This project will investigate hip-hop artists' use of the internet to publish mixtapes. Both popular artists and unknown artists have released official mixtapes on the internet that have caught the public's attention. Popular artists such as Lil' Wayne take the beats of other artists' songs and make their own lyrics, whereas unknown artists such as Kid Cudi released original works in the forms of mixtapes that sparked widespread interest in their music. The reasoning behind the use of the internet as a form of distribution and the positive effect of these mixtapes on these artists' careers will be discussed.
My project does a case study on 8 mixtapes by 7 artists. Three artists have been previously established in the hip-hop mainstream, and four are relatively unknown. I show how the mixtapes have earned the artist public recognition or how the artists intend to gain recognition through the mixtape. I also demonstrate how the internet was an instrumental factor in the spreading of these mixtapes to the public. Many of the mixtapes were released on the internet, and they can all be downloaded legally and for free from DatPiff amongst other sites. Several of these artists also distribute their music through MySpace.
Note: Only mixtapes with original lyrics will be discussed. This project does not address mash-ups or compilations. All of the mixtapes can be found for free at DatPiff.com. Although you will need to create an account to download the music, no account is necessary to listen to the songs. Considering all of the albums mentioned are mixtapes, labels and catalog numbers are not available.
The Playlist: Songs by Artist/Mixtape
*Popular Artists*
Lil' Wayne: Dedication 2
1. SportsCenter
2. Canon (AMG Remix)
3. Georgia... Bush
Lil' Wayne: Da Drought 3
4. Ride 4 My Niggas
5. Upgrade
6. Back On My Grizzy
Lupe Fiasco: Fahrenheit 1/15 Part III: A Rhyming Ape
7. Happy Industries
8. A Bathing Harry
9. Heat Under the Babyseat
D12: Return of the Dozen
10. Throw 'em High
11. I'm a G
12. Plead For Your Life
*Rising Artists*
Kid Cudi: A Kid Named Cudi
13. Day N Nite
14. Down & Out
15. Embrace The Martian
16. Man On The Moon
The Cool Kids: Cool Ass Ninjas
17. Black Mags
18. Mikey Rocks
19. Pump Up The Volume
Wale: 100 Miles And Running
20. W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.
21. DC Gorillas
22. Smile Remix
Drake: So Far Gone
23. Unstoppable
24. Uptown
25. Brand New
26. Say What's Real
Lil' Wayne: Dedication 2
1. SportsCenter
2. Canon (AMG Remix)
3. Georgia... Bush
Lil' Wayne: Da Drought 3
4. Ride 4 My Niggas
5. Upgrade
6. Back On My Grizzy
Lupe Fiasco: Fahrenheit 1/15 Part III: A Rhyming Ape
7. Happy Industries
8. A Bathing Harry
9. Heat Under the Babyseat
D12: Return of the Dozen
10. Throw 'em High
11. I'm a G
12. Plead For Your Life
*Rising Artists*
Kid Cudi: A Kid Named Cudi
13. Day N Nite
14. Down & Out
15. Embrace The Martian
16. Man On The Moon
The Cool Kids: Cool Ass Ninjas
17. Black Mags
18. Mikey Rocks
19. Pump Up The Volume
Wale: 100 Miles And Running
20. W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.
21. DC Gorillas
22. Smile Remix
Drake: So Far Gone
23. Unstoppable
24. Uptown
25. Brand New
26. Say What's Real
Popular Artists
Popular artists traditionally look for ways to profit from their music. Most artists focus on copyrighting their music and distributing it through record labels. These labels sell the artists' music so that the artist and the company can both profit. In an age where illegal downloading is prevalent, companies and artists have tried to protect their copyrights and their profits through lawsuits and widespread campaigns. An intricate association between money and music seems prevalent.
The internet mixtape phenomenon is unique because it breaks this traditional concept of prominent musicians protecting and selling their music. Artists who have sold millions of albums have began to produce music in the form of mixtapes for widespread release free of charge. These popular artists often take beats from other popular songs and create their own lyrics that give the song a completely new sound.
These free mixtapes have popularized the artists that create them. In an age where people are afraid of the reprecussions of illegally downloading, people have appreciated that they can download this music with peace of mind. Even if the beats are not original, the artists can show their musical ability through the clever lyrical approaches they take to the songs. People also appreciate the artists' commitment to their fans and their music that is demonstrated through the free release of this music.
The internet mixtape phenomenon is unique because it breaks this traditional concept of prominent musicians protecting and selling their music. Artists who have sold millions of albums have began to produce music in the form of mixtapes for widespread release free of charge. These popular artists often take beats from other popular songs and create their own lyrics that give the song a completely new sound.
These free mixtapes have popularized the artists that create them. In an age where people are afraid of the reprecussions of illegally downloading, people have appreciated that they can download this music with peace of mind. Even if the beats are not original, the artists can show their musical ability through the clever lyrical approaches they take to the songs. People also appreciate the artists' commitment to their fans and their music that is demonstrated through the free release of this music.
Lil' Wayne - Dedication 2 & Da Drought 3
Artist: Lil' Wayne
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Released: May 2006
Label: 101 Entertainment
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_Drama_Lil_Wayne_The_Dedication_2.m799.html
Artist: Lil' Wayne
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Released: 2007
Disc 1: http://www.datpiff.com/Lil_Wayne_Da_Drought_3_-_Disc_1.m4313.html
Disc 2: http://www.datpiff.com/Lil_Wayne_Da_Drought_3_-_Disc_2.m4314.html
Lil' Wayne is known for his smooth style, clever lyrics, and creative song subjects. He also arguably made the biggest impact on his career through his internet mixtapes. Lil' Wayne has been releasing mixtapes since his solo career was starting to take off in 2003. In addition to his traditional albums, he was releasing mixtapes too. During the two years between Tha Carter II and Tha Carter III, Lil' Wayne's popularity grew exponentially as he was featured on other artists' singles and released his extremely popular mixtapes Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3. These mixtapes received plenty of media attention and drew many fans to Lil' Wayne's music. The albums Tha Carter and Tha Carter II sold 1.1 and 1.4 million copies respectively (1). The mixtapes Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3 played a significant role in making Lil' Wayne's album Tha Carter III one of the most highly anticipated albums in history. It sold more than 1,000,000 copies in its first week (2).
Songs from Dedication 2:
- SportsCenter - This song is taken from Jay-Z's "The Game Iz Mine" and is named for its beginning commentary about how much Lil' Wayne watches ESPN. The flow of his lyrics are incredibly smooth.
- Canon (AMG Remix) - Taken from "Bankstaz" by Sunz of Man, Lil' Wayne's lyrics feature plenty of clever analogies that are vivid and sometimes humorous. Other artists are also featured on this track.
- Georgia... Bush - Released as a response to the way the Bush administration handled the Hurricane Katrina situation, this song drew a lot of attention from the public. Lil' Wayne is from New Orleans and was outspoken about the government's response or lackthereof to this natural disaster. It's beat is from Ludacris' "Georgia" which clipped Ray Charles' song by the same name.
Songs from Da Drought 3:
- Ride 4 My Niggas - Lil' Wayne took the beat from the relatively obscure song "Mr. Jones" by Mike Jones and turned it into a hip-hop mixtape classic. Sometimes referred to as "The Sky Is The Limit," this song is motivational and extremely catchy.
- Upgrade - Taken from Beyonce's "Upgrade U," Lil' Wayne demonstrates his ability to entirely change the sound of a song. It's also a demonstration of Lil' Wayne's hypermasculinity, drug use, and sometimes thuggish attitude.
- Back On My Grizzy - This song uses the beat from "Chop Chop" by YoungBloodZ. This song demonstrates several of Lil' Wayne's talents including his smooth style and his creativeness.
(2) http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1589491/20080617/lil_wayne.jhtml
Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1/15 Part III: A Rhyming Ape
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Mixtape: A Rhyming Ape
Released: 2006
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/Lupe_Fiasco_A_Rhyming_Ape.m314.html
Lupe Fiasco is an extremely popular mainstream hip hop artist who first gained attention through mixtapes. In 2005 and 2006, Lupe Fiasco caught people's attention when he released three mixtapes called Fahrenheit 1/15. The songs on Part III: A Rhyming Ape are all based on songs from the Gorillaz Demon Days album which had been released in 2005.
Soon after releasing these attention-grabbing mixtapes, Lupe broke into the mainstream. His first single "Kick, Push" and his first album Food & Liquor were released in 2006. He's been nominated for several Grammys and other various awards.
Songs:
- Happy Industries - This song is based on "Feel Good Inc." and showcases Lupe's amazing ability to make his rap smooth. It is the first full song on the mixtape and serves as both an introduction to the mixtape and a great example of Lupe's skill.
- A Bathing Harry - Lupe raps over the beat of "Dirty Harry." His lyrics are very creative and fit in well with the catchy Gorillaz beat. He touts his abilities throughout the song, and is able to support his claims in this entertaining song.
- Heat Under the Babyseat - Based on "Kids With Guns," Lupe takes the original concept of the song and tells tragic stories of children who find guns and use them for criminal purposes. The song is only a minute and a half, but it delivers a message that its listeners won't forget.
D12 - Return of the Dozen
Artist: D12Mixtape: Return of the Dozen
Released: June 2008
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/D12_Return_Of_The_Dozen_The_Mixtape_Vol1.m15537.html
D12 is a hip-hop group originally from Detroit that incorporates their "rags to riches" story and their hardened personalities to their music. D12 reached the height of their fame during the first half of this decade. Their albums Devil's Night and D12 World reached the top of the Billboard charts in 2001 and 2004 respectively (3). During this peak, Eminem highlighted the group and was the biggest focus in the group. However, since this period, they've largely gone unnoticed. In 2006, one of the group's original members Proof was shot and killed, and the group left the spotlight for the next couple of years.
Although the group has a lighter side as evidenced by hit singles "Purple Hills" and "My Band," their 2008 mixtape Return of the Dozen is every bit serious. The four members of the group on the mixtape, Swifty, Bizzare, Kuniva, and Kon Artis, try to establish themselves without Eminem. They reveal their pain of losing Proof as they reminisce about another deceased member Bugz in the album. They supposedly will release another mainstream album over the next year, and this mixtape could be drawing attention to their group as they anticipate this release (4).
Songs:
- Throw 'em High - As the first full song on the mixtape, this song clearly expresses their pain of losing their former members. They show ambition to reestablish themselves in the hip-hop world without them.
- I'm a G - Based off "The Boss," by Rick Ross, D12 shows that even though they've been hurt, they still have the same swagger as before. They're lyrics bring an edge to the song but flow well.
- Plead For Your Life - This song is about their desire for revenge. Both Bugz and Proof were murdered, and they want to avenge their deceased friends. The lyrics are witty, and the style works well with the song, and they bring their soul to their music.
(4) http://www.rapbasement.com/features/features/d12-return-of-the-dozen.html
Rising Artists
The internet is a unique vehicle for aspiring artists to gain popularity for their music. In years past, hip-hop artists often had to gain popularity by releasing their music locally and hoping that they would catch people's attention. Because more talented artists would prevail in areas with larger populations, artists from New York City and Los Angeles rose to fame when artists from smaller cities were never noticed. However, the development of the internet has allowed for artists from various backgrounds to become popular. All artists have access to sharing their music on the internet.
Some artists have truly benefited from releasing their mixtapes on the internet. This project will highlight some artists who are rising or have risen to fame. Their internet mixtapes have earned them fans, record deals, money, and fame that they may not have attained without them.
Some artists have truly benefited from releasing their mixtapes on the internet. This project will highlight some artists who are rising or have risen to fame. Their internet mixtapes have earned them fans, record deals, money, and fame that they may not have attained without them.
Kid Cudi - A Kid Named Cudi
Artist: Kid CuDiMixtape: A Kid Named Cudi
Released: July 2008
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/Plain_Pat_Emile_KiD_CuDi_A_Kid_Named_Cudi.m28404.html
Kid Cudi is an up and coming artist who is in the process of breaking into the mainstream. His mixtape A Kid Named Cudi first earned him recognition when it was released last summer, and his popularity has only been rising since. His most famous song from the mixtape "Day N Nite" has been featured on the HBO show Entourage (5). He's made appearances on BET and MTV and has been featured in various magazines. He serves as a great example of an artist who would not have been given a shot without the internet - he is from Cleveland, Ohio, a town not well scouted for hip-hop artists.
Kid Cudi was featured on Kanye West's last album 808's and Heartbreak on the song "Welcome To Heartbreak" shortly after the mixtape was released. He plans on releasing his first mainstream album Man On The Moon: The Guardians later this year (6).
Songs:
- Day N Nite - His most famous song off of the mixtape, "Day N Nite" features Kid Cudi's ability to sing. Sonic markers in this song reflect his close affiliation to popular artist Kanye West as they have a similar style.
- Down & Out - Kid Cudi's rap skills are featured in this song. His deep message are shown in his well thought out lyrics. It is a very touching song that shows Kid Cudi as a person as well as an entertainer.
- Embrace the Martian - Kid Cudi showcases his ability to rap to more upbeat songs without losing his opportunity to send a message. His lyrics describe himself as an outsider, or a martian, that recognizes his sound is different than that of other hip-hop artists.
- Man On The Moon (The Anthem) - Possibly serving as a preview for his first mainstream album, this song also demonstrates Kid Cudi's willingness to rap to slower songs with more meaningful lyrics.
(6) http://www.urb.com/permalink/3685/Kid-Cudi-speaks-on-808%27s-&-Heartbreak.html
The Cool Kids - Cool Ass Ninjas
Artist: Cool KidsMixtape: Cool Ass Ninjas
Released: 2008
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/O-zone_The_Cool_Kids_Cool_Ass_Ninjas.m19133.html
The Cool Kids are another group whose popularity is steady growing as they hope to break into the mainstream. They consist of two individuals who actually met on MySpace (7). Since then they have released many songs through their MySpace page (8) including the songs that became their mixtape Cool Ass Ninjas. Their most popular song "Black Mags" has been listened to over 3,000,000 times on MySpace since its release (9). The song "88'" has been featured in video games (10). Their first popular album The Bake Sale released in August 2008 includes songs from Cool Ass Ninjas.
Songs:
- Black Mags - This is a great example of The Cool Kids' style. Chuck Inglish showcases his funky beat with Mikey Rocks demonstrating his talent over it. This MySpace hit is a very chill song with a unique sound.
- 88' - Another great example of The Cool Kids' sound. Mikey Rocks's lyrics are smart and blend well with the original beat.
- Pump Up the Volume - Yet another unconventional but fun song with a catchy tune. This song could be a metaphor for The Cool Kids' desire to reach higher levels of popularity.
(8) http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/sharpdarts/070706/
(9) http://www.myspace.com/thecoolkids
(10) http://games.ign.com/articles/820/820488p1.html
Wale - 100 Mile and Running
Artist: WaleMixtape: 100 Miles & Running
Released: July 2007
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/Nick_Catchdubs_Wale_100_Miles_and_Running.m5625.html
Wale is a rap artist from Washington, D.C., another unconventional hip-hop breeding ground. His entire career thus far has consisted of producing mixtapes with occasional single releases to radio. When he released 100 Miles and Running online in 2007, it gained plenty of attention in the hip-hop community. Just as Lil' Wayne and Lupe Fiasco do, Wale takes several popular songs and makes them his own. He became featured in several magazines and performed his most popular song from the mixtape, "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E." at the MTV Video Music Awards that year (11).
In May 2008, he released his 4th mixtape, A Mixtape About Nothing. Wale hopes to break further into the mainstream later this year when he releases his first major album Attention: Deficit (12).
Songs:
- DC Gorillaz - Another song based off of "Dirty Harry" by the Gorillaz, Wale shows off his his skills as he boosts his own ego and shouts out to his hometown.
- W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E. - A remix of "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice, this is easily Wale's most popular mixtape song. It's tune is very catchy, and Wale shows off his smooth style and clever lyrics.
- Smile Remix - Based off of the popular song "Smile" by Lilly Allen, this rap about love is a great showcase of Wale's ability to tell stories in his music.
(12) http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/wale/attention-deficit/26893/
Drake - So Far Gone
Artist: DrakeMixtape: So Far Gone
Release: February 2009
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/Drake_So_Far_Gone.m34130.html
Drake is an up and coming hip-hop artist from Canada. Thus far, his mixtapes and his music has drawn the attention of popular hip-hop artists and fans alike. His musical background is very apparent in his dual abilities to both rap and sing. Drake's music showcases his fluid style and entertaining lyrics. His lyrics are very clever and allow him to convey very poignant messages. This, his third mixtape entitled So Far Gone, features many artists well established in the hip-hop community including Lil' Wayne, Trey Songz, Lloyd, Bun B, and Omarion. Each of the songs posted on his MySpace has been listened to between 1 million and 7 million times (13).
Songs:
- Unstoppable - Drake's choppy style in this song fits in well with the beat. His choice of lyrics and the way it flows with the song serve as an incredible display of his talent. Lil' Wayne's and Santo Gold's contributions truly make the song complete.
- Uptown - Another very good song that demonstrates his ability to adjust his rap to the beat and style of the song without it affecting the quality of his rap. Bun B and Lil' Wayne compliment Drake and the song very well.
- Brand New - Drake demonstrates his incredible singing ability in this song. Unlike most rappers who have to digitize their singing voice to make it sound professional, his vocals are unaltered and sounds beautiful.
- Say What's Real - The beat is taken from Kanye West's "Say You Will," but Drake approaches it with rap rather than singing. His style contrasts that of "Uptown" or "Unstoppable" as it's much smoother.
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