The 10 Best Mixtape Albums of the 2000’s

While creating our massive 100 Best Albums of the 2000s countdown (click here if you haven’t seen it yet), we realized that some of the dopest releases of the decade weren’t albums at all. Thanks to the rise of the internet, the once local phenomenon of mixtapes went worldwide in the last 10 years, resulting in releases that are just as memorable as (and in some cases, more memorable than) a proper retail album.

While there have certainly been some amazing DJ-based blend tapes (Dirty Harry & DJ Vlad’s Rap Phenomenon and Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album come to mind), the Aughts were overwhelmingly dominated by a different type of mixtape: the street album. Single artist-based mixtapes have become a way for rappers to showcase their abilities outside of the record label system, and for consumers, they have more long-term appeal than the disposable “exclusive”-based DJ mixes of the ’90s. Check out our countdown of 10 mixtape album classics…

#10: Mood Muzik 2
Joe Budden & DJ On Point

Released: 2006

After his descent from “Pump it Up” to seemingly unending label purgatory, Budden was feeling kinda blue, and everyone knew it. What’s next? Prozac rap. From offering his girl an abortion to mourning his shitty car, all the while peppered with his signature punchlines (”I’m on my Eric Benet shit, fuck everything”), Budden found that seven-minute tracks full of ennui was a viable lane, and Jerz loved him for it.

Standout Track: “If I Die Tomorrow”

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#9: Down With The King
The P$C & DJ Drama

Released: 2004

With the exception of Ja Rule, few rappers have had their careers ethered by another artist as thoroughly as Lil Flip. The Houston Leprechaun started running his mouth about the self-proclaimed King of the South, so Tip unleashed a hilariously effective campaign of destruction, culminating with this early DJ Drama classic. Released in anticipation of Urban Legend, it debuted “U Don’t Know Me” and featured a phone call with Scarface where the H-Town legend said he’d “never ever ever” seen Flip in the ’hood he claimed. Damn.

Standout Track: “99 problems (Lil’ Flip Ain’t One)”

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#8: We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 2
Clipse & Clinton Sparks

Released: 2006

Despite the success of their 2002 album Lord Willin’, the Thornton brothers wound up sitting on the shelf at their record label. No problem. The endless delays of their follow-up album surely inspired the excellent We Got It For Cheap series, with Volume 2 being the standout. For 18 tracks, Pusha and Malice (with support from Ab-Liva and Sandman) traded some of the year’s most prolific, coked-out verses over some of the year’s best beats and effectively held fans over until Hell Hath No Fury hit a year later.

Standout Tracks: “What’s Up”

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#7: No Mercy, No Fear
G-Unit & 50 Cent

Released: 2002

On the heels of signing with Shady/Aftermath, 50 celebrated his inevitable takeover with this late ’02 release that solidified his reputation as the mixtape god. He showed love to his new crew by rapping over Em beats (”Soldier”), debuted his first official single “Wanksta,” and collected all the NYC radio freestyles that the rest of the world had been missing. You’re all welcome!

Standout Track: “Soldier”

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#6: Dedication
Lil Wayne & DJ Drama

Released: 2005

Four solo albums and a slew of Sqad Up mixtapes into his career, Wayne was a star, but not a superstar. And then came Dedication, also known as Holy Shit, Wayne’s a BEAST! It took some people until Carter 2 to catch up, but the fact that homie is still performing joints off this one in concert says something.

Standout Track: “I’m a Ridah”

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CLICK NEXT TO SEE THE TOP 5 MIXTAPE ALBUMS OF THE 2000’s…