Nah Right Speaks on "Fake" Lethal Squad Mixtapes

Nah Right is inspired to commentary by Universal's Lethal Squad Mixtape series:

After first quietly sanctioning "illegal" mixtapes and then allowing the arrests of DJ Drama and Don Cannon, Universal Music now has the audacity to drop their own "legal" mixtape...

What a perfect example of music execs not knowing what the f*ck is going on in the world. Honestly, I’m not even that mad at their flagrant hypocrisy, it’s the incompetent execution that disgusts me. If you’re gonna do something like this, at least get a respected DJ that somebody has heard of and give people some exclusive music...

This is nothing more than a label sanctioned attempt at a street version of those NOW CD’s that drop every couple of months. Whoever thought this sh*t up should be tarred and feathered.

In case you're wondering, Scion's Sampler CDs and FADER/Subaru Mixtapes seem to be getting a better reception but I'd love to hear more from hardcore hip hop fans on the topic of corporate sponsored mixtapes.

For background:
Universal Music Enterprises tests the mix tape waters

Related Coverage:
Hot 97's DJ Envy Releases Hip-Hop Mixtapes Downloadable to Cell Phones in Deal with Cellfish Media

For more Nah Right News!!!:
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Comments

[Vee]

Not related at all but I thought that you might want to take a gander at this Time article.

Hip Hop's Down Beat.
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1653639,00.html

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Now onto the topic at hand. Personally I don't care about the DJ or any well-known DJ unless the arrangement of songs are tight.
Some of these DJ's are known strictly for their ability to get an exclusive by Rapper ABC or XYZ. Can they actually rock a party, well that remains to be seen.
As to your question, if a corporate sponsored mixtape was done right then I guess everybody in the mixtape game should step their game up.
Screaming your name on an "exclusive track" and hearing disposable verses from the aforementioned MC ABC does not make for a good mixtape.

Man, I remember the good Bad Boy mixtapes, especially the one where Puff congratulated 'Pac on his award-winning performance for the song "Hit 'em up."
So much better than hearing DJ Kay-Slay threaten another DJ while screaming "exclusive" all over a new track I've been dying to hear.

If a corporation could be smart enough to bring back creative blends that cats like Kid Capri used to do back in the day or if a corporate sponsored DJ has the wealth of knowledge of music that actually predates the '90s then yeah, I'll check it out.

[dj mirateck]

scion & fader mixtapes = free, promotional use

universal's "fake" tapes = being sold at places like best buy at retail prices

that's the main difference to me. most scion tapes feature underground, indie, and unsigned artists. fader tapes feature major label artists, but it's understood that they are for promotional use. universal, on the other hand, is trying to capitalize on the popularity of tapes that are usually sold on the street for $5-$7. the fact that they all but sanctioned the downfall of such legally ambigious tapes makes the whole thing ironic & IMHO not cool.

plus, the first tape in the series is nothing more than a compilation of songs that are already available on artist LPs. there aren't any exclusive remixes, beatjacks, leaks, or B-sides that make authentic mixtapes what they are.