[K-MOVE] Return of Distinct Mixtapes

Many music lovers are fond of having their own mixtape, a self-produced compilation of music onto a cassette tape, CD, or digital playlist.

In the 1980s and 90s, mixtapes on cassette, many of which were sold on street carts, led the advancement of Korean pop music.

For now, when cassette tapes have gone, the term "mixtape" is now used to describe a self-produced and independent non-commercial online album to gain publicity.

The modern form of a mixtape usually contains a pre-existing hip-hop beat combined with rap. Recently, however, musicians make beats of their own.

Today's mixtapes are used by rookie musicians or idol stars to gain attention from the public as they are simple to produce.


[Jeong Min-Jae, pop music critic]

"Such (mixtape form) albums do not need music labels' investment. So they (musicians) can more freely produce what they want personally."


As such, non-commercial online mixtapes have been obtaining popularity and changing the path of the music industry at home and abroad.

For example, the "Mono" mixtape dropped by RM, the leader of K-pop superstar band BTS has dominated some 80 domestic and foreign music charts upon its release.