mixtape:

SHOW DECK

STORY

Back in the late ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s, DJ mixtapes played an extremely important role in hip-hop, both in New York City and beyond.

They helped dictate what rap songs were hot in the clubs and in the streets, plus influenced which artists would get played on the radio and signed to major label record deals. And of course, they showcased which DJs had the most skills, and also who had the juice to pull the illest exclusives.

Now that we’re in the midst of the streaming/playlist era where new music is available at our fingertips, it’s important that we look back and explore the enormous impact mixtapes had on hip-hop music and culture worldwide, and how they helped us get here.