For a long time the term "mixtape" has been used as a very broad concept. Often as a loose collection of tunes the artist can't clear samples for or won't get or don't want to get a traditional record deal for. This definition of the word "mixtape" prevailed in 2013 but there have been more and more "mixtapes" in the more traditional meaning of the word. Not as cassettes maybe (except for the awesome Stones Throw releases) but worked through collection of songs skillfully mixed together.
THE MOST CLASSY TAPE OF THE YEAR: Terry Tester - Autumn mix
Terry Tester (CPH) has been doing it for years and his modestly namned "Autumn mix" was another great example of skill, great taste and a genre breaking blend. Download.
4/4 OF THE YEAR: T.E.E.D. - Fabric Live promo mix
Another mix that stunned us was Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur's promo mix for Fabric Live. Not as broad as Terry's mix maybe but an awesome display of both studio and mixing skills and a fantastic collection of tunes. Stream.
THROW BACK OF THE YEAR: Onra & Lexis - Throw 'em up vol.1 & 2
The maybe biggest surprise of the year was Onra & Lexis (two!) 90s RnB throw-back mixtapes. Fantastic concept and we especially appreciate their collection of the videos. Download.
KILLA TAPE OF THE YEAR: Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes - The Abstract & The Dragon
It's been disputed that it's not a mixtape but (as discussed above) just a loose collection of tracks and only a few new songs. That it was too long over due. That they should've put together a "real" album instead. But in my mind there's no denying that "The abstract and the Dragon" is, if not a mixtape, the killa tape of the year simply because it's an awesome collection of tunes from two of the best rappers of all time. In my mind matched by no-one.
Maybe they could've skipped a couple of the skits but for me it's a nod to Wu Tang's debut album where the skits gave an insight into the minds of the collective for good or for bad and added a feeling of being there with them at the time of the creation.
Raekwon: Yo Meth, where my killah tape at ya? First of all, where the fuck is my tape at!?
Methodman: Yo son, I ain't got that piece son
Rae: How you ain't go my shit, when I let you hold it man?
Meth: Yo, niggas came over to have 40 and blunts kid, that shit just came up missin' man
Rae: Come on man, that don't got nothin to do with my shit man!
Meth: Come on man, I'll buy you 4 more fuckin killah tapes man...
Wu Tang Clan - 7th chamber (1994)
Hightlights? Just check the tracklist below but any mixtape that includes Dilla's masterpiece "Lightworks" gets an extra gold star.
Download: Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes - The Abstract & The Dragon
Tracklist:
01. "Intro"
02. A Tribe Called Quest - God Lives Through (feat. Busta Rhymes)
03. Q-Tip - "Gettin Up" (DJ Scratch Remix) (feat. Busta Rhymes)
04. A Tribe Called Quest - "Steppin' It Up" (feat. Busta Rhymes and Redman)
05. "Thank You" (Kid Capri Remix) (feat. Lil Wayne and Kanye West)
06. "Always Add On Interlude"
07. "The Abstract & The Dragon"
08. A Tribe Called Quest - "Wild Hot" (feat. Busta Rhymes)
09. "Speaks (Skit)"
10. A Tribe Called Quest - "One Two Shit" (feat. Busta Rhymes)
11. "We Taking Off"
12. Q-Tip - "Renaissance Rap Remix" (feat. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Lil Wayne)
13. Q-Tip - "Get Down" (feat. Busta Rhymes)
14. "Butch Sundance"
15. "Shaheem Reid Speaks (Skit)"
16. Busta Rhymes - "Pardon My Ways" (ELE 2 Exclusive)
17. "Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming (Skit)"
18. Q-Tip - "For The Nasty" (feat. For The Nasty)
19. "Come On Down (Skit)"
20. Big Daddy Kane - "Come On Down" (feat. Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip)
21. "J Dilla (Skit)"
22. Busta Rhymes - "You Can't Hold The Torch" (feat. Q-Tip)
23. Busta Rhymes - "Lightworks" (feat. Q-Tip and Talib Kweli)
24. "Chris Lighty (Skit)"
25. Q-Tip - "Vivrant Thing" (feat. Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott)
26. Busta Rhymes - "Ill Vibe" (feat. Q-Tip)
27. A Tribe Called Quest - "Scenario" (feat. Leaders Of The New School)
28. A Tribe Called Quest - "Scenario (Remix)" (feat. Hood & Leaders Of The New School)
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