop culture. Nowadays, mixtapes are banging on windows screaming to be released from the shackles of Datpiff, Soundcloud, and even Youtube.
Since the start of the streaming era, mixtapes have been added to streaming platforms slowly but surely. We barely see mixtapes on DSPs because either sample is too expensive to clear, the artist doesn’t have the right to release the music, or just something that has to do with money. The most recent mixtapes on DSPs are Wale’s “More About Nothing” and Wiz Khalifa’s “Taylor Allderdice.” With that being said, here are a few mixtapes I’m sure the streets need.
Rick Ross – Rich Forever
“Rich Forever” might be Ross best project, and this mixtape was nothing but phenomenal. “Rich Forever” came at a point when the game needed something new, and Ross produced new flows, producers, and artists. “Rich Forever” was Lex Luger’s coming out party; Luger and Ross were a match made in heaven after he found success after “B.M.F..” Ross switched his flow to a more energetic presence, with songs like “F**K Em” or “Yellow Diamonds.” The production on the mixtapes was cinematic while keeping the trap feeling, “Rich Forever” felt like Ross was in a Maybach in 30 below weather, and then you add John Legend to scream, “we gone be rich forever,” sheesh. The project provided a Don lifestyle while battling demons. “Rich Forever” had tons of catchy phrases; “Thought I wouldn’t make it, now I’m winning, Timothy Tebow” or “I got the keys in the crib, You wouldn’t find ’em if you had the keys to the crib.” Some would say “Rich Forever” was a bit coming-out party for 2 Chainz with numerous verses that were top 1 or 2.
Kid Cudi – A Kid Name Cudi
ThiA Kid Named Cudi is a mixtape at the top of my wishlist to be placed on DSPs, “A Kid Named Cudi.” At this point, Cudi is a newly signed act to G.O.O.D. Music and quickly, he’s the standout on the label from sound to how he presented himself. “A Kid Named Cudi” was the coming-out party for Cudi; the tape showed what Kid Cudi is excellent at and what he would be in the future; a melodic genius. Cudi stayed true to the mixtape trend at that moment which was taking other people’s beats and making them theirs; Cudi made his version of “Chonkyfire,” “Shone,” and even “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul.” Cudi built a cult fan base from the project going forward, his presence is sprinkled in the music and artist through the early 2010s. Cudi built his own lane through the wave of “new school artists” that were flooding the industry at that moment. Cudi gets a feature from the early mixtape wale (if you know you know). Spitting a mean 16 isn’t Cudi’s strength but he covers that up with R&B and Rap sorta songs like “Pillow Talk” or my favorite song on the tape “Prayer”. This tape would go down as one of the most trendsetting mixtapes in Hip Hop ever.
Lil Wayne – Da Drought 3
In my opinion, every Lil Wayne mixtape should be on DSPs but the one that should be on there as soon as possible is “Da Drought 3” (both discs). Growing up down south, this project was played everywhere for what feels like a whole year. The amount of clearance that would be needed is insane so I imagine the tape would never be on DSPs, Lil Wayne took all the hottest songs at the time and made it his whether you were okay with it or not. “Da Drought 3” came about after Nas stated Hip Hop was dead so it’s pretty crazy that he took all the beats that represented the game at the moment and made them 10x better. The tape was way ahead of its time, Wayne even stated on “upgrade you” that he recently signed a new artist named Nicki Minaj. Wayne released this 29-project track for free, which was a way he bypassed the labels. This project felt like Wayne was saying “I’m here to rap, and I dare you to say you better than me”, he was begging for competition calling himself the “rapper eater”. Wayne was labeled a southern rapper after he delivered on “Dedication 2”, he destroyed that narrative once he jumped on tracks like “Dead Presidents” or “If I Ruled World”. Wayne’s metaphors and similes were nothing we have ever seen before, “I’m crazy for being Wayne, or is Wayne just crazy?”. Wayne’s performance on the “Da Drought 3” is similar to Kobe going for 81 points.
Frank Ocean – Nostalgia Ultra
Frank Ocean is one of the most mysterious artists of all time, despite all of the success he gained during his time. “Nostalgia Ultra” was the mixtape that was before its time as well, Frank Ocean outsmarted the label (Island Def Jam). After being ignored, Frank went to Tumblr to release this mixtape and clearly stated that he did this by himself. Frank Ocean did not put any label logo on the project, which was a big middle finger to the label that gave him no attention. Besides the story behind the mixtape, “Nostalgia Ultra” felt like an early 2000 R&B album. Frank Ocean’s performance on the project felt like he took a little bit from Jamie Foxx or The-Dream’s high melodrama; the project is complemented with interludes that reference classic 90’s videogames. The orange 1980s BMW that is on the front cover is so important to the concept of the project, the sounds in between songs represent Frank Ocean changing the cassette which is his actual songs on the mixtape; it ties the concept of the project together so well.