2008 Woodie Awards
Mixtapes Get Bad Rap
Opinion Editorial
Dave Sachs B-Side Managing Editor
Issue date: 1/30/07 Section: Opinion
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To me, it's the hardest, most blatant governmental blow to hip-hop culture since Mayor Ed Koch handcuffed graffiti in the early 1980s. Since then, New York City has adopted a zero-toler-ance policy against the art of bombing. Next up on the hip-hop chop block: mixtapes.
Recently, a renowned mainstream mixtape produc-er, DJ Drama, was arrested, had assets seized and was jailed on $100,000 bond for violating a law against "boot-legging" that, when broken, actually helps the ailing mu-sic industry - hip-hop in particular.
The big "bust" (which is an apt word because the raid at Drama's studio involved a local S.W.A.T. team … watch out, those turntables may be packing heat) was a collabo-ration between Atlanta law enforcement and the Record-ing Industry Association of America (RIAA). Drama has since made bail and, though all his albums were seized, I can still buy one of his "Gangster Grillz" mixtapes on http://www.Amazon.com. That's odd.
If you don't know what a mixtape is, it's been an inte-gral staple of hip-hop almost since the art form's incep-tion and can sometimes be the keystone to a career. It is not a bootlegged album; it's a compilation amalgamated by people like DJ Drama (a huge name in the mainstream mix-tape world), who has endless connections with record la-bels, rappers and everyone in between. His Gangsta Grillz studio is probably as legitimate a business as the mixtape industry has, at least according to the Law.
See, the intrinsic reality of the mixtape is that it's ille-gal, but it shouldn't be: Dee-jays use copyrighted mate-rial and alter it with fades and beatmatching, feeding artists' creativity, competi-tiveness and recognition. When emcees spit over these beats and sell them - legally or not - they pluralize the industry by inspiring com-petition and opening doors for lesser-known rappers. They're self-promotional tools for artists and scouting reports for record compa-nies, not bootlegged Nas CDs he's selling for five bucks a pop.
Recently, a renowned mainstream mixtape produc-er, DJ Drama, was arrested, had assets seized and was jailed on $100,000 bond for violating a law against "boot-legging" that, when broken, actually helps the ailing mu-sic industry - hip-hop in particular.
The big "bust" (which is an apt word because the raid at Drama's studio involved a local S.W.A.T. team … watch out, those turntables may be packing heat) was a collabo-ration between Atlanta law enforcement and the Record-ing Industry Association of America (RIAA). Drama has since made bail and, though all his albums were seized, I can still buy one of his "Gangster Grillz" mixtapes on http://www.Amazon.com. That's odd.
If you don't know what a mixtape is, it's been an inte-gral staple of hip-hop almost since the art form's incep-tion and can sometimes be the keystone to a career. It is not a bootlegged album; it's a compilation amalgamated by people like DJ Drama (a huge name in the mainstream mix-tape world), who has endless connections with record la-bels, rappers and everyone in between. His Gangsta Grillz studio is probably as legitimate a business as the mixtape industry has, at least according to the Law.
See, the intrinsic reality of the mixtape is that it's ille-gal, but it shouldn't be: Dee-jays use copyrighted mate-rial and alter it with fades and beatmatching, feeding artists' creativity, competi-tiveness and recognition. When emcees spit over these beats and sell them - legally or not - they pluralize the industry by inspiring com-petition and opening doors for lesser-known rappers. They're self-promotional tools for artists and scouting reports for record compa-nies, not bootlegged Nas CDs he's selling for five bucks a pop.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Shawn Kennedy
posted 1/31/07 @ 12:38 AM EST
I think its wrong to target the mixtape Djs. The record companies provide promos to most of these Djs prior to release date to promote their artist anyways. (Continued…)
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