Tale of the Tape (2024)

Many may find it hard to believe, but there was a time when Hip Hop music wasn't flooding our airwaves and Hip Hop Artists weren't certified pop stars. This time, before rappers had enough clout to endorse presidential candidates and newscasters covered stories on the latest "bling," the foundation was laid for the art form through The Mixtape. As most recall, Hip Hop music began to make major commercial headway in the late 80's and early 90's. Long before the days of platinum and gold success, a rapper's worth was in the DJ's placement within his mixture. During the late 70's, before record labels even considered rap music a legitimate art form, Hip Hop's fathers, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, and Africa Bambataa were recording their performances and customizing music mixes for their loyal New York fanbase- not only to make financial ends meet, but to also lay the groundwork for the birth of hip hop as a street based culture. Ultimately, it would be the growing popularity and increased necessity of The Mixtapes created by DJ's that would serve as the lifeline to Hip Hop, as it struggled to be accepted into the mainstream. This documentary will take an unabashed look at the role The Mixtape played during the growth of Hip Hop music from the 1970's to now, revealing how The Mixtape has served as a force to catapult the art form of Hip Hop, as well as the careers of the greatest lyricists. Through telling interviews with mixtape legends, artist and industry insiders, the massive impact of The Mixtape subculture will be unveiled. With a stunning musical score and imposing cinematic depiction, this documentary will prove to be the most insightful and thought provoking account of the historic importance and present day relevance of The Mixtape.