Really? F*ck a Mix-Tape?

The stage was set. Disks had been pressed and the demand was high. The 'Proud to be a Problem' mix-tape from Atlanta rap trio, Travis Porter was ready for release. With a live countdown rolling, followers posted tweets galore in anticipation. Fans of their crowd-chanting party music fevered at the opportunity to click and download their newest mix-tape. Mix-tape; all too familiar words to rap music enthusiasts these days. In an era where album sales are shadowed by illegal downloads, mix-tapes have surfaced as the new means for those looking to break into the industry.

'Proud to be a Problem' is one of over two dozen mix-tapes released this season. Thanks to Travis Porter's indy buzz for hyping clubs throughout Atlanta, the project received a lot more attention from web-surfers than say a, 'Boo-Rossini'...exactly. The mix-tape game has caused record-labels and artists alike to re-stratigize their marketing tactics. Sites

like livemixtapes.com and datpiff.com get their fair share of mix-tapes released by major label artists looking for street attention, but there are literally thousands of mix-tapes put out by rap artists and DJ's still wet behind the ears hoping to break into the limelight.

Though the odds may say the chance of becoming a major-label artists are slim to nil, the mix-tape scenario does have a list of success stories. Case in point, Aubrey "Drake" Graham. The tween drama 'Degrassi' star-turned newest hip-hop phenomenon owes most of his notoriety to the mix-tape hustle. Drake had been pushing his music via mix-tape since 2007 (Room for Improvement), but it wasn't until the Canadian bred artist released his follow-up, 'Comeback Season,' did the wheels of fame begin turn in his favor. Long story short, 'Comeback Season' got Drake a video-shoot with r&b's newest prince, Trey Songz, and a chance to tour with everyone's favorite martian, Lil' Wayne. However, as many background

singers, dancers, and "possiemen" know, just because you're seen with a star, doesn't guarantee you'll be one yourself, so in an effort to capitalize off of his newly acquired attention, Drake's 'So Far Gone' mix-tape was released.

'So Far Gone,' arguably Drake's all around best work, offered a unique blend of cleverly lyrical hip-hop and sensual r&b. The result, his popularity blossomed. Drake's mix-tape presence helped launch his career because it was strategically marketed.

It started out as your ordinary "look-at-me for free" mix-tape, but as Drake's popularity rose and financial backers and producers saw the marketing potential, the 'So Far Gone' mix-tape was re-released for purchase on iTunes.

Now, one thing to remember about mix-tapes is that they are for promotional use only. This is why artists give them away. Though financially backed artists can afford to pay high-end producers, or even have their own 'in-house'

producers, a number of artists grab hold of already popular song titles and make them their own. This is without re-sell of course, simply put--you can't sell what you don't own.

Because most mix-tapes are free, the serve as flyers. They promote the ability of an artist in their most natural realm...the studio. There are those who hate the idea of clocking in long hours behind a mic only to heave it out the window in hopes a passerby spares a few bucks and gives a shit about the music. Lets face it, our society is driven by the dollar, and some feel nothing is worth putting work into for the 'free'. Clifford Harris, notoriously known in the biz as rap artist extraordinaire "T.I." ironically said it best with the release of "F*k a Mix-Tape"...the mix-tape.

"Tip," as he is often called, feels as if mix-tapes are a waste; hell, he even enlisted the likes of famed comedians Kevin Hart and Jamie Foxx to share his sentiment. In the opening track to 'F*k a Mix-Tape,' Foxx rants on how the game lacks fortitude, and that mix-tapes are merely resumes of artists looking for work saying, "Tip! You've been gone all this time and you do a mix-tape? Do an album n*a, an [ALBUM]."

Is T.I.'s point valid? Once an artist reaches celebrity status should they release free mix-tapes? History's taught us that when artists sign with major record labels it's the company that puts the money up, and the artists responsibility to make it back, and then some. Studio time, producers, advertising and merchandise are just some of the areas labels hit to promote their artist, but giving away free material? One would think it's a little unnerving. These days if a person looks hard enough, they'll find the song they're looking for...virus and trojan horse free. Guess execs feel the only way to turn the corner by today's standard is not avoiding the streets, but attacking it in full force.

It takes more than promotion to win in the mix-tape circuit. Like the great Trick Daddy once said, you've got to "know somebody, who knows somebody who knows somethin' 'bout it." Though mix-tapes are given away for free, and may cause an artist to go in on records that have quality album potential, mix-tapes do a service to music. It may or may not benefit the music INDUSTRY entirely, but mix-tapes are seen as a direct link between artist and consumer. What an artist loses in record sales he has the potential to make up on the road by performing shows, so yeah, it kind of does a service in the big picture. There's a certain feeling you get when you hear an album track that you've paid for verses the long lost basement recording raps by your favorite entertainers. Yeah, that's it. Mix-tapes are like the behind the seen footage of your favorite movie. All the stuff that you wish you could have been on set to see yourself. There are those who've chosen a side, but in the end, if you love hip-hop you'll support it monetarily, but if you love music, you'll support it by copping mix-tapes and spreading the word. 'Nuff said.

Tid bit... Check out what David Banner has to say about mix-tapes. Oh yeah, and be sure to leave comments!