"I never let the highs and lows truly determine my true happiness... I’m going to find ways to always bring Christ out in my life" — Tobias Harris
“God blessed me with parents that raised me in a way that I wouldn’t trade for the world” — Cade Cunningham https://t.co/qUpJXTRR2m
Before streaming.
Before blogs.
Before links, DSP drops, or midnight notifications… there was the mixtape hunt.
And these guys right here were a huge part of what made that era feel legendary to me.
Now let me be clear, the foundation was already being laid before this generation. DJs like Kid Capri, Brucie B, Ron G, Doo Wop, S&S, Mister Cee, DJ Red Alert, and Marley Marl were already moving the culture through tapes recorded off radio shows, blends, freestyles, and street exclusives. They showed people that DJs could break records before the industry ever caught up.
But my personal introduction to mixtapes really started when Funk Flex and DJ Clue began dropping their albums and street tapes.
At the time, it felt different. These were not just mixes anymore. They were basically early compilations of brand new music. Multiple artists, unreleased records, exclusives you could not hear anywhere else unless you had that tape. When a Flex or Clue joint dropped, you knew something new was coming to the streets first.
Then a few years later, everything shifted again.
DJ Whoo Kid came through with the G-Unit Radio series and completely changed the energy. Suddenly we were getting raw, nonstop exclusives from G-Unit, 50 Cent, Eminem, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and the whole movement. The music felt like you were hearing history happen in real time.
And even though he is not pictured, I have to include DJ Green Lantern. His Invasion mixtape series was special. Those tapes felt cinematic. World premieres, freestyles, and moments that lived on playground conversations and car stereos for months.
This was the era right before mixtapes went fully digital.
If you wanted these tapes, you had to go outside and find them.
Canal Street in Chinatown.
The Italian Market in Philly.
Gas stations.
Corner bodegas.
Random smoke shops with stacks behind the counter.
Half the experience was the mission just to get the tape.
Looking back now, this was the bridge generation. The era that connected the pioneers like Kid Capri to the explosion that followed with DJs like DJ Drama, Don Cannon, DJ Holiday, Kay Slay, DJ Envy and others, which eventually helped spark the mixtape and blog era.
That wave ultimately fueled platforms like DatPiff and powered internet hip hop culture for nearly 15 years.
This post is really just me giving flowers while people are still here to receive them.
Because without this era, a lot of us never fall in love with mixtapes in the first place.
After starting 24–1, OKC had a 37% chance to break Golden State’s single-season wins record.
Since then, they’ve gone 2–4, with three of those losses coming against the Spurs.
Is Wemby their kryptonite? 💎👀
(via Polymarket)
I want to say THANK YOU! To Coach @VoightJ3 for reaching out to me and talking to me over this past week! In saying this, I want to Im very thankful🙏🏽 and blessed to receive an offer from the University of Southwest Mustangs❤️💙🐎