Hello Darkness, Hello Sunshine

DJ’s Favorite Mixtapes of the Year

Before I share my little irrelevant list of favorite tapes this year, I got to say, it’s starting be a pet peeve of mines when people call mixtapes albums. It’s like when you in class, and you have your iPod playing, and the teacher says to you, “Put that walkmen away.” And you’re like, “It’s an iPod, actually.” Or at least how I’d do it. And I know Complex doesn’t care and calls everything an album, but they’re crazy. It’s a difference.. sorta of. But yeah, gonna try to list 15 mixtapes (No order after the first one):

• Section.80 - Kendrick Lamar: Example of that mixtape-album thing I was talking about. It kinda annoys me when people say it’s album of the year, but it’s not an album, though, he’s currently working on the debut album which should come sometime next year. Maybe it’s just my OCD, but that’s me. Perhaps the best musical project to come out all year. But if not, at least two years in a row, best mixtape, Mr. Lamar.
• LiveLoveA$AP - A$AP Rocky: I don’t like falling into hype when people put steam behind something/someone, but I couldn’t help it this time around. The PMF did a great job on this.
• Fear of God - Pusha T: I like me some Cocaine Rap.
• The Original Dom Kennedy - Dom Kennedy: Nice, short, simple, and to the point. And though I liked Westside II, I think I like OGDK a little bit more.
• House of Balloons, Thursday & Echoes of Silence - The Weeknd: Originally was going to add the bookends until I re-listened to Thursday this week, and it’s better than I remember. So I thought, might as well add the entire trilogy. Still don’t know if this guy is categorized as R&B yet, but oh well. But he has the R&B potential.
• Nostalgia, Ultra - Frank Ocean: Another R&B newcomer with great potential. It took me around nine months to actually play it given my Odd Future protest (The hype example from earlier for you), and it’s pretty damn good. (PS— Like I keep saying: The Weeknd is ill, Frank Ocean is good, but The-Dream still run the R&B landscape— on my iPod at least)
• Pabst & Jazz - Asher Roth: Where has this guy been? Forgot how good his debut was (Which was 2009), but like all artist should be, he’s getting better. Plus a prevalent amount of Blended Babies beats, who is my new favorite producer duo, will help.. I see you, Asher.
• Gift Raps - Chip Tha Ripper: In the midst of Fat Music Month — the nickname for all of March’s releases given by the guy who produced this entirely, Chuck Inglish — came this gem from the Cleveland born, now LA resident rapper. We in this Ho.
• Setbacks - Schoolboy Q: Kendrick’s right man, another TDE affiliate who can hold his own for an entire project. Still waiting for Habits & Contradictions, though.
• Afraid of Heights - Omen: Lightskin Jermaine’s fellow Dream Villain’s first full length project. J. Cole may have some competition.
• Friend of the People - Lupe Fiasco [And his Dreads]: I don’t know. We ALL know the year Lu has after the whole Lasers thing. So he’s been taking a lot of heat from his hardcore fan base, so he releases this tape two years after it was suppose to come out. I actually like this way more than Lasers, though his beat selection is going somewhere else these days. But maybe this is just the Lupe fan bias knowing his Best Rapper Alive potential and want him follow up The Cool like he should. But still feel I’m in the minority on this one.
• Return of 4Eva - Big K.R.I.T: Never even made an attempt to listen to this dude though I’ve been hearing so much about him for so long. Once I DL’ed this, it still took me another few months to press play. But when I finally did… oh, damn. I see what people are saying now.
• Covert Coup - Curren$y & Alchemist: Felt I had to throw in a Spitta project in here when he puts out at least 3 projects a year, seemingly. He shouldn’t go unnoticed as much as he does, especially when his work ethic is serious. This had great production, of course, and Spitta, as always comes through for us.