mixtape

American  

[miks-teyp] / ˈmɪksˌteɪp /

Or mix tape

noun

Music.

• mixtapes
  plural

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. a recording consisting of blended or recombined tracks, or a series of tracks with smooth transitions, especially one created by a DJ.

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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

• mixtapes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mixtape

mix + tape

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

See Examples For:

mixtape mixtapes

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

Each time I tune in—which is every day now—it feels as if someone cooler than me is handing me a mixtape made with care, exactly how finding new music should feel.

From Slate ● Apr. 12, 2026

At 23, she released her self-titled 2019 mixtape, “Slayyyter,” a bubblegum Gwen Stefani-inspired pop collection half recorded in a “messy a—” closet in her mom’s house.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

Since his 2007 mixtape debut “The Come Up,” Mr. Cole has built a business empire outside of his musical ventures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

“You got some skills, Z, but if you rapped, you would’ve been had your mixtape by now. And you know Marisol would’ve been selling them on every corner from here to Washington Heights.”

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

The little bean bags that once appeared relegated to the same cultural graveyard as mixtapes and Blockbuster have taken over high-school sports fields, hallways and sometimes classrooms seemingly overnight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Multiplatinum rapper J. Cole started his career with basketball-themed mixtapes and just announced “The Off-Season” album to continue the basketball narrative.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026

The VCR transformed Americans from passive viewers into active curators of their entertainment, laying the groundwork for everything from mixtapes to Netflix.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 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’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