Yesterday we announced our Top 10 Songs of 2013 and today we get into the Top 10 mixtapes of 2013. After quite some time of discussing we decided on these Top 10 for various reasons. How much replay value each mixtape had, what the mixtape did for the artist in 2013, how many downloads it received and just the overall quality of the mixtape. Some rappers managed to get record deals off these mixtapes which is never a bad thing. Check out our list after the jump and if you agree or disagree comment below.
10. Young Scooter – “Street Lottery” – We had no clue who Young Scooter was until he dropped his mixtape “Street Lottery”. The only thing I knew about Young Scooter was that his name sounded funny and that he was Gucci Mane’s upcoming artist. Once he dropped this mixtape I suddenly found myself not becoming a fan but instead listening to him more often. The stand out record was of course “Columbia” and the remix to that record was nothing short of amazing. On top of that amazing single he had records like “Street Lottery” featuring Bun B, “Work” featuring Gucci Mane and “Jugg Season” featuring Future. This mixtape definitely gave Young Scooter the proper push to get him out there. The only thing that stopped him from being bigger this year was landing in Prison in which he served a couple of months for something that is irrelevant right now. Overall an amazing mixtape filled with some good production and with songs that definitely made some noise in 2013. The follow up mixtape “Street Lottery 2″ was just released so I’m interested in hearing what that will be like.
9. Lil Wayne – “Dedication 5″ – What’s there to say? Everyone knows the drill of when Lil Wayne decides to release a Dedication mixtape. He jumps on every hot beat at that time and decides to murder artists on their own records. Plus on top of that he manages to get some pretty dope features for a free mixtape. I almost didn’t put this mixtape on the Top 10 list because sometimes Lil Wayne’s subject matter is annoying cause he repeats the same stuff over and over again but this time he managed to switch gears at some points. The stand out records on this tape were definitely when we went on the “Started From The Bottom” record, “FuckWitMeYouKnowIGotIt” featuring T.I., “U.O.E.N.O”, “Typa Way” and “Fuckin Problems” featuring Kidd Kidd & 2 Chainz. All those tracks and a couple more is what made this mixtape land on our Top 10 list. We hope Wayne continues to deliver like this for his fans in the future.
8. Migos – “YRN” – Here’s another mixtape that introduced another set of artists. Migos was finally brought into the mainstream world in 2013 because of their “YRN” mixtape. The tape featured that Southern sound that everyone loves and that ignorant rap that seems to be catching everyone’s ears lately too. Migos really took off with the records “Hannah Montana” and “Versace” on this mixtape. Then when Drake jumped on the “Versace” record is when things got wild. Not only did Drake give Migos arguably the hottest verse of 2013 but Drake catapulted them to fame. Records like “Chripin” and “Aidios” managed to make some noise too. This mixtape definitely isn’t something that you should listen to if you love lyrics but it is something that you should listen to if you’re in your car. Migos also released the follow up mixtape “YRN 2″ but I still haven’t heard that and based off what I’m hearing it’s nothing like the first one so they might be two hit wonders but if that’s the case at least they managed to get two hits, ha.
7. Dizzy Wright – “The Golden Age” – In an attempt to just feed his fans new music for his tour Dizzy Wright released a free mixtape “The Golden Age”. The mixtape’s title has a message behind it and that’s one reason as to why I love this mixtape. Dizzy got a clip of Charlamagne in an interview in which he speaks on the “The Golden Age” of Hip-Hop back when every artist was making good music and everybody was set to be a legend. Charlamagne then says we are currently in a “Golden Age” with music right now. I don’t know how much I agree with that but Dizzy Wright themed that with this mixtape. Although the mixtape didn’t give Dizzy Wright any new hits for him it did deliver a very good overall mixtape. The tape was balanced with records like “Fashion”, “Still Movin”, “Your Type” and “World Peace”. Those are just to name a few that stood out to me. When I got a chance to watch Dizzy Wright perform live I noticed a lot of people bought this mixtape and even were going crazy for a couple of the records off the tape. What was something that started off as just a free project to feed his fans turned into something very profitable for Dizzy. Although I didn’t play the mixtape as much as others on this list, it was still a mixtape I enjoyed a lot.
6. Chamillionaire – “Elevate EP” – Yes, I know. This is not a mixtape, it’s an EP, but sometimes you got to bend the rules. Chamillionaire once again manages to land on my list for one of the best mixtapes to come out year after year. In February he released this EP with only 8 tracks but boy were they all amazing. Although none of the records got the visuals treatment besides one “Overnight” I felt like it should have had more attention payed to it not only by Chamillionaire but by Hip-Hop lovers alike. The main record I instantly fell in love with was “Slow Loud & Bangin” the production, hook and verses were so well put together I felt like Chamillionaire should have just ran with that record as the first single off his album or at least shoot a video for the track. I found myself playing that record throughout the whole year and I still play it right now. More records like “Hold Up”, “See Through” and “Emotional” were all amazing. Cham followed up this EP with “Reignfall” but I felt like this EP was a whole lot better. Don’t sleep on Chamillionaire he still makes some amazing music.
5. Lil Durk – “Signed To The Streets” – Durk sort of came and went in but then decided to finally release a new mixtape in late 2013 and the wait was well worth the wait. After his debut mixtape this is definitely a good follow up mixtape. I’m a sucker for that gangsta grimy music and Chicago has been delivering that music these past couple of years. Drake co-signing the mixtape didn’t hurt either. Durk managed to deliver what Chief Keef should have delivered in 2013. Durk managed to get all the hot beats, make all the hot hooks, and even rap some decent bars. This is another mixtape that you shouldn’t take lyrically too serious but once again if you’re in the car it’s something nice to listen to. The stand out records for me were “Bang Bros”, “100 Rounds”, and “Dis Ain’t What U Want”. Hopefully Durk stays more active in 2014.
4. Future – “F.B.G.: The Movie” – Future and his Free Bandz Gang decided to release a mixtape in 2013 and I ain’t mad at them at all for doing that. Not only was this mixtape good but it gave Future’s artists a pretty good look. Future even managed to get a few hits off this mixtape which is never a bad thing. My stand out records were “Chosen One” which I felt is one of Future’s best songs to date. Plus “Karate Chop”, “Fo Real” featuring Drake, “Everything’s Out” featuring Young Scooter and many more. Overall I found myself playing this mixtape a good amount of times throughout 2013. I hope Future finally decides to release his “Honest” album in 2014 and hell another mixtape wouldn’t hurt at all.
3. Nipsey Hussle – “Crenshaw” – I honestly didn’t see this mixtape coming at all. I had no clue where Nipsey Hussle went in 2013. The last thing I heard from him before this mixtape was released was that he signed a deal with DJ Skee and then boom he drops “Crenshaw”. When this mixtape dropped it wasn’t like any other mixtape. You had the option of either downloading it for free or buying it for $100 and getting a ticket to one of his shows at the Crenshaw Tour he was doing. Paying for a free mixtape wasn’t the crazy part because artists do that all the time but paying $100 for a mixtape is what had everyone scratching their heads. Then we hear Jay-Z decides to buy 1,000 copies of the mixtape. Once that happened everyone started paying more attention to Nipsey and his mixtape. I finally took a listen to it I was a little late since I had to consume other music but I finally got around to it and I wasn’t disappointed. I would never pay $100 for a mixtape or even an album but I respected the hustle. Records like “The Weather”, “Don’t Take Days Off” and “Blessings” were the records that stood out to me. Although I didn’t find myself playing this mixtape as much as I imagined I still found the project to be something different from everything else that was out which is always a good thing. Overall an amazing mixtape that ended up being an amazing profit for Nipsey. Hopefully we see more of Nipsey in 2014 and maybe even get an album.
2. Rich Homie Quan – “Still Goin In: Reloaded” – Here’s another mixtape that managed to get another artist in the mainstream of music. I had no clue who Rich Homie Quan was until I heard “Type Of Way” then I ended up doing my research and ran into the mixtape that created the monster hit. When I initially downloaded the mixtape and went through it I didn’t care much for most of the records but I kept it on my iPhone. Then I kept hearing tracks from friends and was wondering where they got the records and it was from this mixtape. So I decided to re-listen to it finally and wow I was surprised at how many good records Rich Homie Quan had on the mixtape. Records like “Type Of Way”, “Differences”, “Choices” and many more. I’m expecting Rich Homie Quan to do some damage in 2014 since he’s getting put on hit records and people are using him for hooks which is never a bad thing cause that’s how Future has popped off. I still listen to his mixtape daily and I probably will continue to for a good amount of time. For those making the Future comparisons listen to the Future tape that’s on this list then listen to this and I bet you won’t hear the same thing coming form each artist, regardless of their voices.
1. August Alsina – “The Product 2″ – Finally what I felt like is the best mixtape of 2013 and here’s why. Simply put this mixtape was underrated and yet it spawned more hits out of all the mixtapes on this list. On top of that August Alsina has a very unique sound with an amazing story to tell with that voice. I still haven’t experienced or heard of a gangsta R&B artist. August knows how to draw that line between R&B and the grimy gangsta Hip-Hop that I love. The perfect example for that is “Downtown” featuring Kidd Kidd. The hook on that record is just something different that I haven’t heard in 2013 or from any artist in this new generation. The record channels August’s emotions of him losing his brother to the streets and then channels the emotion of everybody that lives in New Orleans that constantly lose lives of their loved ones which is a good record for the city because it brings attention to it. With the deep lines like “Real talk when I heard who it was, my heart near damn stop. Somebody done killed my brother”….”Cut so deep when they put him in the hearse, never saw 25, had to put ‘em in the dirt”. That right there is real life put into a record with an amazing voice. He also managed to get himself another hit with “I Luv It” which got him a remix and put him on the charts pretty well. Not bad for a free project. I’m very interested in seeing what August will do in 2014 and hopefully he makes the right moves cause if he does he could very well be the new R&B legend of our generation because his story and his voice is something that we’ve never heard from an R&B artist. Overall that’s why he landed #1 on my list, if you haven’t checked out this mixtape do it now.
Mixtapes that almost made the Top 10 list:
Chance The Rapper – “Acid Rap”
Lloyd Banks – “F.N.O.”
Meek Mill – “Dreamchasers 3″
Young Jeezy – “It’s Tha World 2″
Young Jeezy, Doughboyz Cashout and YG – “Boss Yo Life Up Gang”
Doe B – “Baby Jesus”
and many others.
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