How to Create a Hip-Hop DJ Mix Tape

Although CDs are more common, mix tapes are still great for recording music mixes.

Hip hop music is a popular genre incorporating rap and urban street sounds that originated in the late 1970s and 1980s. You can create a hip hop mix tribute for specific artists or groups like Ludacris or Outkast. Whatever music you choose, the selection of music is endless for creating a hip hop mix tape.

Things You'll Need

• Cassette deck or recording software
• 2 turntables or CD players
• DJ mixer
• Speakers
• Monitor
• Media (such as vinyl, CDs, MP3s)

Instructions

1. Test your volume levels and be sure to connect the cassette deck or computer with your recording software, such as Cool Edit, Soundforge or Acid, to the output of your mixer. If you're recording directly onto the cassette, you want to be sure your volumes aren't peaking or aren't "too hot" because your mix will sound distorted or over-modulated.

2. Plan your music according to how long your set will be and what the mix is intended for, whether it's a demo, a gift or a work for distribution. Cassettes usually have 75 minutes of recording room, but a 60-minute mix is fine.

3. Arrange your music according to when you'll be playing it in your set. With hip hop, you'll do a lot more "quick mixing" so when you have your songs readily available to grab, it's a lot easier. This step won't be necessary if you're using a laptop program like Serato since it's a lot faster to find music with the click of a button.

4. Mix your set to the best of your ability, but pay attention to volume levels. If you're recording directly onto a cassette player, you won't be able to edit the mix, so if you have errors, you'll have to start your mix over from the beginning.

5. Finalize your mix with a drop or outtro if recording on the cassette player. If you're using recording software, your drops and imaging can be added after your mix is complete.

6. Create labels for your mix tape or CD, or simply write directly on the medium.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're recording with cassette, purchase a high bias tape. The sound quality will be better when you duplicate copies or have to re-record your mix.

• You are not allowed to sell your mix tape for profit because this is infringes on the copyrights associated with the record labels and music you mix with.

References

• Mixtape Kings
• Originator of Free Mixtapes: Hip Hop
• Tweakheadz

Resources

• Serato
• Sound Forge
• Guitar Center: High Bias Cassettes