Gallery: Download This: The Best Mixtapes of 2011
01The Weeknd - Thursday
There are a lot of reasons to love mixtapes — they're fun, oftentimes free and occasionally fabulous. But more than anything, because of those above characteristics, mixtapes offer artists a chance to introduce themselves to the world through the magic of the internet. Sometimes an artist or group can go from a virtual unknown to the name you can't stop hearing at bars and parties. This year that name was R&B maestro "the Weeknd." A couple of years ago it might've been Drake, or Kid Cudi, or Theophilus London — all artists who have taken their mixtape success and gathered fans around their fires. Wired.com put together this list of our favorite mixtapes of 2011 to share some slightly under-the-radar faves and give a hat-tip to those artists who may not have topped the charts, but definitely rocked our worlds. Click through the gallery above to see who we picked. Most of the mixtapes are free (and the one that isn't is *so* worth the 5 bucks) and we've included links for all of them. (Special thanks to Matthew Hickey at [Turntable Kitchen](http://www.turntablekitchen.com/) for helping compile this list.) __Above:__ *House of Balloons*, *Thursday* and *Echoes of Silence* — The Weeknd -------------------------------------------------------------------- If any person or group were given the title of Mixtape Master this year it would be [the Weeknd](http://the-weeknd.com/ ). Mysterious singer Abel Tesfaye made what are probably the two most-talked-about mixtapes of the year with *House of Balloons* in March and *Thursday* in August. They were typically described as mixtapes since they were free, but really they could've easily been full-blown EPs. The *HOB* track "High for This" found its way to promos for *Entourage* and Tesfaye found his way onto Drake's album *Take Care*. A third mixtape — *Echoes of Silence* — was dropped earlier this month, and at first blush it sounds just as complex, if not more so, than the previous two releases (see: the cover of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" and "Initiation," which speeds and slows the vocals to sound like the mental dialog of the drug binge it's describing). We're generally leery of prequels around here, but if Tesfaye opts to release some prequels to his trilogy of albums next year, we're totally OK with that. __Download:__ [*House of Balloons*](http://www.the-weeknd.com/TheWeeknd_HouseOfBalloons.zip) — The Weeknd (.zip file download) [*Thursday*](http://www.the-weeknd.com/TheWeeknd_____Thursday.zip) — The Weeknd (.zip file download) [*Echoes of Silence*](http://www.datpiff.com/The-Weeknd-Echoes-Of-Silence-mixtape.296051.html) — The Weeknd (DatPiff link)
02ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP
*LiveLoveA$AP* — ASAP Rocky --------------------------- [ASAP Rocky](http://www.asapmob.com/) made a huge splash when his track "Purple Swag" from the [*Deep Purple*](http://www.datpiff.com/ASAP-Rocky-Deep-Purple-mixtape.249135.html) mixtape dropped in July. But it was nothing compared what happened when people heard "Peso" off of [*LiveLoveA$AP*](http://www.asapmob.com/2011/10/new-mixtape-asap-rocky-liveloveasap/). That song was everywhere — even Pusha T [made a version of the track](http://www.rap-up.com/2011/10/31/new-music-pusha-t-peso-freestyle/). The Harlem rapper, who will be joining Drake on his Club Paradise Tour, recently signed a [$3 million deal with RCA](http://pitchfork.com/news/44436-aap-rocky-talks-3-million-record-deal-mainstream-acceptance/) that should allow for him and the rest of the ASAP crew featured on *LiveLoveA$AP* to have an even bigger year in 2012 than they had in 2011. __Download:__ [*LiveLoveA$AP*](http://hulkshare.com/unpjui2d8ozw) — ASAP Rocky (Hulkshare link)
03Green-Ova-Undergrounds---Chandelier
*Chandelier* — Green Ova Undergrounds ------------------------------------- One of the most experimental mixtapes of the year, *Chandelier* meshes gritty rhymes from the Oakland, California-based Main Attrakionz (part of the [Green Ova](http://greenovamusic.bandcamp.com/) collective) with crazy production from [Fol Chen](http://folchen.com/)'s Julian Wass. Videogame blips, discordantly sparse sounds and dirty beats mixed with gravely raps make it a truly unique record. And completely worth handing over $5 to Bandcamp to buy. [#iframe: http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=1090164082/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=f236e3/](660x100)|||||| __Download:__ [*Chandelier*](http://greenovamusic.bandcamp.com/album/chandelier) — Green Ova Undergrounds (Bandcamp link)
04Rockie Fresh - The Otherside Redux
*The Otherside Redux* — Rockie Fresh ------------------------------------ *The Otherside* was another mixtape that dropped right at the tail end of 2010, so normally wouldn't qualify for this list. However, lucky for us, Chi-Town rapper [Rockie Fresh](http://www.rockiefresh.com/) released the *Redux* of the album in July of this year, and re-upped the tape with guest appearances by Lil B and Odd Future's Casey Veggies — landing him right in the cross-hairs for this list. Its place here is earned — smart wordplay, dense sonic melodies and lots of head-bopping jams make it the perfect headphone-ready mixtape. __Download:__ [*The Otherside Redux*](http://www.datpiff.com/Rockie-Fresh-The-Otherside-Redux-mixtape.255534.html) — Rockie Fresh (DatPiff link) ([alternate link here](http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/07/27/rockie-fresh-the-otherside-redux-mixtape/))
05Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell
*Cold Day In Hell* — Freddie Gibbs ---------------------------------- [Freddie Gibbs](http://www.freddiegibbs.com/)' name is typically surrounded by a cloud of hype (these things happen when you get [name-dropped in *The New Yorker*](http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2009/10/26/091026crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all)). Luckily, in the case of *Cold Day in Hell*, the rapper from Gary, Indiana, lives up to it. Crafty rhymes and bouncy beats abound on Gibbs' mixtape. Snag a copy for your ride. [#iframe: http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1251635&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=ff00ba](100%x450)|||||| __Download:__ [*Cold Day in Hell*](http://www.datpiff.com/Freddie-Gibbs-Cold-Day-In-Hell-mixtape.278583.html) — Freddie Gibbs (DatPiff link)
06Clams Casino - Instrumental Mixtape
*Instrumental Mixtape* — Clams Casino ------------------------------------- New Jersey's [Clams Casino](http://www.facebook.com/clammyclams) (aka Mike Volpe) made a name for himself by making beats for a few names on this list (ASAP Rocky, Main Attrakions of Green Ova Undergrounds), but most know him for his work with [SEO rapper](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/magazine/2011/04/st_seorapper/) Lil B (see his track for the MC's song "Motivation" below). Volpe's beats this year have been so solid that *Rolling Stone* named him an "[artist to watch](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/artist-to-watch-visionary-beatmaker-clams-casino-20110616)." Luckily, for those of us who like to hear hip-hop beats stripped of their rhymes, Clammy Clams released this mixtape of many of the great instrumentals he's produced. Play it on headphones while staring at the stars. [#iframe: http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17979104&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=ff00ba](100%x166)|||||| __Download:__ [*Instrumental Mixtape*](http://www.mediafire.com/?m2syljkodou7zih) — Clams Casino (MediaFire link)
07Domo Genesis - Under the Influence
*Under the Influence* — Domo Genesis ------------------------------------ In contrast to all the street-freak skater style that the rest of the [Odd Future](http://www.oddfuture.com/en/) crew put out there, [Domo Genesis](http://domogenesis.tumblr.com/) is a more, well, mellow artist. *Under the Influence* is a testament to that. True to its title, it’s a zoned-out affair, made by smokers, for smokers ("I'ma talk pot every fucking verse I get on/I'm a pothead, fuck you, this is my song," Domo raps on "More Clouds.") But more than that, *Under the Influence* stands out as one of very few mixtapes this year from the Odd Future crew, which previously released albums faster than heads could listen to them. It's good to know they've still got it in 'em. __Download:__ [*Under the Influence*](http://www.datpiff.com/Domo-Genesis-Under-The-Influence-mixtape.263025.html) — Domo Genesis (DatPiff link)
08jj-kills
*Kills* — jj ------------ OK, this one is a cheat. *Kills* came out in 2010, but it came out on Dec. 24 of that year, so it didn't really get heavy rotation from much of anyone until 2011. Also, it earns a pass. [Swedish indie-pop duo jj](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jj_(band)) (aka Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander) love American hip-hop, probably more than most Americans do. And it shows in their remixes. On *Kills*, they turn songs by everyone from Kanye West and Snoop Dogg to Taio Cruz into electro-pop jams unlike anything you've heard before. Perfect for the club (or the ride home). __Download:__ [*Kills*](http://www.zshare.net/download/84316875d8c65f8d/) — jj (zShare link)
09james-drake
*James Drake* — Bombé and Mr. Caribbean --------------------------------------- This [mashup of the ethereal dubstep of James Drake](http://www.futurebombe.com/james-drake.html) with the mellow, soulful hip-hop of Drake from [Bombé](http://www.futurebombe.com/) and [Mr. Carribean](http://mrcaribbean.tumblr.com/) is a match made in heaven. It's an insane, mescaline-induced heaven, mind you, but heavenly nonetheless. [#iframe: http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17072745&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=ff00ba](100%x166)|||||| __Download:__ [*James Drake*](http://bit.ly/jpz4fk) — Bombé and Mr. Caribbean (.zip file download)
10lil-wayne-sorry-4-the-wait
*Sorry 4 the Wait* — Lil Wayne ------------------------------ This isn't really [Lil Wayne](http://www.lilwayne-online.com/)'s best mixtape effort (see: anything he made with DJ Drama), but it's hugely significant because it was the first mixtape he put out after being [released from prison](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/editors-picks/lil-wayne-sorry-4-the-wait-20110721) — hence the title. Just because it's not his greatest (his previous bests are hard to top), don't think it's not awesome. From his playful rap over Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci" beat to his song-length apology over Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" instrumental on the title track, it's all classic Weezy. __Download:__ [*Sorry 4 the Wait*](http://www.datpiff.com/Lil-Wayne-Sorry-4-The-Wait-mixtape.250654.html) — Lil Wayne (DatPiff link)
11frank-ocean-nostalgia-ultra
*Nostalgia, Ultra* — Frank Ocean -------------------------------- Where Domo Genesis raps in a mellow style, Odd Future's R&B crooner [Frank Ocean](http://frankocean.tumblr.com/) keeps it just as cool. Ocean is currently working on his solo debut, but that doesn't mean he didn't get a lot of earbud time this year. In addition to the *Nostalgia, Ultra* mixtape, he made a guest appearance on Jay-Z and Kanye West's hip-hop powerhouse album *Watch the Throne*. Look for Ocean to make a lot more waves in 2012. __Download:__ [*Nostalgia, Ultra*](http://www.datpiff.com/Frank-Ocean-Nostalgia-Ultra-mixtape.210282.html) — Frank Ocean (DatPiff link)
12Mobroder
*Mobroder* — Spank Rock, DJ Hoff, Blu Jemz ------------------------------------------ Of all the mixtapes on this list, this is the only one that's a cinematic concept album set in Miami, circa 1983. It was made by nasty-mouthed Baltimore MC Spank Rock, New York DJ Blu Jemz and Baltimore's DJ Hoff, and sonically, it borders on that period in the early '80s when disco and funk were giving away to cocaine-powered dance-pop. Thematically, it tells the story of a 1970s disco king — [Mobroder](http://mobroder.com/) — who is hung up on a girl and looking for his soul in Miami (the last place anyone should look for a soul, BTW). His tale unfolds over this hour-plus mixtape — shorter than the average musical, longer than the average episode of *Glee*. [#iframe: http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12652990&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=ff00ba](100%x166)|||||| __Download:__ [*Mobroder*](http://mobroder.com/) — Spank Rock, DJ Hoff, Blu Jemz (Mobroder website link)
13big-krit-return-of-4eva
*Return of 4eva* — Big K.R.I.T. -------------------------------- Mississippi rapper [Big K.R.I.T.](http://www.bigkrit.com/) made his name with his *K.R.I.T. Wuz Here* mixtape. On this one, released just before his *R4 the Prequel* EP, he proves that he's an unstoppable force. The rap star needs to be careful, though: Nobody wants him to burn too bright and burn out too quickly. Luckily, he shows no signs of fading away. [#iframe: http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21204187&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff00ba](100%x166)|||||| __Download:__ [*Return of 4eva*](http://www.datpiff.com/Big-KRIT-Return-Of-4eva-mixtape.213542.html) — Big K.R.I.T. (DatPiff link)
