mixtape
Americannoun
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mixtapes
plural
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a recording on a cassette tape, CD, or digital medium, consisting of music or songs selected by a single person.
My boyfriend made me the greatest mixtape for my birthday.
-
such a recording consisting of music or songs personally selected by the artist, usually a hip-hop artist.
His mixtape from a live performance helped propel him to stardom.
-
a recording consisting of blended or recombined tracks, or a series of tracks with smooth transitions, especially one created by a DJ.
Usage
What does mixtape mean? Unlike an official album, a mixtape is a more casual assortment of songs, organized by a listener or created by an artist.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mixtape
Explanation
A mixtape is a compilation of recorded music from various sources. You may have given your friends a mixtape of your favorite songs for them to check out and enjoy. The original mixtapes were recorded on blank audio cassette tapes, and they were very personal, created by individuals to share with friends, family members, or romantic interests. Starting in the 1980s, mixtapes became a tool of DJs, and they weren't necessarily recorded on cassette tapes. In the 2000s, hip-hop artists began releasing free or unofficial projects that they called mixtapes, which often featured raw or experimental styles. Today, a lot of music is digitally recorded, so artists may release mixtapes on digital platforms, and music fans often compile and share playlists featuring their favorite artists.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Fittingly, Akriila kick-started her career with a trap mixtape.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
It helps that every song on the musician's debut mixtape "became like a TikTok anthem", Boparai says.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Think of it as a highly subjective road-trip mixtape that skims through history, one that pauses to consider something remarkable unfolding in a pocket of the country at a particular time and place.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The first iteration of the project was as a mixtape.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
She realizes it’s not just a mixtape he had lying around, but one he made just for her.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
When she started releasing mixtapes a few years later, she specialized in downcast R&B, singing conversationally over rap beats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026
They'd released dozens of well-received mixtapes, culminating in the track Too Many Man, which broke into the UK singles charts.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025
He released one studio album in 2014, “Let’s Get It,” and six mixtapes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2025
Founded in 1990 by Bill Walker, Thump Records specializes in distributing oldies mixtapes like “Old School Collection,” the “East Side Story” series, “Latin Oldies” and “Lowrider Oldies.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2025
He’s not working a full-time job, and that money he makes from deejaying and selling mixtapes isn’t going to sustain him.
From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson
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