Should Artists Stop With Mixtapes Once They've Established Themselves?

8pm at msg

8pm at msg

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We all know mixtapes are heavy within Rap and R&B, where you pretty much get an album quality project for free. Now within other genres, mainly the Alternative Rock/Pop/Etc. scene you might get an EP, which gives you a preview with anywhere from 3-7 tracks. Both are great ways to market yourselves if done right (The Weeknd, Drake, various alt/indie acts)

Now once the albums drop and your footholds are set....shouldn't this idea be abandoned? Don't you run the risk of losing album quality work? The rap game seems dependent on the free music that's released but isn't this killing album quality?
 
It has it's pluses and minuses

It dilutes the work and it has less meaning. Why pay for an album when they give you a bunch of free work. Most people don't have the loyalty to pay for the album in support of the artist. Look at how these people have millions of followers and can still barely sell records.

It helps some artist tour, so that's an advantage.

It also keeps them active and their name out there with how labels put out music

But it also makes music more disposable. If you put out your mixtape out at the wrong time it might be overshadowed or people move on to the release in a couple of days. I know I don't really sit with mixtapes.
 
I honestly feel no project should be more than 10 tracks...theres so much music out there & the way people process it, its here today gone tomorrow...with that said it will force an artist to pick the cream of the crop instead of hey this is everything Iv'e been recording...if artist focus on quality it'll shift how music (hip hop more than other genres) comes out bc it'll know longer be about who has more out but who has packaged everything with quality.
 
If your a high tier artist then I feel mixtapes don't really have to be in your gameplan. I can understand with second tier artists however like Rick Ross but your also in trouble when the mixtape (Rich Forever) outshines your album (GFID).

On the flip side you have guys like Fab who is keeping his career afloat with mixtapes.
 
When you say high tier..... Who are you referring to? In all fairness we only have 2 to 5 high caliber artist that can be considered for that "High Tier" ranking  and that can very well be debated. Hip hop is a genre of trends, and to stay trendy and relevant.. mixtapes are a must unless your name is Kanye West and Jay Z.
 
Kanye
Jay
Drake
Kendrick

Ironically enough Drake is rumored to be dropping a mixtape but I think he's well past the stage of needing one.
 
No but I was critical of the Migos at first, but since they announced "YRN Tha Album" i have no qualms with them anymore...
 
there's certain artists who don't need mixtapes anymore... they've been in the business long enough & created a name for themselves to the point where they can get away with dropping an album every 2 years (sometimes longer).

mixtapes still benefit certain artists though, even if they have dropped albums & created a name for themselves. fabolous was a good example because his mixtapes get him singles, help him do shows, & keep his name out there. another example is an artist like big k.r.i.t. because with his 2 albums that he's dropped, he's been restricted production wise in regards to samples. however, on his mixtapes, he's allowed more freedom to sample & be more creative with his production.
 
Mixtapes are interesting. They do wonders for some artists and can hurt other artists. I don't think we'll ever know if they're good or bad, you kind of get lucky.

Me personally, I don't listen to many mixtapes anymore. The quality is so poor on a lot of them and I'm not dealing with that.

I also prefer a 10-12 track album. Do some promo music singles before the album. Some artists release too much music and then I lose interest but everyone has their own taste.
 
8PM at MSG said:
Kanye
Jay
Drake
Kendrick

Ironically enough Drake is rumored to be dropping a mixtape but I think he's well past the stage of needing one.
Click to expand...
I agree with this list to some extent.... Drake needs mixtapes... Why? Because he is a very trendy artist... His albums have very low replay value because he literally steals the sound of certain artist and cities... to stay relevant while he isnt being featured on young money or whatever hot artist at the time is.... He needs to drop tapes... he is literally a mixtape rapper with the comeback seasons, so far gones.... etc etc... Kendrick content would allow him to go another route to where we can still listen to GKMC... Even Overly Dedicated which is a mixtape played like an album and i still listen to it...... His content allows him to not do mixtapes and thats fine... but I dont agree that he is a top tier artist at this time in his careeer.... Jay and Ye... should never do a mixtape ever again......... they are well established and clearly do not need the marketing support.
 
Good thread.  I think it depends on the artist and their individual marketing plan.  Dropping music for free is essential for any new artist but then you have artists like Wayne that always drops free mixtapes in between retail projects that generally sell well.

It's hard to figure out because the rap game is so diluted and fragmented as it is.  Lots of quality projects come out that get little promo because it's about moving to the next project just to keep up with the market.  Kinda sad but it is what it is.
 
The artists cares less about record sales than the labels. I have and will continue to see artists live based on mixtapes. Because, as said, they're like albums now.

People are going to get the music for free regardless. You only pay for an album if you really want to. Personally, I really kinda only pay as a "thank you." I owe Future and always The Weeknd an album purchase for the free things they've done and I've loved. Travis Scott gets a ticket purchase. I'd probably buy a Frank Ocean album. CBR too. A few others, I'm sure. But I never hear a good song or two from an album and say, "oooo. let me go buy that." I've mostly made up my mind before an album is even announced.
 
Mixtapes are cool by me, they are basically free albums now instead of using other peoples beats to rap on. Some of my fav artists be dropping mad flame on the mixtapes then more on the album. :pimp:
 
Drake is a top tier rapper

Instead of dropping a mixtape, he can just drop a song he just did in the studio off to radio or iTunes and make money off it.
 
TonyDelFreshco said:
 
I agree with this list to some extent.... Drake needs mixtapes... Why? Because he is a very trendy artist... His albums have very low replay value because he literally steals the sound of certain artist and cities... to stay relevant while he isnt being featured on young money or whatever hot artist at the time is.... He needs to drop tapes... he is literally a mixtape rapper with the comeback seasons, so far gones.... etc etc... Kendrick content would allow him to go another route to where we can still listen to GKMC... Even Overly Dedicated which is a mixtape played like an album and i still listen to it...... His content allows him to not do mixtapes and thats fine... but I dont agree that he is a top tier artist at this time in his careeer.... Jay and Ye... should never do a mixtape ever again......... they are well established and clearly do not need the marketing support.
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Drake hasn't dropped a Mixtape since 2009, not sure what you are talking about.
 
Cruzzz said:
 
Drake hasn't dropped a Mixtape since 2009, not sure what you are talking about.
Click to expand...
all the loosies he drops could have been put together and made a mixtape.... pretty much same thing different format... same concept free music to stay relevant.... 
 
TonyDelFreshco said:
all the loosies he drops could have been put together and made a mixtape.... pretty much same thing different format... same concept free music to stay relevant.... 
Click to expand...

Wrong. He drops them on iTunes and Amazon and they become singles. He gets paid from radio spins and .99 and $1.49 sales.
 
8PM at MSG said:
Kanye
Jay
Drake
Kendrick

Ironically enough Drake is rumored to be dropping a mixtape but I think he's well past the stage of needing one.
Click to expand...

This is Drakes first tape since SFG. I wouldn't be surprised if he is doing this just to continue pushing the OVO brand before finally dropping that album this year.

I honestly like when artist do Mixtapes there are still a ton of "A/B list" rappers who drop Tapes.

T.I.
Jeezy
Game
Ross
Wayne
Cole

I mean you have the GREATS who don't do it like Jay/ Nas but some of these dudes need the tapes to warm up before the album. Hell if some artist didn't drop Tapes we would never get a good project from them (FABOLOUS)
 
To be a top tier rapper, in my opinion, you first have to be good. Drake is not good, therefore making him ineligible for that echelon.

He's popular, no doubt. A lot of sheep out there. But as we all know, the game is cyclical and there's always one wack rapper that rises to the top for a bit and then fades away. Hopefully, Drake will soon be gone and good music can flourish.

Kevin Gates for President. #bwa #idgt
 
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