I can remember my very first mixtape.  It was the summer of 1986 and my cousin went back to Harlem to visit his family. He returned with a cassette tape that would forever change my sister's and my life.  It was a live radio mix from WBLS 107.5 FM's legendary pioneer hip-hop DJ, Mr. Magic.  It was Mr. Magic's Rap Attack, freshly produced and recorded.  It was mixed and featured drops from youngsters named LL Cool J, Run-DMC and UTFO. 

The mixtape was born as a way to share music that would otherwise not be shared: distribute hip-hop; create a feeling and vibe; showcase the hottest, dopest and freshest new artists.

As it's summer, what better time to break down the science and anatomy of the mixtape?

I began creating mixtapes in 1988. Here is my breakdown.

For a true mixtape, you must have originality - much like all elements of hip-hop. This starts with a talented and respected DJ/Producer to complement a dope MC.  In rare instances like Drake's So Far Gone mixtape, you can rock it without a DJ, but your work better be good. That means if you decide to "jack for beats" (take an already released instrumental and rap over it), please make sure what you spit is as good or better than the original. Too many times cats take a dope beat and come weak over it; that's not turning any heads. Also, for the MC, a mixtape is an opportunity to say and do exactly what you want on record. 

A mixtape should be, in essence, your dream album, or at least something that represents the best of what you have to offer. This matrix of quality does not only pertain to lyrics. Consider the mix-down, the mastering and the packaging (no "Sharpied"-on CDs straight off the spindle, please). If it's a bedroom mix, a raw and unpolished sound is acceptable for the true hip-hop connoisseur; this is the sound that made D&D studios in New York so popular in the 1990s.

My homeboys DJ Tee "Native America's #1 DJ" and DJ B-Mello (KUBE 93 FM) question the authenticity of what some people would call a mixtape. I mean, does the music actually ever even mix?  Lots of times it doesn't. Some DJs are truer to the artform, and refer to the albums as "blends" - where DJs will truly mix the music so the beats match and form a continuous mix of music.  Some DJs will include breaks and transitions, where maybe between songs there is an explosion or someone will speak in a hyped voice to proclaim how "hot" the mix is.

Mixing is not always a necessity, but mixing does pay homage to the essence and original era of mixtapes and hip-hop authenticity. Plus, if you don't mix, DJ Tee and B-Mello might privately clown on you.

On the real tip, the mixtape business is NOT for everyone - so step up your game and give us something good. 

I'll be back for more on this subject, but here are some summer 25360 Area mixtapes to check out:

DJ Big Daddy, DJ T Smoov & DJ THMC: Northwest Loyalty - Summer 2010 Mixtape

DJ Funkdaddy: Breakdance Classics

UltraMega: $o Fre$h

Don P: Believe In Yourself

Jogota: The Rosie Lee Project

Afrok: Delay of Game

Have a 25360 mixtape? Send it my way here.