Here at Chopsandkicks we supply y’all with hottest and latest mixtapes for everybody to listen to. This year was pretty big year in the mixtape scene. Artist’s mixtapes have been bigger than their actual album, big hit singles came from mixtapes, and artists made a big splash in the music industry due to their mixtapes and the buzz surrounding it. We’re here to tell you which mixtapes we think were the best of the best for year 2012!
#10 Joe Budden – “A Loose Quarter”
Well we all know what we get from Joe when he drops a tape thought provoking lyrics, emotional topics and hardcore BARS! Joe Budden has been using this formula since his Mood Muzik series and its a winning formula, this mixtape is definitely a great way to gain momentum leading into his next studio LP “No Love Lost” coming early next year.
#9 Lloyd Banks – “V6”
All I got to say about this about mixtape is BARS, BARS and MORE BARS. If you’re a person who just love lyrics Lloyd Banks doesn’t disappoint with this tape.
#8 Stalley – “Savage Life to the American Dream”
Remember what I said in the intro about artists made it BIG off their mixtapes, this is what I was talkin’ about after signing MMG and dropping this mixtape Stalley’s career elevated to a whole new plateau.
#7 Joey BadA$$ – “1999″
Armed with arsenal of old school sounding beats and lyrics for days, Joey BadA$$ truly captures essence of 90’s Hip-Hop when artists really had to show their skills on the mic.
#6 Big Sean –”Detroit”
You can really see an artist growth through their music, this has been a big year for Big Sean good features, his work on the GOOD Music’s Compilation album “Cruel Summer”, a good quality mixtape in “Detroit” and selling out arenas. This is all great momentum leading into his sophomore album “Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player” coming early next year.
#5 Mac Miller – “Macadelic”
After a lack luster performance on his debut album “Blue Slide Park” Mac Miller came back darker and more introspective on “Macadelic” and truth be told it worked perfectly. Mac Miller definitely did not let his debut album slump get to him and with this tape he came out smelling like beautiful drugged up roses.
#4 Wiz Khalifa – “Taylor Allderdice”
Somebody tell me how do you make a whole mixtape with the same subject matter in every song and make it sound so good you just got to keep listening. Wiz needs to teach a few rappers out here that technique, cause this dude subjects may be limited but he definitely know how to make a good song and Wiz also get an A for beat selection. I hear people say you got to be a stoner to appreciate Wiz Khalifa’s music, I really beg to differ.
#3 50 Cent – “The Lost Tape”
Now this is what I’m talkin’ about fifth!! After a few lack luster albums and mixtapes I kind of lost faith in you man but you snatched up DJ Drama and came back full force with what I honestly say is a Grade A Mixtape, can’t wait to hear the music on your upcoming LP.
#2 Rick Ross – “Rich Forever”
When I say BIG mixtapes were release this year Ricky Rozay definitely had one of those BIG mixtapes in “Rich Forever” in my opinion this was ten times better than his actual album “God Forgive, I Don’t”. Spawning great singles like Stay Schemin’ featuring Drake & French Montana and the title track Rich Forever featuring John Legend. The man just gave y’all a studio album for free what more can you ask for?
#1 Meek Mill – “Dreamchasers 2”
Dreamchasers 2 is a perfect example what good music, the right promotion, and just enough anticipation can do for a mixtape. When it was available for download on DatPiff.com it crashed the servers multiple times over, a million download within 24 hours, Damn Meek couldn’t even download his own mixtape for a while. It also spawned one of this year’s most addictive song “Amen” featuring Drake. The first mixtape to get that much downloads in DatPiff history! Now that’s HUGE!!
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