brittany.

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

I had one rule this week: no one plays on Home Court until some old friends and I get some shots up.

Who’s got next? 🏀

[Forbes @Forbes]

.@Usher recently expanded his business empire by opening his first entertainment innovation hub in Detroit. And he’s just getting warmed up—he aims to open 500 by 2050. https://t.co/T53H4p7m4F
📸: Paras Griffin via Getty Images

[DatPiff @DatPiff]

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.

[Prince @prince]

Rare footage of Prince performing “Adore” in 2011, just in time to celebrate the one you adore. ❤️

Widely regarded by critics and fellow musicians as one of the greatest love songs ever written, “Adore” remains a masterclass in devotion, vulnerability, and timeless romance.

[brittany. @HooMe75]

Amen 🙏🏾. 75 forever and ever. Lord willin

[Pharrell Williams @Pharrell]

Nothing but love for my brothers @clipse @PUSHA_T @NoMalice757. Deeply grateful to be a surrounded by a community who believes in the power of Black music and continues to move it forward. By the grace of God.

Photography by Bolade Banjo

[Kollege Kidd @KollegeKidd]

Master P is a Rapper, Actor, Former NBA Player, Food Distributor, Shoe Designer, Filmmaker, Investor, Author, Philanthropist, Label Founder, & Record Producer w/ a $200M Networth 🐐 This man lived 100 men’s dream in one lifetime 👏🏾 Celebrate this man. He is Black History✊🏿👑

[Tie Swindell @mirtropolis]

@BronMuse Only one Laker Championship in 7 years LeClown has been w the them and it was a COVID title. Jordan still the GOAT.

[brittany. @HooMe75]

🤯

[AALIYAH LEGION @AaliyahLegion]

OutKast unreleased production tracks for Aaliyah 👀

[JonoM84 @JonoM_84]

Did you know @MissyElliott was in the Guinness World Records with her track "Hot Boyz"?

The track, featuring Nas, Eve & Q-Tip, held the record for staying at No.1 on the US rap Singles Chart for 18 weeks.

The track was No.1 from December 1999 to March 200.

[in charge of the girls @AmeriKraut]

anyway, cheers to a real lover boy. keep creating.

[Cornel West @CornelWest]

“75% of our fellow citizens live in pay check to pay check… When I look at brother Trump’s eyes and heart and mind and soul, I see a weariness, he is very beleaguered, he is tired… You see even gangsters run out of gas sometimes… He is my political foe, but I am a follower of Jesus so I love my enemies, I keep track of his humanity… But you see, hatred itself is a form of tyranny, you can only hate for so long… Revenge is form of bondage, and Trump is captive to hatred and revenge spiritually, so he can only go for so long with repercussions for the larger society, so it’s not a matter of demonizing the brother, but American society, American empire, is in deep trouble no matter what kind of policy we end up with…” #TruthJusticeLove @abbydphillip
#TruthJusticeLove @abbydphillip

[Meidas_Charise Lee @charise_lee]

🚨 🚨 🚨 71,000 black girls went missing in 2021 where was the media? Gabrielle Union is shining the light on the crisis that too often goes unnoticed‼️ 🚨 🚨 🚨

[ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể @TheThe1776]

With his son’s mom out of town, this man took his son to school and later surprised him at his school's Thanksgiving lunch. When the son saw his dad, he jumped into his arms, thrilled, introducing him to everyone. This healed parts of this dad’s heart, growing up without his dad, despite his grandpa's presence, left him broken. He moved to Tennessee where he had no one to be there for his son. Dads, be present; it makes all the difference.🥺❤️.

[Victor Baez | Club Ambition @itsavibe]

New Allen Iverson 3-part docuseries produced by Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry's production companies📍

"Allen Iv3rson" October 23rd on Amazon

[!Nspirenaire〽️ @Inspirenaire]

😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😫🤪

[brittany. @HooMe75]

To tell you the truth I don’t know who this man is…Sorry to this man.

[Etan Thomas @etanthomas36]

“There is no where in the Bible where we are taught to honor evil and how you die does not redeem how you lived. You don’t become a hero in death when you are a weapon of the enemy in life”
~Pastor Howard John-Wesley
of Alfred Street Baptist Church
In DC #CharlieKirk

[BIGTitDiva ✨🫶🏾 @THEAreeLove]

@iamcardib “I used to be a professional ballerina” as she loses her footing a lil bit lmaoooo . This roll out is really entertaining

[brittany. @HooMe75]

Not him covering his mouth laughing lol

[Brokemen Prefect. @Drogz3]

@miiriya1

[Brokemen Prefect. @Drogz3]

@miiriya1