As those with credence begin to amass and rank the year, the bloggers will begin to jeer & lob tomatoes. But when big bank media gets one right, we should also give credit where it’s due. Therefore, let me send kudos and co-signs to MTV Mixtape Daily’s recognition of Drake’s So Far Gone as their Mixtape Of The Year.
Everyone — including Drake — is probably surprised at how much he’s achieved this year. On the basis of its quality and impact, Mixtape Daily can say that So Far Gone isn’t just the top mixtape of 2009, but one of the greatest of all time. As a body of work, the project is better than most albums from the past few years.
While I believe that “all time” remark may be hyperbole, it could prove itself true over time. It is significant to note that original material from the tape — “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful” — received two Grammy nods. And the last tape I remember have such a universal impact, appeal & influence (and so easily repackaged for retail consumption) had to be Young Jeezy’s Trap Or Die in 2005. Continuing the trend of mixtape material being better than retail versions, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more artists offering repackaged “EPs” for the advantages of SoundScan and sales registers.
Drake’s So Far Gone Is Mixtape Daily’s Mixtape Of The Year [MTV]
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so far gone was dope but my vote would still go to the warm up
Freddie Gibbs midwestboxframecaddillacmuzick >>> So Far Gone
But I’d be fronting if I pretended like I didn’t see So Far Gone’s impact.
“So Far Gone isn’t just the top mixtape of 2009, but one of the greatest of all time”
I’m just not quite ready to co-sign this.
Kudos to MTV and I agree.
Fucking wack-ass tape. J. Cole’s “American Dreamin’” hands down my ninja. Still, it’s MTV so what would one expect.
Nearly had a #1 record off a Mixtape
Re-released it as an EP and still sold more than most albums
Those 2 alone warrant this award, and in terns of success, it really is one of the GOAT’s
Yeah, regardless of how YOU feel or think about it, its impact kick-started a career that is beyond noteworthy already.
J. Cole’s tape was cool but not the tape of the year.
Pac Div’s CLC > The Warm Up
its gotta be a tie between so far so gone and that warm up by j.cole if u aint got that what u waiting for
Eh, shit was way too abstract for me at times.
So far gone was good, not my favorite but was a real home run. So Clap for em.
We’re talking on a popular level here as well so you have to take that into account. I haven’t seen Gibbs or drake perform. I have seen Cole perform for two totally diff crowds @ diff times. As much as love the dude, you can see the diff b/w the heads & the general public’s knowledge of him. Drake, you can’t say that. Everybody knows Drake & the Wayne affiliation only bolsters that. Cut on the radio, his music’s there. Award show performances, remixes, etc. Only other names I can think of that come close strictly off a tape – Jeezy & that’s it. Even if you count Gucci, it took him releasing yrs of tapes to be a factor.
So “So Far Gone” is the most hyped mixtape of the year…but that doesn’t make it “the best”.
The field is way stronger then when “Trap Or Die” dropped.
^ out of curiosity, name a tape that had more success or impact.
Drake being popular off a tape has nothing to do if it was the best.
I think it is definitely one of the best, but realistically he could have released a buttcheeks mixtape and still gotten mad attention.
i have to agree…man, i can’t wait to make my list of top 10 mixtapes for this year. so much good shit came out this year.
Novel’s Suspended Animation
It’s the most successful mixtape of the year. Not the best. There was nothing on the mixtape that had me marveling, but it clearly indicated, like Dedication 2 or Trap or Die, that the Hamburgler’s got next. Nonetheless, it’s also one of the best, it just so happens that most of the shit on it is too pussified for my personal tastes.
I’ll go with midwestganstabox…
Honorable mention to Terminology’s tape with all the Dilla beats & J. Cole’s Warm-Up.
out of curiosity, name a tape that had more success or impact.
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There are none, but hype doesn’t mean it’ ths best.
As far as Hip-Hop goes, Gibbs & Pac Div top the list of tapes his year for me with J. Cole & Curren$y & Wiz’s “How Fly” right behind it.
Drake’s tape is dope and definitely one of the best tapes released this year, but it was successful cause it appeals to a broader demo (due to the R&B infused content) not because it’s necessarily better then the competition.
Co-sign fiasco. Just because it was the most popular/successful tape shouldn’t be the reason for naming it the best. I agree that no tape got more recognition this year but I think there are a few others that were just as good or better based solely on the quality of music.
The Cleveland Show, Burn After Rolling, A Love Supreme, Back To The Feature are a few I’d put up there with So Far Gone.
Cleveland Show was really good too…
No surprise here. Who else were they gonna pick? No other mixtape had even a fraction of the recognition and success that So Far Gone had (Cudi’s is the only one I can think of that was even close). Sure there were better mixtape’s out this year imo, word to Freddie G., but how many people heard them outside the internuts?
I know people are cooling off on Drake now that he’s successful but you’re bugging if you say that this mixtape doesn’t deserve its spot.
P.S. All these co-signs on J. Cole’s mixtape makes me think I need to give that shit a spin. Link anyone?
P.S.S. A mixtape’s purpose is to generate hype.
As far as mixtape’s go hype=success.
So Far Gone > How Fly > The Warm Up
it appears drakes buzz is fizzling out before he can even get a REAL album on the shelves…if this post was made in june or july niggas would have been on the bandwagon hardcore.
i bumped SFG alot but only when females were around.
As far as mixtape’s go hype=success.
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So Success > Quality Of The Music?
I guess I just don’t look at it that way.
Dude got mainstream famous off a mixtape.
Might not be the “best” , but C’MON…. REALLY….what’s fcuking with that?
Before a response, please re-read that “mainstream famous off a MIXTAPE” part.
it appears drakes buzz is fizzling out before he can even get a REAL album on the shelves…
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Too much Drake too soon.
Dude is still nice but he’s over exposed which makes it easier to point out his deficiencies.
It’s better!
I’m not taking anything away from SFG’s success. All I’m saying is that music wise there were better tapes that dropped in 09.
Cats act like the mainstream has the slightest clue about what good Hip-Hop is lol.
I can’t believe this is even up for debate.
We’ll see next week when Fab drops “No Competition 2″ next week with DJ Drama; the first one was classic so the follow-up should be even greater.
ps: DJ Drama for DJ of the Year!!!
@Deen
Thanks for that.
@Amp
“So Success > Quality Of The Music?”
Hardly. But when judging a mixtape of the year then yes I would say success is a huge factor and trumps quality of music assuming the mixtape in question is actually good to start with. And So Far Gone is that.
when judging a mixtape of the year then yes I would say success is a huge factor and trumps quality of music
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We’re obviously judging with two entirely different sets of criteria.
To each his own I guess.
“To each his own I guess.”
Yessir.
I do Think It was the Best overall Mixtape this year. Pac Div’s Church League Champs was not very very underrated. Better than a lot of albums the released in 09
Wouldn’t “best” mixtape be subjective anyway?
Best what? music? lyrics?
We could be here all day debating “best” in accordance with our different tastes (ll), but let’s call it like it happened…
If we’re talking about best impact, SFG has this relatively unknown cat on all types of awards shows, radio shows, cameos, etc, with a platform/opportunity to do whatever it is he’s gonna do with his debut album.
That’s sayin’ a whole lot.
If we’re talking about best impact
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I thought the best was determined by the actual material, not the results.
And Freddie got way more critical acclaim then Drake has this year but because he doesn’t have a Wayne co-signature or make songs for teenage girls, I guess his work in 09 is irrelevant.
Urgghhhh …. Once again I’m late to the party. Got something to say, actually wanna ask a question to TSS Crew… but other time.
@ Amp
Our definition of what constitutes “best” is probably closer to being along the same lines than not, but if we are the minority – which we are in terms of the larger population, and the majority thinks this dude Drake is aiight, then is “our” best, best?
Is it really suffice to say that ALL his fans are teenage girls?
I think De La Soul was one of the greatest groups EVER, but there are those -who know their shit, so to speak- who would vehemently disagree and say, 8 Ball & MJG destroy that “hippie shit”…
Who’s right?
Our definition of what constitutes “best” is probably closer to being along the same lines than not, but if we are the minority – which we are in terms of the larger population, and the majority thinks this dude Drake is aiight, then is “our” best, best?
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I totally understand this argument. I’m simply stating my opinion.
I can only speak for myself.
it had impact but no substance. sounds like lil wayne/kanye jr. Freddie Gibbs. Hands down.
plus its all opinion. There is no universal best. Drake won MTV’s award. and thats it. He is the best according to mtv. congrats, that is not a title i would want.
after basically creating the mixtape game i feel like im in a creative space where i am qualified to speak about drakes ability to generate interest based on the performance of his mixtape, the content on drakes tape is non aggressive and made that way so as to perform well in the mainstream and that was smart,but silvia rhone created a space where she could capatalize and make it appear that he had a self made buzz when the truth is he ALWAYS was in a creative space where his career was being nurtured by universal even before he signed the deal, if you look at his old singles that generated interest on billboard it read he was signed to cash money records then he breaks the news that his product is going to be made available to the masses by univeral like it was some big surprise…other artists dont have the ability to capitalize off that kind of an environment to create a product and have it shoved down the casual listeners throat in a way that makes it seem like it was just meant to be. Universal created the illusion that drakes mixtape is performing well in the market place because of his ability to generate interest and appeal to the mainstream when in reality drake was shoved down peoples throats until they had no choice but to like the music, but my content remains aggresive and will continue to perform at its own pace in the marketplace and when the drakes and cudis have all had there chance for there non aggresive content to perform at the best of its capabilities Ill still be here doing what it was my fans generated intrest in me for in the first place. and if that fails ill put out a video i have in my safe of drake playing basketball the day after he blew out his ankle.
^ waitin on that BET award?
u missed the 2 grammy nods from A MIXTAPE
Lil Degrassi been plannin this come up, I remeber Degrassi had an episode were they went back home with the actors, Aubrey had 2 be 16,17 max talkin bout call him “the young fresh prince”, and recordin in his home studio, ware the Drake nickname came from, and all. This was years ago on a network called the N, I was in high school. Then I hear replacement girl, then the first 2 mixtapes…then SFG Its just nice to see his transition and here his story..whatever comes next. imo
O Shit The Real Fiddy Cent in the building.
Music wise, you can make an argument for who had the best tape b/c there we quite a few who dropped this year.
But if the sole purpose of a mixtape is increase awareness of your personal brand COMBINED with quality music, then no question “So Far Gone” did just that.
i think j. coles was better because it was stuff i can relate to. with drake hes rapping about shit i don’t have and don’t want. like listening to him when i on my way to a party or something but other than that he gets no spins.
how fly all the way
silvia rhone created a space where she could capatalize and make it appear that he had a self made buzz when the truth is he ALWAYS was in a creative space where his career was being nurtured by universal even before he signed the deal, if you look at his old singles that generated interest on billboard it read he was signed to cash money records then he breaks the news that his product is going to be made available to the masses by univeral like it was some big surprise…other artists dont have the ability to capitalize off that kind of an environment to create a product and have it shoved down the casual listeners throat in a way that makes it seem like it was just meant to be. Universal created the illusion that drakes mixtape is performing well in the market place because of his ability to generate interest and appeal to the mainstream when in reality drake was shoved down peoples throats until they had no choice but to like the music
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Curtis be dropping gems lol.
Well said Fif.
yall get it twisted when it comes to best of the years and all that stuff.
Yes it has to do with being quality but it also has to have some type of impact or make some impression on a large amount of people and more specifically the people who’s votes matter.
You have to take in the complete package and what it brings to the game. Yeah Freddie Gibbs mixtape went superhard but nobody knows that nigga except for the blogroll…sad but true. So how can he be the best when the majority of people never even heard of him? You get in the discussion by making moves. So Far Gone had two radio singles and grammy nods with no promotion or label help. He went from nothing to something…that shit launched his career. Earlier this year Gibbs (or any other contender) and Drake were equals as far as being known. Nobody knew them niggas.
So Far Gone had two radio singles and grammy nods with no promotion or label help.
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This simply isn’t true.
So Far Gone had two radio singles and grammy nods with no promotion or label help.
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This simply isn’t true.
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Drake was signed when So Far Gone came out?
Drake was signed when So Far Gone came out?
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He might as well have been.
no….Drake was not signed when So far Gone released.
I personally prefer Gibbs or J. Cole’s offerings…but I can’t front…the impact So Far Gone made is enormous.
I can’t argue with someone who does believe So far Gone is mixtape of the year…shit, it woulda been an album of the year candidate had it been released at your local FYE.
If you’re naive enough to believe there was no machine behind So Far Gone before he “officially” signed with Cash Money, I got a bridge in BK that I’m slanging for the low low.
Holla @ me
“it wasn’t possible for my music to be on the radio when I was coming. You know mine’s was completely organic…..When you hear a song on the radio it means it’s being worked.” – Curtis
Yeah obviously Universal were pushing Drake – they want you to use the internet to ‘find’ their artists because it’s a subtler way of promoting music. It feels more organic and as if you’ve just ‘stumbled upon’ something special…it’s about using the internet to create the illusion of a natural groundswell of support for an artist – it bonds fans to the artist in a way that conventional marketing doesn’t.
A good case in point is Eminem – before he was in Unsigned Hype he was meeting with Aftermath. If an unknown white artist had released ‘My Name Is’ it would’ve looked like Vanilla Ice part 2, so they put him in Unsigned Hype, then released a slew of indie hip-hop tracks to give him the underground credibility (that he rightly deserved) THEN released the album, huge chart success ensues yet he remains credible to the hip-hop fanbase because they feel like they ‘discovered’ him before he blew up….
Drake had a ton of money behind that “tape.” So if you want to call it the album of the year that’s fair. But that shit isn’t a “mixtape.” We all know Drake had Wayne money, Trey Songz money, and all of the Universal payola behind him pushing his music to radio etc…
Drake is the least independent “indy” artist of all time.
With that said, the tape was coo.
After a certain point and time Amp I realize you’re just kicking dust to kick, esp. considering that we actually were a part of all those Freddie tapes that released. But hey, “best” is subjective and MTV = Amp = Gotty™ which all goes to prove my ultimate theory.
On the internet, lists and such ain’t shit.
After a certain point and time Amp I realize you’re just kicking dust to kick
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Maybe lol.
But I never said SFG doesn’t deserve the love it’s gotten. I can totally understand those who consider it the year’s best mixtape. I’m sure if we dig into the comments, you’d find that I’ve given Drake and that mixtape it’s just due plenty of times.
But I still think Gibbs has put out a piece of work that will truly stand the test of time. It may not be as catchy or radio friendly, but when did that become the barometer for good music?
But I say that to say this…
“MTV = Amp = Gotty™”
Basically lol.
plus its all opinion. There is no universal best. Drake won MTV’s award. and thats it. He is the best according to mtv. congrats
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What he said lol.
I think De La Soul was one of the greatest groups EVER, but there are those -who know their shit, so to speak- who would vehemently disagree and say, 8 Ball & MJG destroy that “hippie shit”…
Who’s right?
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I like gangsta rap as much as the next man, but no one can tell me that shit if the best. Get that bullshit out of here–either you’re faking or telling on yourself on the mic.
I didn’t see one in the post, so anyone got a link to that mixtape? I wasn’t really checking for Drake so I haven’t heard it yet.
this mixtape is wack! simply WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!WAck!
So Far Gone > Thank Me Later