West Coast Connection Forum

DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: 2dog on August 10, 2009, 06:30:43 AM

Title: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: 2dog on August 10, 2009, 06:30:43 AM
In the 90's record sales were sky high for West Coast rappers, maybe because of the success the big artists were having. But come the year 2000, "mixtapes" started dropping because they were easy to distribute and cheap. Also a lot of artists wernt getting record deals so they started dropping mixtapes.

IMO this poluted the music, big named artists started releasing mixtapes, and by the time their "real albums" dropped, people were used to just downloading their free mixtapes and had so many mixtape tracks, there was no real anticipation for retail albums.

Mixtapes are ok for unknown artists, but the top artists need to just stick to releasing retail music like Jay Z, Kanye,  etc do.

Some artists killed their careers by releasing decent mixtapes.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: EnzoUK on August 10, 2009, 06:35:37 AM
i agree with all of that.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jaydc555 on August 10, 2009, 06:40:45 AM
I think a well placed mixtape can make a persons career.Hell 50 created this whole mixtape game basically and launched his career from it.People like lil wayne and young jeezy built themself up from mixtapes.Joe budden built his career on his mood muzik series.But sometimes artist put their best work on their mixtapes and their albums are terrible ie. lloyd banks,fabolous and jadakiss.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: K.Dub on August 10, 2009, 06:48:08 AM
I agree with some of what you are saying, but Soulless got a point too. A well timed mixtape/street album (pref. without a DJ) is a good move, however;

All these quadrillion "DJ <insert lame name> presents, shouts and fucks up the tracks" <insert rapper> with all the "hottest beats" and 1:41 long tracks ("freestyles") is too much.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: LONDON!! on August 10, 2009, 06:58:00 AM
mixtapes are cool for well timed promotional use, this is there major benefit to me, to keep the customers clucking for more potent product when artists are about to release a album or keeping there pen game sharp in between record deals

i'm not really into the whole dj's talking all over the tracks apart from dj care bear from dumbout in queens, who comes wit vibes, other than that, i'm not into the whole talking over the tracks, but its not a big deal so long as its not too bad, for real
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jaydc555 on August 10, 2009, 06:59:45 AM
I wont even listen to a mixtape when i see a certain dj on it.Like dj nik bean ruined crooked is bossacre mixtape with his constant yelling.And whoo kid is terrible,same with dj noodles and ill will.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: 2dog on August 10, 2009, 07:02:10 AM
When I say Mixtapes, I also mean "underground/street" albums.

Some artists have given so many mixtape records, that nobody really looks at a retail album any different.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: LONDON!! on August 10, 2009, 07:15:17 AM
what would happen witout mixtapes/street albums is a worst scenario

the major label game is 99.9% pop now, they control the structure, so major label albums are goin to have a certain criteria they have to meet at the moment, i don't see no one going against the grain to change that no where too soon, so the mixtapes are also a way of giving starving fans that undiluted piff witout any label constraints, that raw, hardcore shit before the major album drops, so its a double edged sword too
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: D-TalkX on August 10, 2009, 07:25:58 AM
I agree 100%....mixtapes are awful haven't heard a good one to this day...mostly cuz i don't wanna hear a DJ saying nothing for 30 minutes.

Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jaydc555 on August 10, 2009, 07:36:56 AM
I agree 100%....mixtapes are awful haven't heard a good one to this day...mostly cuz i don't wanna hear a DJ saying nothing for 30 minutes.


I feel sorry for you honestly.I can name ten mixtapes off the top of my head that are better then most peoples albums.Theirs a lot of crap out there no doubt but theirs some classic mixtapes out there
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Booz on August 10, 2009, 08:12:22 AM
I wont even listen to a mixtape when i see a certain dj on it.Like dj nik bean ruined crooked is bossacre mixtape with his constant yelling.And whoo kid is terrible,same with dj noodles and ill will.
What? He aint that bad nowadays.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jaydc555 on August 10, 2009, 08:13:47 AM
Maybe ill check him out all i remember is him back in the day with the yelling and the gun shots and bringing it back and the CANT FORGET INSERT RANDOM NAME HERE.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: MediumL on August 10, 2009, 08:46:39 AM
Nah its rappers all expecting to do a 50 Cent and blow sky high from mixtapes which is the problem. Only a few have really benefited (50, Wayne, Jeezy, Gucci, Drake etc). I think its better to try and make quality albums which gain attention than mixtapes of 50 freestyles. Its kinda lame when your whole discography is comprised of mixtapes...
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jaydc555 on August 10, 2009, 08:48:05 AM
Nah its rappers all expecting to do a 50 Cent and blow sky high from mixtapes which is the problem. Only a few have really benefited (50, Wayne, Jeezy, Gucci, Drake etc). I think its better to try and make quality albums which gain attention than mixtapes of 50 freestyles. Its kinda lame when your whole discography is comprised of mixtapes...
Problem is no record labels release albums anymore
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: MediumL on August 10, 2009, 08:55:53 AM
^^^ Be independent. I've seen enough UK rappers release albums independently and they've got less than a tenth of the audience most US rappers have available.

Having albums in store or available to download on itunes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> releasing freestyles every week
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Bch on August 10, 2009, 10:23:43 AM
that whole argument is null and void.. Music as a whole not just hip hop .. but as a business i;e no more jobs at labels hardly anymore.. talented ppl out of work, engineers etc. and hard as fuck to release albums with hardly any creative control (unless ur a big name star)

whos to blame  - INTERNET DOWNLOADING.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Dre-Day on August 10, 2009, 10:27:28 AM
In the 90's record sales were sky high for West Coast rappers, maybe because of the success the big artists were having. But come the year 2000, "mixtapes" started dropping because they were easy to distribute and cheap. Also a lot of artists wernt getting record deals so they started dropping mixtapes.

IMO this poluted the music, big named artists started releasing mixtapes, and by the time their "real albums" dropped, people were used to just downloading their free mixtapes and had so many mixtape tracks, there was no real anticipation for retail albums.

Mixtapes are ok for unknown artists, but the top artists need to just stick to releasing retail music like Jay Z, Kanye,  etc do.

Some artists killed their careers by releasing decent mixtapes.
i think topics like this, have killed the rap star
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Jimmy H. on August 10, 2009, 11:46:59 AM
In the 90's record sales were sky high for West Coast rappers, maybe because of the success the big artists were having. But come the year 2000, "mixtapes" started dropping because they were easy to distribute and cheap. Also a lot of artists wernt getting record deals so they started dropping mixtapes.

IMO this poluted the music, big named artists started releasing mixtapes, and by the time their "real albums" dropped, people were used to just downloading their free mixtapes and had so many mixtape tracks, there was no real anticipation for retail albums.

Mixtapes are ok for unknown artists, but the top artists need to just stick to releasing retail music like Jay Z, Kanye,  etc do.

Some artists killed their careers by releasing decent mixtapes.
Don't agree. For one, mixtapes didn't start popping up in 2000. They've been part of the hip-hop scene since the corner bootlegger has been around. Granted, they became the fucking thing to do after 50 blew up but they were there a long, long time before that. Mixtapes have sort of lost their relavance with the rise in popularity of readily-available media sites. Before the days where any piece of music or media was just a click away, mixtapes were a great way to spread music. An excellent promotional tool for the artists.

The reason these artists go the "mixtape" route is there's a lot less politics involved with releasing music through that channel. Releasing album means you have to go through the label with everything and they more or less have final approval on just about everything. With a mixtape, the artist would just hand the material to the DJ and let the streets have it. Again with the role the Internet plays in things these days, it's not what it once was.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Hoodlum204 on August 10, 2009, 12:19:12 PM
I Don't Listen To Mixtapes Much Due To The Constant Tagging, But Thats Me.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: 'EclipZe on August 10, 2009, 12:24:48 PM
Ya Boy is a living example... mixtapes ruined his style.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: Reprise91 on August 10, 2009, 12:30:59 PM
I used to be interested in mixtapes a lot before, but all the tagging became to much of an annoying factor. And I agree with artists putting more effort into their mixtapes then their actual albums. Fuck it everyone should just got independent, record labels have no purpose anymore.
Title: Re: Mixtapes Killed The Rap Star
Post by: sofdark on August 10, 2009, 12:55:58 PM
remember Pap? he ruined his fuckin career. i dont know why rappers fuck with tagging dj's, they dont know shit about the element and yet they call themselves "DJ" hahahahaha