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Mixtapes have been an integral part of hip hop since its early days in '70s New York, it being the only way the music was available outside of a live setting. Though the tape as a medium has long since died out physically, its spirit lives on with many burgeoning artists showcasing their chops by posting material online via mixes. Having helped bring the likes of Odd Future, Drake and Giggs break through previously, Joe Bishop rates the ten best hip hop mixtapes
you can download (guilt free) right now.

1. A$AP Rocky - Live.Love.A$AP
After gaining popularity through two, strangely, high quality music videos for tracks Purple Swag and Peso, Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky released his first mixtape Live.Love.A$AP last month. The dirty-south-influenced spitter dropped his lengthy 16-track tape to much acclaim, praised for the lyrical content and the production, some of which were done by fellow east coaster Clams Casino, who also features in this list.
Download: Liveloveasap.com

2. Wale - The Eleven One Eleven Theory
First discovered by Mark Ronson in 2006, Washington DC's Wale bucked early mixtape trends with his early efforts by incorporating disco sub-genre "go-go", which was pioneered in the DC area, into his tunes. His most recent mixtape, The Eleven One Eleven Theory, is another in a long succession of impressive tapes by the rapper.
Download: Killerhiphop.com

3. Big K.R.I.T - Return Of 4Eva
March of this year saw Mississippi's Big K.R.I.T (King Remembered In Time) release his highly anticipated self-produced mixtape Return Of 4eva. Before this, he had released several tapes, each steadily building on the last. K.R.I.T's talents as a beat maker shine through on this tape, his samples of artists like Adele being lauded.
Download: Returnof4eva.com

4. Kid Cudi - Rap Hard
There was widespread disappointment when Cleveland-born Kid Cudi announced that his highly anticipated tape A Man Named Scott was cancelled in August due to commitments involving his album, however he has released Rap Hard, a 12-track tape that features previously unreleased tracks from early on in his career.
Download: Thefader.com

5. Clams Casino - Instrumental Mixtape
Featuring heavily in both Lil B and A$AP Rocky's work, New Jersey's Clams Casino released the simply titled Instrumental Mixtape earlier this year to a slew of commendations. Heavily reverbed vocal samples and echoing percussions meet to create a load of dreamy, cloudy beats, which is perhaps the hip hop first ever chill out album.

Download: Blog.defgrip.net

6. Pusha T - Fear Of God
One half of the renowned hip hop duo Clipse, Virginia Beach-based Pusha T decided to go it alone in March of this year and released Fear Of God to widespread acclaim. The tape prompted Pusha to release his debut EP, Fear Of God II: Let Us Pray, out now, and a solo album, set to feature production from the likes of the The Neptunes and Kanye West.
Download: Hypebeast.com

7. Danny Brown - XXX
Detroit-born Danny Brown isn't your typical rapper, especially when it comes to fashion as he swaps the genre's de rigueur baggy jeans and shirt look for a relaxed fringe and women's jeans. The same can be said of his muisc boasting a scratchy voice reminiscent of Outsidaz member Young Zee, though with a little less of 'the crazy'. Only a little less, mind.
Download: Foolsgoldrecs.com

8. Action Bronson - Bon Appetit... Bitch!!!!!
Old school style is something that New York's Action Bronson does to a tee, which is just as well, as the rapper and respected chef is often said to sound similar to the Wu Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah. However Bronson made a name for himself not through being a soundalike, but by releasing tapes like Bon Appetit... Bitch!!!! which include rhymes about food, women and everything else in between. Below is the video for Brunch from Bronson's debut album Dr. Lecter, out now.
Download: Cokebingesandsyringes.com

9. J Cole - Friday Night Lights
Although released in November of last year, German born American J Cole's mixtape Friday Night Lights is still as fresh as ever. A precursor to his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story (out now), Friday Night Lights was the third tape from Cole, after he established a cult following the release of his first tape in 2006 under the name The Therapist. Those impressed by Cole's flows include Jay- Z, who made him the first artist he signed to his
Roc Nation label.
Download: Jcolemusic.com

10. Juicy J + Lex Luger - Rubba Band Business 2
When prolific MC Juicy J started working with Virginian producer and Waka Flocka Flame collaborator Lex Luger, it brought together a blend of old and new from the Southern hip hop scene. Rubba Band Business 2 is their second tape together, and the first one that they created together in person after making their first effort purely via email.
Download: Thefader.com

Joe Bishop @joe_bish

Coming soon the ten best indie mixtapes online - send your suggestions to editor@qthemusic.com with 'Mixtape' as the subject

5:00 PM | 16/11/2011