Culture
DJ Drama Built the Blueprint
Three Philly kids moved to Atlanta for college and built Gangsta Grillz, the hosted mixtape blueprint that made Lil Wayne, Jeezy, and Meek Mill before the labels ever caught up.
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The Tape Never Stopped
Streaming arrived and promised access. What it delivered was rent. The shop at shop.mixtapekings.com is now open, 38 titles at launch and a two-decade argument for why physical media never actually lost.
Barretta Is Not in a Race With Anybody
Nearly 14,000 plays on SoundCloud before the Prty EP dropped on Spotify. The Queens rapper talks beats, independence, and what's building next.
Who Put Together Bad Meets Premo?
Before PRhyme was an album, someone pulled twelve records together and gave the collection a title. Nobody knows who compiled it.
French Montana and Max B Are Keeping the Streets Alive, and They're Calling It a Mixtape
French Montana did not have to call it a mixtape. He called it a mixtape. That is a value system.
Eli's Rotation
Every week, my 15-year-old son Eli picks the track that's got his generation talking. This is what's on repeat in the halls, the group chats, and the car rides home from school.
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HUNNITS
Last week: LUCKI - Loyal Snake
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Now in the Vault
MixtapeKings Radio Vol. 1
DJ Kast One
The tape that came from the show. DJ Kast One mixes 33 tracks of New York street rap straight from the mixtapekings.com Sirius Satellite Radio broadcast. Styles P, Saigon, Nas, Jae Millz, Papoose, J.R. Writer, and Kanye West.
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Three Philly kids moved to Atlanta and built Gangsta Grillz. DJ Drama sits down to explain where the hosted mixtape format came from and how it changed hip-hop for good.
DJ Drama Explains The Origins & Evolution Of 'Gangsta Grillz' Mixtapes | People's Party Clip