If you don’t know Datpiff.com then sorry, but you don’t know hip-hop. “The Authority in Free Mixtapes”, has given Mac Miller, Kid Cudi, Chance The Rapper their come-up and has hosted exclusives from heavyweights like Lil Wayne, 2Chainz, Young Jeezy, and Rick Ross. But the site isn’t limited to huge artists – anyone can upload their own mixtape, even if they’re just a high-school kid with a dream, Audacity, and MS paint.
The mixtapes on Dat Piff are about urgency, dropping something without the clunking machinery of a label. Unfortunately, for every Dreamchasers 2–the most popular tape, currently at 4 million downloads–is a thousand releases with some of the worst cover art that we’ve ever seen.
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Movaz & Shakaz
Artist: DJ Xecution Styl
Year: 2014
It was all going well, you found the relevant “organised crime” section on Microsoft Publisher. But then you fucked it on the word art. Elongated Times New Roman in yellow with drop shadow? What are you going to “xecute” bro, a school bake sale?
Bang Mixtape
Artist: Chief Keef
Year: 2011
Keef, we love you. And don’t get me wrong, a wifebeater and loaded gun is a classic look – especially back in 2011 when the news was full of high-profile shootings. But “DJ Hustlenomics” sounds like something a substitute maths teacher came up with to make percentages cool and “Glory Boy Entertainment”, as Keef eventually realised when he shut the label down at the start of this year, sounds like a gay porn producer.
Introductions: The Mixtape
Artist: Lil Nick
Year: 2011
First comment on Lil Nick’s debut reads:
NotARapist • 2 years agoWhat the fuck I would have rather downloaded a virus
T.R.U. REALigion
Artist: 2 Chainz
Year: 2011
Someone who works for Noisey, and they know who they are, always pees with two hands behind their back, swinging from their hips freely. I always thought this was some kind of weird steiner school thing but I guess they got it from 2 Chainz aka Mr Multitasker aka No Regard For Personal Hygiene.
Ladies Night Vol 1
Artist: DJ Fara The Lyfe
Year: 2014
Not to get all verbal reasoning on you, but sitcom stands for situation comedy, so a comedy sitcom is a tautology. Saying that, I would watch a show where Eve and Kevin Hart have to raise a white baby in a posh bit of New England. They could call it Crackers and Eve! Actually no one steal that, that’s mine.
Just Txt It To Me
Artist: Ash Future
Year: 2011
“Shall we get Big Ben in the shot, we did come all the way down here?” “No! Just get my fucking Nokia in so people can clearly see the picture on it. Then they’ll understand what a genius concept this whole thing is.”
One Mo Radio Vol 6. (TWERK SUM B!TCH)
Artist: DJ One Mo Chanse
Year: 2012
When I grow up I want to be a certified radio twerk sum bitch.
Pink Flame
Artist: Lil B
Year: 2013
Y’all think this is crazy but when Kanye saw it he put it straight into an envelope marked “blueprints” and drove straight over to Kim’s tattoist.
The Worst Pain
Artist: Chad
Year: 2013
Chad describes his music as “Stoner Rock meets Psychedelic meets Blues meets Indie” which sounds insane but, thinking about it, is represented in his cover art: acoustic guitar, a melancholic EP title, insane colours, and all put together by someone that absolutely would have to be on some Sour Diesel to think that it looks great. Also – Chad? Drake? Are you two cousins?!
Sex Mixtape
Artist: DJ Gucci
Year: 2010
Can’t take the piss out of this one. Spot on. 10/10.
Follow Elissa on Twitter: @ElissaKB
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