Mixtape culture is reaching a critical point for music consumption and promotion since Lil Wayne unleashed a deluge of free tapes in the late 2000s. Now more than ever, mixtapes represent a critical means to future success: they’re readily available with sites like Datpiff.com and simultaneously act as a concrete representation for record labels. Because of this, thousands of mixtapes are released every year but largely go unnoticed by the average listener. Thus, this article highlights three tapes released in 2014 that demand your attention.
Lil Herb – Welcome to Fazoland
Despite growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Herbert Wright, a.k.a Lil Herb, doesn’t relate to his drill scene comrades. Yet, Welcome to Fazoland is definitive proof that the Windy City’s rap scene is diverse and incredibly talented. Its name derives from a friend of Herb’s who was fatally shot, and the tape drips with every ounce of his spilled blood. Wright uses his lyrical dexterity that truly encapsulates the city’s more violent aspects, something most drill rappers lack. He spits “‘Cause where I’m from you either dead broke or just dead,” a sentiment that summarizes his experiences with Chiraq’s gangs and overall violent aesthetic. Welcome to Fazoland is an impressively constructed debut from the 18-year-old and could vault Herb into national relevancy.
Essential tracks: “Still Fucked Up,” “On the Corner”
100s – IVRY
The polar opposite to Fazoland, Berkeley rapper 100s and IVRY represent an interesting trend of emcees utilizing R&B sounds with faster rapping styles. IVRY sounds like a ’70s soul album fused with Cam’ron circa Purple Haze; it’s glitzy and dreamy but features the gun-sputtering flow of 100s using less-than-romantic language to woo women. IVRY isn’t a lyrically stimulating album, but its new and invigorating approach to production call for repeated listens.
Essential tracks: “Can a Nigga Hit It?,” “Ten Freaky Hoes”
Young Thug and Bloody Jay – Black Portland
Young Thug, Gucci Mane’s protégé, is certainly the most famous rapper of this list; his most recent solo mixtape, 1017 Thug, was widely considered to be one of 2013’s best and his recording résumé includes appearances with notables like Future and Waka Flocka Flame. This collaboration with fellow Atlanta native Bloody Jay, however, shows that his recent successes haven’t gone to his head. Thug’s nasally delivered bars alongside thundering bass add to his validity as a promising talent, something that Bloody Jay only complements. If the Nicki Minaj-backed remix of “Danny Glover” is an indication, Young Thug should be a household name in a few months.
Essential tracks: “Florida Water,” “Danny Glover”