Almost every current popular artist has a documentary special following them in preparation for a big event, a concert recording, or a combination of the two (think Beyoncé’s Homecoming), and almost every bygone popular artist has a documentary special recounting their glory days. But as far as educational documentaries about modern music go, there’s a relatively small amount of content available.
Enter Mixtape. The documentary dropped on Paramount+ in early August, and it gives fans of modern music a look inside one of the most influential music movements responsible for the state of the art today. Told by legendary figures and today’s chart-toppers alike, Mixtape should be watched by any music fan who’s listened to Drake in the past month … and that’s likely everyone.
Mixtape Has a Clear Purpose
If you haven’t watched the documentary yet, upon first hearing the word, you might think a mixtape is just a CD your friend made with all their favorite songs from summer 2007. But as the special points out, the word has been perverted to mean something entirely different than what it originally meant. And Mixtape’s goal is to educate the public about both the correct definition of the word and the mixtape movement in the ‘90s and early ‘00s.
The rappers, producers, and others involved in the mixtape scene – whether by creating, selling, purchasing, or simply listening to a mixtape – share stories from their younger years, with hip-hop icons like Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Kid Capri, and more giving an oral history of the mixtape, comparing its movement and impact to that of the drug trade.
Though ultimately less harmful to its users than hard drugs, the underground mixtape movement did cause illicit activity impactful enough to involve the FBI. And while not a lasting technology, the soul of mixtapes is still alive and well in modern music, and the items themselves were vital to the technological advances that led to how we listen to music today.
Why Modern Music Fans Need to See Mixtape
The documentary educates fans about mixtapes, but it also hints at how the state of music today would be completely different if it weren’t for the art form. Not only does Mixtape include commentary from current artists like Lil Yachty and A$AP Rocky, it also features interviews with 50 Cent and Lil Wayne, both of whom got their start in the music industry thanks to mixtapes. Without either 50 Cent or Lil Wayne, rap music wouldn’t be mainstream, and the entire pop music landscape would look different.
Mixtape is educational and thought-provoking, but it’s also wholly engaging. It’s not often that a group of cultural touchstones are all asked to give their thoughts on said culture. Even if you don’t care about the Billboard Hot 100, the stories these men and women tell about the state of hip-hop in the ‘90s and early ‘00s are fascinating. No matter your impetus, Mixtape deserves a watch.
Mixtape is streaming now on Paramount+.