I think it's fair to say that mixtapes are basically a dead concept in 2020. Many of us love mixtapes and some even shaped the course of Hip-Hop history and helped some of our favorite artists gain traction and blow up in the mainstream. Now that the majority of music that people listen to regularly is on streaming and going on mixtape sites / soundcloud / and even YouTube to some degree to find new music has become a niche market, what did we lose out on?

I think my biggest issue with all of this is that there is less creative freedom than ever in Rap right now.

Wayne literally established a massive fanbase off of remixing existing popular songs (a concept which is great ideally but horrible in the streaming enviornment where it all has to get cleared legally). The fact that this idea basically cannot happen anymore unless 1. It's only going on SoundCloud or YouTube or a platform where the bots won't DMCA the music or 2. The beats are s***ty recreations of the original beats (see UnoTheActivist's "DEADICATION" which also did not make it on streaming as well) is very sad to me.

The other major issue is that rappers can't use beats with more interesting samples or even samples in general because the songs need to go on streaming and the samples have to get cleared which can be a massive burden (financially or legally). I think this has made producers go one of two ways 1. Adapt and get better and producing tracks without samples or 2. Dumbed down the production of others where they find a style and then beat it to death. Both of these options are bad in their own way, I really think producers not feeling like they will be able to get their samples cleared has definitely impacted what kind of production is prevalent today.

There are other issues too, features used to be much easier to release and people felt inclined to jump on tracks more easily. Posse cuts and huge remixes are basically dead in the new era. Freedom to drop music spontaneously without a label having to plan out a release well in advance. Music releasing on days other than Friday.

I just think we lost a ton in this streaming era and overall has hurt the net quality of what can be made or what people will choose to make. If you don't give these artists access to all the tools available, they may not be able to make the best product possible.

Thats basically the end of the rant but what does everyone else think about this?

He actually wrote something interesting

I’ve never really f***ed Witt freestyles over other people’s beats tbh, the sample thing on new tracks is a pain in the ass, but there has been so much good music this year that I don’t think it’s a massive issue. 2020 one of the best years for rap music since the 90’s

And people on this site are morons with short attention spans who think it’s funny to act dumb

Hey I just wanted to use that meme stfu

You can't deny the impact it had tho in building peoples career's. Even if it wasn't like a Wayne situation where he'd make a whole freestyle tape, artists used to do unofficial song remixes all the time and now that is almost completely dead.

Browsing DatPiff every day to find new stuff was really the vibe

Now we have artists making mixtape sequels a studio album. Big Sean being a recent example.

Yeah I guess, I’ve just always targeted original music, which is one of the reasons I don’t really rate Wayne that highly. Plus we do still get the odd tracks like pusha’s drake dis, they just can’t be on streaming

Your 100% Op music now so bland and superficial miss that candid authenticity that hip hop thrives on

This is an amazing year for Hip-Hop.

You niggas are so thirsty to be quick for likes that you embrace looking like a dummy.

What albums/artists u got in mind? I think last 3 yeats have been awful

King's Disease, Alfredo, Descendants of Cain, The Outrunners, Miles, Purple Moonlight Pages, The Prince of Tea in China, As God Intended, Shrines, RTJ4, Innocent Country 2, Pray for Paris, Manger On McNichols, A Written Testimony, Dueling Experts, No One Mourns The Wicked, Meet the Woo 2, Adjust to the Game, Circles, etc.

Chill

Streaming has f***ed up the concept of mixtapes and now there's no real discernment between a mixtape and an album, thus diluting the quality of music. Artists can hype up projects as albums but then call them "mixtapes/EPs" in case they don't do well and yes bringing down quality on a creative level.

You are totally right and it's a shame, especially with the production aspect

Only people able to make music with samples now are the bigger artists like Ye etc.

Well said @op, I completely agree with this.

If you don't give these artists access to all the tools available, they may not be able to make the best product possible.

It's also because labels and streaming got this monopoly that artists are being forced to drop music with horrendous gimmicks or flat production to get played. There's still tons of great s*** being dropped, but you got to dive a little deeper to get there.

Lot of great memories downloading tapes from Datpiff and Live mixtapes. We were still getting tapes in 2015-2016 but streaming really killed that lane

Always lookin for the No DJ versions

2020 has been a great year for underground rap, but something is definitely missing without that guerilla element that mixtapes and not having to clear samples brought to the game.

And it's not even just rap. Projects like Nostalgia Ultra don't happen anymore because getting on streaming is such a matter of financial significance.