Ok so you got 15 songs, sound effects, and a DJ giving shout outs…but did anyone take the time to Executive Produce OR A&R your mixtape? I was telling my BIG WIG INDUSTRY FRIEND just last month, “if you are going to do another mixtape for your artist, make sure the DJ is really involved in the process.”
The process = song selections, track placements, mixtape theme, etc.
Just think about the artists that were actually able to make a name for themselves from mixtapes. And I refuse to say names because it would mean that I am cosigning DJ’s. But really, do you think these rappers got lucky and just recorded some heat then handed it to the DJ? I think not! As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure that is not the way it happened. Think of how many times you see this…
Random rapper + random mixtape + random download link on free mixtape site + random mixtape DJ hosting
So all of a sudden you (the artist) have taken on the A&R/Executive Producer process??? I am sorry, but 9 times out of 10 that is a going to be a fail. There is a reason artists have to turn in albums before they are released. And if you want to be an artist, you CANNOT start off being the A&R or Executive Producer too. So here’s a word to the wise, if you insist on making a mixtape to catapult your career, please get someone to oversee the process.
