Do you think mix tapes are better than albums? Why does it seem like mix tapes sell more than albums do? Mix tapes have been around long as hip hop has been around for the most part. DJ's such as Grandmaster Flash and DJ Breakout were putting out mix tapes every since the early 70's, however they weren't called mix tapes back then, they were known as "party tapes". Party tapes were made to display the skills of the DJ's as far as mixing techniques and special features. Most of the time, when DJ's sold their mix tapes, they charged by the minute and some mix tapes ran as long as 30 to 45 minutes. That was the mix tape game back then, let's fast forward to the mix tape game NOW.

Mix tapes now are used to promote artist before they release major albums on their label. With all the delayed release dates of albums, mix tapes are the only thing that has kept hip hop fans sane during the drought of major releases. Most of the time street mix tapes feature unheard of freestyles and songs that skip the detailed editing stages of the recording industry. DJ clue is one of the originators when it comes to the new mix tape game. Not only did Clue shout out over the songs like DJ's do, but he actually put in work and made the beats followed by doing the production. Although most DJ's don't rap, they host mix tapes featuring the hottest talent the industry and streets have to offer.

With his series of Professional Mix tapes he showed how it could be possible to feature lots of artist on the same album. Not only did this pave the way for artist to collaborate with each other, but it showed off raw and uncut new talent. Artist such as 50 cent and his G-Unit crew perfected the mix tape scene by dropping a series of mix tapes with their own DJ, Whoo Kid. Other artist such as Chamillionare and Cam'ron enhanced their craft on mix tapes which caused them to link major deals. The term "mix tape" means a collaboration of beats and lyrics. Most artist re-do other artist songs on their mix tapes as a step toward promotion. Think about it, if you get the hottest instrumental that's out now and lace it with your own lyrics, why wouldn't you get noticed? It would be a head turning experience if the DJ puts the hottest beat on and you were on it instead of the artist whose song it was.

Mix tapes differ from albums in the way that an artist is probably putting his full potential into a mix tape. Most of the time, you can hear the hunger of an artist from listening to a mix tape. You really get the sense of what got that artist to the peak of their career today as oppose to a major CD release. The albums artist come out with following a mix tape are usually the albums their selling to the general public meaning 85% of the album is radio friendly. Mix tapes show artists for who they really are, it shows flawless lyrical talent at it's best.

Mix tapes can turn nobody's into somebody's in just a matter of minutes. DJ's like Kayslay, DJ Drama, DJ Whoo Kid and Greg Street all have put out successful series of mix tapes with different artist. New York DJ, Kayslay can be credited for the careers of Fabolous, Jim Jones and the new lyrical cat Papoose. DJ drama deserves the credit for artist such as T.I., Young Jeezy and even Lil' Wayne. All these artists have gone platinum every since they dropped mix tapes with these DJ's. T.I. was still virtually unknown until he dropped his mix tape series with DJ Drama called "Down with the King", now he sells out every time he releases an album. The DJ's are as much apart of mix tapes as the artists are. If it wasn't for all the DJ's, mix tapes probably wouldn't even exist. Mix tapes allow the artist to be versatile and uncensored; both are key things when it comes to hip hop and rap.

Why are major release sales so low? Not only do people steal music online on file sharing programs, but artist just don't give their all on major releases. More and more people are swaying away from purchasing CD's due to the lack of good material. Sure the verses on mix tapes may be scattered and smothered by gunshots and DJ's giving shout outs, but it's a full experience of the artist.

An artist such as Lloyd Banks made his mark by spitting some of the most flaming bars the rap game has every heard on his mix tapes. The fan base of many artists has grown due to their appearances on mix tapes. An artist could literally "blow up" overnight just based on the buzz of their mix tape. Hard untamed lyrics on hard beats are usually the method to dropping a good mix tape. The streets cling to and fiend for mix tapes more than major releases due to strong lyrics and great features.