In my opinion, they are killing hip hop. Instead of an artist going into the studio for months and putting their heart and soul into a full album, they just record and bunch of filler, create a mixtape, hire a famous DJ to host it, and put it out on the streets. I'm starting to wonder, are people just too afraid to put out albums cause they dont think they can produce a good product, so insted they put out mixtapes full of "bangers" and filler. So many people I talk to in regards of people like Lil Wayne say stuff like "ya you gotta hear his mixtape shit". If all this "mixtape shit" is so good, why not take the best tracks from them, and form a legit album. People's albums are getting shittier and shittier and I think it's due to the massive ammounts of mixtapes people put out. For example, Papoose. His album was due out over a year ago, yet instead he's put out somethin like 4 mixtapes since. I think he's got almost 20 mixtapes now, yet no album. Are mixtapes the way of the future, and are actual albums destined to become extinct in hip hop? That's the path I see it all going, what are you thoughts on all this shit?

How do you blame mixtapes for artists putting out shitty albums? Isn't that the rapper/artist's problem? On a sidenote, I think most mixtapes are junk but there are some out there that come out every now and then that are definitely worth a listen.

You've got that last part backwards. Mixtapes have been on a rapid decline in the past year.

But I agree with you in principle. The actual artist makes little on the mixtape compared to the asshole DJ that 'hosts' it. And then they sell most of them legally on the street for like 99 cents. If you're barely profitting and putting out average music, then what point is there?

No

Mixtapes are like therapy, gives the artist a chance to vent and say what they want. So much pressure goes into the creation of an album, especially now-a-days. For Example: On a mixtape it gives you the opportunity to collaborate or not collaborate with any artist you want. You can even do your own album art without approval. Plus, it off contract.

Believe it or not, Hip Hop would be worst without them, but I see what your sayin Jack. Mixtapes lately have become a copout and the lack of effort is evident.

^ Yep, and to add to that...

Mixtapes also take the pressure off of producers and getting beats... which also gives them versitility to mold thier verse, to any beat they like...

I think some mixtapes are overdoing it and are a waste of time, however mixtapes like Mood Muzik, Warning Shots, The Abandoned Nation< The MIC Mixtape / Raw Sessions / Declaration of Indepndence etc... are dope as fuck and came out really good.

I think it's actually important to put out maybe one mixtape a bit before your album, because it helps advertise and hype up the album (especially since itunes put up most mistapes now, for the mainstream audience), such as kanye's just done, but when you put out too many and you're not putting out an album it's kinda pointless I don't see why papoose for instance is doing it, I think he just wants the title of most mixtapes put out

^yeh papoose is just being stupid. who cares about a record number of mixtapes. when he's not getting any real sales.

^ I'm still wondering about how iTunes does that givin that mixtape artists don't always have the rights to the beats they use. I'm thinking that Anyone can submit a album / mixtape into itunes, and it will stay up till iTunes notices it.

I would've thought they'd make a system about shit like that to prevent it.

All papoose's mixtapes have made him the best rapper alive.They have got him noticed and know everyone is going to buy the nacirema dream.Which is going to be the hottest joint of 2007.

All papoose's mixtapes have made him the best rapper alive.They have got him noticed and know everyone is going to buy the nacirema dream.Which is going to be the hottest joint of 2007.

SMH @ calling Papoose the best rapper alive....