MIXTAPE OVERLOAD....

As I am listening to Chamillionaire's Mixtape Messiah 7 (the first disc at least, second one still to come), I now come off of reading an editorial on nappyafro.com, in regards to yes....the mixtape.

A lot of good points were made in the article. For example, I believe 2009 will forever be remembered as "the year of the mixtape". Mostly recognized for Drake "changing the game" with his So Far Gone mixtape and Gucci Mane getting more publicity and street cred than what he really deserves (not only that but I am getting sick of mentioning both). Not only that, but we're seeing a lot of new artists get love from the bloggers and the heads combined (Pac Div, Tiron, Diz Gibran, QuESt, XV) and others who increase their popularity from mixtapes (Wale, Slaughterhouse). And it is at a point where mixtapes are held at a higher account and importance than the actual album. Yes, I agreed, there is a huge problem with that.

I think where the problem mostly lies, is that right now, there are one too many mixtapes and even more DJ's that are putting out the same shit that you found on the latest Drama or Whoo Kid tape. Where it also gets sad, is that these DJ's are profiting from it. How many Gucci tapes do we really need out there??? I'm surprised Charles Hamilton put out THAT many tapes thinking we'd still keep an interest.

When it comes to an overload, it makes you wonder, what is even the point of putting out an album when you got 10-15 mixtapes of material. Some mixtapes come out and you wish that THIS was the album (Trey Songz's new mixtape).

However, sometimes, mixtapes serve as the outlet where artists can truly express themselves artistically and their albums (usually the case with major labels) are basically the product that is made to drive the "casual hip hop listener" to go to Best Buy or whatever record stores are still open to buy the CD or at least buy it off of iTunes. And despite contrary belief, mixtapes still serve as a purpose to break an artist, and increase his stock (once again Drake).

Other times, artists have no choice BUT to release mixtapes, due to being shelved and blackballed (Joe Budden) to still make the listeners aware that they're still out there and still droppin' heat. (Chamillionaire).

As an artist myself, I am unsigned, no label, and reside in a city, where our hip-hop scene has limited exposure (unless your name is Ray Nitti). However, this is how I look at it. Mixtapes for me, are ways to provide a glimpse into my skills, and where I can creatively go all out and show the city (the world) that this is what you can expect when I begin to work on my album, where the album is served to reach the "casual listener". However with me, I choose to not dumb down, but to attract those different sounds and styles into my own. There is a huge difference between being inspired and jackin' someone else's steez. And you know mine. (c) Method Man

So quite frankly, I agreed with most of the editorial, and I hope that people (the artists in general) realize that mixtapes can get you to that next level. But it is the album that will solidify it.