Dj Drama Best Mixtapes
If you’re like me, you haven’t thought about mixtapes in a long time. Remember when we used to make CDs and then mix them up on our computers? Those were the days. With streaming services and playlists taking over, it’s easy to forget how revolutionary the mixtape was back in the day. It’s also easy to forget that many of today’s biggest artists dropped their best work as a mixtape first before making it into an album. So if you’re looking for some new music or just want to reminisce about simpler times when people actually bought albums instead of streaming them, here are my picks for the top five greatest hip-hop mixtapes of all time:
Given the changes in sound and culture, narrowing down a list of the best mixtapes of all time was not easy.
Given the changes in sound and culture, narrowing down a list of the best mixtapes of all time was not easy. The mixtape has become a dying art form since it’s rise in popularity with Kanye West’s College Dropout in 2004 and 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003.
The purpose of releasing a mixtape is to connect with fans who want more than what they hear on mainstream radio stations or see on MTV or BET (which only play videos). In addition to connecting with fans, artists use mixtapes as an opportunity to test new material before releasing it commercially–this allows them time to get feedback from their audience while also avoiding any backlash from labels that might not understand what they’re trying to accomplish creatively if they don’t like the direction your music is heading toward.
However, if we look back over history there have been some truly amazing pieces created by some talented individuals who put their heart into every beat drop so here are my top ten picks:
DJ Drama’s Quality Street Music is a classic
DJ Drama’s Quality Street Music is a classic. The mixtape was released in 2007 and featured T.I., Young Jeezy, Ludacris, The-Dream and more. It’s considered one of the best mixtapes ever made, which is no surprise considering how many hit songs were released from it (Travis Porter’s “Make It Rain” and Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” come to mind).
If you want to know what makes a great mixtape great, listen closely to this one: quality beats matched with exciting features will always make for a solid project!
Bow Wow’s Wanted features Missy Elliott and Lil’ Jon.
Bow Wow’s Wanted features Missy Elliott and Lil’ Jon. The track was produced by these two legends of hip-hop, who also contributed their vocals to the song. In addition, it appeared on Bow Wow’s album Unleashed in 2005. The single reached number one on Billboard Hot 100 and became an instant hit across the country.
The song was featured in a movie called ATL that year; Bow Wow stars as himself while Missy Elliot plays herself as well!
If you’re looking for a G-funk classic, look no further than Snoop Dogg’s Tha Last Meal.
If you’re looking for a G-funk classic, look no further than Snoop Dogg’s Tha Last Meal.
The album is packed with hits like “The Next Episode” and “There Was A Murder.” It also features Dr. Dre, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg on several tracks–so it’s safe to say they helped create some of the best music ever made.
2Pac’s Me Against the World is an emotional roller coaster.
If you’re looking for an album that will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel things, look no further than Me Against the World. Released during a tumultuous time in 2Pac’s life, this album is full of emotion and personal stories.
The songs on this mixtape are so good that they could easily be considered classics by some fans. “Dear Mama” is a song dedicated to his mother; it includes lyrics like: “I swear I wanna change my ways / And if I could go back to yesterday / Then I’d tell my young self just what she meant.” This track was written when 2Pac was still alive but released after his death as part of an EP titled Resurrection; its popularity helped it reach number four on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart when released as a single in 1996 (the highest position any posthumously released song has ever reached).
The College Dropout was Kanye West’s coming out party as one of the best hip-hop artists of our generation.
The College Dropout is Kanye West’s debut album, and it was released on February 10, 2004. The album featured singles “Through the Wire” and “Slow Jamz,” which were both successful singles that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The College Dropout was also the first hip-hop album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 chart based solely on sales.
The College Dropout was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Rap Album; Best Rap Solo Performance (“Jesus Walks”); Best R&B Song (“All Falls Down”).
There’s nothing quite like Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city.
The album that put Kendrick Lamar on the map, good kid, m.A.A.d city was also an instant classic. It was his first time having full control over the production and he took advantage of it by creating an album that helped put Compton on the map as a hotbed for hip-hop talent.
Many critics consider this album to be one of Kendrick’s best works because of how well he tells stories throughout it–and we agree!
These mixtapes were game changers in their own unique way
There’s a reason why these mixtapes are considered to be some of the best in history. They were all released at different times and by different artists, but they all share one thing: they changed the game in their own unique way.
The list is also diverse; it shows how far hip hop has come since its inception. It shows us how much music has evolved over time and how artists have used this evolution to their advantage (like Drake).
Conclusion
There are so many great mixtapes out there, and we’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg. If you’re looking for more recommendations, check out our list of the best albums of all time or our ranking of Kanye West’s discography. If you disagree with any of our choices, let us know in the comments!