Mixtape: what is and how it differs from the album

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Every music listener has a few favorite hits that can be listened to an infinite number of times. They carefully arrange them in order in their playlists and embark on a rhythmic journey through the musical waves. Professional musicians went to meet their listeners and came up with such a phenomenon as a mixtape. What are they and who creates them?

History

A mixtape is a type of sound recording that involves combining several musical compositions or skits (short prose stories) in one tape. In fact, this is a collection of songs, but having a specific purpose and principle of mixing tracks or their fragments and presented as a single composition.

The history of the mixtape dates back to the 60-80s of the last century, when 8-track tapes were created using a handicraft method. True, at that time the term itself did not yet exist. The pioneers of this method of sound recording are truckers who mixed their favorite music on audio cassettes. Later theystarted showing up at flea markets. The most popular mixtapes of that time were Super 73, Top Pop 1977, Country Chart, etc.

However, there is another point of view about the history of the "mixtape" phenomenon, that such a concept could have arisen in the professional environment of American "black" rappers. That is why audio mixing is common in hip-hop culture today.

In rap

A mixtape in rap is most often a mixture of tracks from different artists. They are usually just musical favorites of the mix maker. There is another reason why compositions can be united by a common theme. In this case, the tracks belong to the same artist or different artists read the beats of one particular beatmaker.

Mixtape and album

Mixtapes are created quickly and informally. There is no strict boss, producer, who will evaluate and criticize the music selection, adjust it to the radio release and censorship. A mixtape is an absolute freedom to choose an artist, musical accompaniment, and instruments. Here you can take a bard singer, dilute it with female lyrical vocals and put all this on the rhythmic music of a famous rap hit.

If everything is so clear and transparent with the concept of a mixtape, what is an album? The difference here is caught immediately. The album is a long and painstaking work of a professional musician, which is accompanied by certain advertising and the release of video clips. This is an official music release, all rights reserved, and samples (soundfragments for writing music) purchased. Naturally, all these components are reflected in the quality and accessibility that author's music possesses. Albums work to create, first of all, a label, promotion of the artist's name.

Views

Today, mixtapes are divided into two large groups: DJ and rap. Their names themselves determine the creator. The first, of course, belong to DJs who mix different compositions, turning them into a single musical stream. Rappers in this version act as hosts, accompanying the recording by reading a certain text or placing emphasis on transitions from one track to another.

However, there are also pure rap mixtapes. They are created without the participation of a DJ. Musicians combine their tracks or others, perform rap, use their own or others' texts. Here, the options are endless. Therefore, it is very difficult to answer unequivocally what a mixtape in rap is. But the determining factor is that the leading role belongs to the rap artist and his personal preferences.

Amateur mixtapes also stand out. They are created by ordinary music listeners at home. Such non-studio recordings are made using other people's musical creations. As a rule, they are slightly lower in quality and originality of the mix.

Mixtapes of any kind, whether professional or amateur, are usually built according to three principles: a random list of favorite songs, a conceptual mixture of compositions of general mood and theme, or they representis a kind of personal statement addressed to a specific addressee indicated at the beginning of the tape (intro).

Famous Mixtapers

Among the well-known rapper projects in this vein are the American hip-hop group Diplomats with the Memorial Day Mixtape or the Ukrainian rapper Drago with "New Russian Rap" or the mixtape "There Was No Sadness".

Many DJs have also gained popularity by making mixtapes. So, in 2008, the original White Owl Drop That 31 mix from the American DJ WhiteOwl was released. It was already the 31st sound recording of this type. According to certain principles and categories, such records turn into a series of mixtapes and already have a semi-official character.

Purpose of Creation

Understanding what a mixtape is in music is not difficult, just listen to a couple of records that are widely available. From the hands of professionals and amateurs, they come out in large numbers and, having no official status, are easily distributed among amateurs. However, it is more difficult to answer the question of why mixtapes are created.

Today, many aspiring artists use them as a promotional presentation. They give their musical creations to DJs, who mix them into a single tape and present their creativity in the original frame to the general public. At the same time, fragments of compositions are used, that is, intrigue is created, interest in the performer increases.

Author's music, albums require a lot of money and effort for mastering, mixing, creating clips. Whilemixtapes are more accessible and have virtually no limits. If a musician has several songs, he can mix them in a short time and quickly distribute them on the Web.

Amateur mixtapes are created for a variety of reasons: for personal listening, to express their musical tastes, creative talents, or to try out new equipment, software, creativity, etc.

DIY

If a person feels creative potential in himself, is well versed in music, nothing prevents him from creating his own mixtape. It can be composed by favorite compositions of different artists or your own creations. The point is small - to understand how to make a mixtape so that listeners like it. The whole process can be summarized in five steps:

1. Concept. It is best that the future mixtape is not built randomly, but on a certain idea, direction, has a name and a cover. If the mixtape includes songs or skits of your own composition, then only new material that has not yet been published should be selected.
2. Bit Compilation. When your own beats don't fit the idea of how a mixtape should sound, you can turn to other people's creations. There are a lot of them on the web. You can take, for example, instrumental versions of your favorite tracks or buy unique material from an enterprising Internet producer.
3. A selection of samples. It is necessary to clearly understand when creating a mixtape that such a phenomenon is quite common in a professional environment, so you can use high-quality and popular samples with author'stexts. But not everyone wants to listen to such an interpretation. And here there are two ways out: create your own musical accompaniment or use the works of predecessors that were not allowed to be included in the albums. Among these are the creations of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and SteelyDan.
4. Record music. If the author of a mixtape cannot record his project on his own for some reason (no equipment or skills), you can turn to a professional DJ. He will select several suitable tracks, and the author will “rap” under them. If the rapper himself is still taken for the mix, then you need to be sure of the quality of the equipment, the microphone and the choice of the necessary programs. All this works for good sound quality.
5. Cover. If the author of the mixtape intends to distribute his creation not only on the Web, but also "on the hands" of his audience, then you should prepare a cover for the future CD. She must be catchy. You can use your own original edited photo or other image. It is better to avoid unnecessary details. Success in this case is based on three pillars: the original name, the name of the mixtape and a catchy picture.

Can mixtapes be sold?

If there is demand, why can't there be supply? After all, a lot of effort and talent has also been invested in the creation of the mixtape. But since this is an unofficial release, it is sold "from the tray", that is, it is distributed among friends and admirers of the creator. In the DJ environment, this is happening more officially today. Mixtapesare released in large numbers, are played in clubs and on the radio.