The mixtape phenomenon
has officially crossed over to public domain with iTunes Music Store now providing
legal hip-hop mixtapes for download.
The online music
company’s mixtape "Street Official Mixtape, Vol. 1" went up live last
night (November 2).
The promotional
mixtape is the first of its kind—free, downloadable and completely legal.
The introduction to iTunes could make it the most widely distributed promo mixtape
available anywhere.
Every month, "Street
Official Mixtape" host and DJ "Winta" aka "Big Young"
will present a new edition featuring assorted hip-hop artists.
According to the iTunes Music Store site, the mixtapes will be “filled
with the most authentic hip-hop material—new releases, exclusives, test
presses, underground, hip-hop classics and a few surprises.”
Vol. 1 includes songs from KRS-One, Rascoe Will.i.Am, Masta Ace, Planet Asia
and Encore. It will be accessible for download from iTunes Music Store for the
next 30 days until Vol. 2 arrives.
Apple iTunes has sold more than 150 million songs and has expanded to include
sites in the United Kingdom, Germany and France.