From the looks of things over the past 12 months, the mixtape game has never been healthier.

In 2010, the standout projects and the MCs who helmed them took a page out of Drake's book from the previous year with So Far Gone, making mixtapes that were put together like albums with a majority of head-nodding original material populating the track lists.

As I was sifting through the list of Grammy nominees a couple weeks ago, I saw a lot of familiar names. 

Eminem? Check.

Jay-Z?  Of course. 

Kanye West? This dude can’t stay off the list.