The mixtape game took a shot to the heart a few years ago when DJ Drama's office was raided by the feds. Artists increasingly opted to make mixtapes that were essentially albums, projects produced without help from DJs and comprised mostly of original material.
But slowly Gangsta Grillz began populating blogs, the same way they used to populate the streets, and those sites served as the new Burkinas. In the last 12 months, the mixtape circuit has never been healthier — just look at Dram still putting out his trademark rap heat and getting his slow jam on, pushing collections by the likes of Chris Brown, among other R&B stars.
DJ Teknikz helped Travis Porter ink a deal with Jive Records. And Bigga Rankin scored an exec position with Young Jeezy's CTE. Then there's DJ Holiday and DJ Scream: both spin doctors break acts like Bo Jackson snapped bats. Meanwhile, DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar have become nearly ubiquitous with their onslaught of street albums. Pay attention, as the Mixtape Daily team continues our year-end awards by saluting the Top DJs of 2010.
Wax King: Bigga Rankin
Bordering Blocks: Atlanta
Street Credentials:
» Boo Rossini and Young Buck's 601-605
» Young Jeezy's The History of Young Jeezy
» Slick Pulla's Cloverfield (with DJ Folk)
» Tity Boi's Trap-A-Velli 2 (The Residue)
» USDA's CTE 4 Life
» Lil Webbie, Swazy Baby and Lil Phat's The Young Bosses
» Yo Gotti's CM5 (Cocaine Music 5)
Wax King: DJ Drama
Bordering Blocks: ATL via the 215
Street Credentials:
» Chris Brown's In My Zone
» Cam'ron and Vado's Boss of all Bosses, 2.5
» dead prez's Revolutionary But Gangsta
» Fabolous' The Funeral Service: There Is No Competition 2
» Jadakiss' The Champ Is Here 3 (with DJ Green Lantern)
» T.I.'s F--- A Mixtape
» Tyga's Well Done
Wax King: DJ Holiday
Bordering Blocks : Atlanta
Street Credentials:
» Alley Boy's Definition of F--- Sh--
» Donnis' The Invitation (with DJ Infamous)
» Gucci Mane's Burrprint 2 HD
» Gucci Mane's Jewelry Selection
Wax Kings: DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar
Bordering Blocks: Los Angeles and Montreal
Street Credentials:
» Chris Brown and Tyga's Fan of a Fan
» Bow Wow's Greenlight 3
» Donnis' Fashionably Late (with Clinton Sparks)
» Meek Mill's Mr. Philadelphia
» Red Café's No Witnesses
» XV's Vizzy Zone
Wax King: DJ Scream
Bordering Blocks: Atlanta
Street Credentials:
» Plies' You Need People Like Me, Pts. 1 and 2
» Raekwon's Coke In a Dollar Bill (with Whoo Kid)
» Rocko's Wildlife
» Lil Scrappy's Suicide
» Shawty Lo's I'm Da Man, Pt. 3
» Young Jeezy's 1000 Grams
Wax King: DJ Teknikz
Bordering Blocks: Atlanta
Street Credentials:
» Travis Porter's Proud to Be a Problem
» Travis Porter and Waka Flocka's Streets R Us
» Waka Flocka Flame's Lebron Flocka James
