Drake: So Far Gone Mixtape's Freemium Tactics

Drake - So Far Gone

Drake's So Far Gone mixtape, now a key part of the Legend of King Drake, is refurbished for retail release September 15th:

"The actor, singer, rapper has released three mixtapes since 2006 and his most recent mixtape lead to signing with Young Money Records...The unmixed, unmastered mixtape previously available sporadically only on the internet is now mixed and mastered and available digitally and specialty album. Features include: Lil Wayne, Trey Songz & Bun B."

The Smoking Section feels that this release, coming months after the widely noted, free release of much of the same material, is Too Little, Too Late:

"It’s one thing trying to convince people to buy an album that’s supposed to be a retail release. It’s a whole ‘nother thing to ask people to buy something six to seven months after you gave it to them for free. Especially when your only offering one new song to the equation. Isn’t that what iTunes is for? So Far Gone was chock full of bangers (some which could’ve been held for his debut album,) but it has to be let go."

But, in the land of The Long Tail, free has weird effects and a shift in distribution mode sometimes opens up new revenue streams.

Of course, The Smoking Section is speaking disparagingly of sales of "only" 100 to 200,000 copies undermining major label support when much more seems expected of Drake's first album. Sounds like a mo' money, mo' problems issue of some sort for the new Savior of Corporate Hip Hop. Since Amazon sales are looking solid, I expect this to be a successful release though it may not reach what TSS feels it needs.

That said, there are so many ways Drake could drop a mixtape related release, for example, one that builds on all of his mixtapes, that releasing So Far Gone in this manner is a bit of a disappointment on both creative and business levels.