mixtape
noun
mix·tape
ˈmiks-ˌtāp 
variants
or less commonly mix tape
plural mixtapes also mix tapes
1
: a noncommercial compilation of songs copied (as onto a cassette tape or a CD) from various sources
In high school, I'd be making mixtapes for friends and girls instead of doing my homework, spending hours perfecting how a Smiths song and Joy Division song and Pixies song would convey the way I feel.—
Aaron Axelsen, quoted at SFGate.com
Aaron Axelsen, quoted at SFGate.comWriters like Nick Hornby have imbued the cassette tape with considerable romance, in particular the mix tape created for a loved one. In practice, these were often recorded directly from the radio, requiring your typical suburban suitor to sit around for hours on end, waiting for the desired track to appear.—Richard Glover
Richard Glover2
: an album that is usually recorded and distributed without the involvement of a record label
The mixtape is an unofficial release. It might be tied to an imprint or a label, but it doesn't necessarily appear in stores. In fact, most of them can be purchased only on the streets, at the clubs, from the trunks of cars or from the artists themselves.—Lance Scott Walker
Lance Scott WalkerLong before rap got any radio love, mixtapes were the main form of distribution, the currency that kept everything in rotation as the culture evolved.—Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael
Sidney Madden and Rodney CarmichaelHigh-fidelity and laden with hits, So Far Gone had the sheen of a professional studio album, and it popularized the idea of mixtapes as low-pressure showcases for burgeoning artists.—Jonah Bromwich
Jonah BromwichExamples of mixtape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Who is Yella Beezy? Beezy launched his music career as a teen when the aspiring rapper started releasing his own mixtapes.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
With the viral success of her latest mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, which got her her biggest headlining tour to date, in addition to her first Grammy win for Best Rap Album, Doechii is experiencing one of the biggest cultural moments out of any of the major acts on this year’s bill.
—Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Up next: Whispers of a mixtape released ahead of his upcoming performance at Coachella.
—Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Years after meeting the legendary producer for the first time, Saba planned to simply make a mixtape with him.
—William E. Ketchum Iii, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mixtape
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Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
With the viral success of her latest mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, which got her her biggest headlining tour to date, in addition to her first Grammy win for Best Rap Album, Doechii is experiencing one of the biggest cultural moments out of any of the major acts on this year’s bill.
—Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Up next: Whispers of a mixtape released ahead of his upcoming performance at Coachella.
—Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Years after meeting the legendary producer for the first time, Saba planned to simply make a mixtape with him.
—William E. Ketchum Iii, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mixtape
Cite this Entry
“Mixtape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mixtape. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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