The internet was a different space a decade ago. Rather than the digital entity that controls our lives and serves as our main window to media and information, the internet used to be a place to escape the real world. While our current technological integrations can still be seen as beneficial, you have to admit that our digital footprints and online presence have taken a complete 180.
Along with how we interact with the internet, the way we consume media has changed too. Somewhere between CDs and Spotify was a time when artists had to promote their music differently. Blogs and mixtape distribution websites dominated as platforms for artists to share their music for fans to download. These records were often lower-budget and carried a DIY aesthetic that inspired listeners to share and create something of their own. My goal here is to outline some of the best and most noteworthy albums and mixtapes from that era and explain what they did right.
The O.F. Tape Vol. 2 ~ Odd Future (2012)
Odd Future was a ragtag group of kids whose creativity was fueled by angst, self-expression, and vulgarity. Many famous names came out of this clan—most notably Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, and the founder, Tyler, the Creator. Plenty of others in the collective are still influential in today’s music scene, more than a decade later. Each member released incredible solo mixtapes that could have made this list, but I chose The O.F. Tape Vol. 2 because it showcases everyone’s talents together.
The tape (like most of their catalog) was shared through the Odd Future blog and Tumblr pages. It’s gritty and raw, full of the kind of crass, in-your-face energy that would never pass under today’s politically correct standards. Each member is represented, track by track, until it all culminates in a posse cut finale—a 10-minute rap train giving everyone a chance to shine. That track, Oldie, still features some of the best verses from Earl and Frank, while capturing the thrill of supporting these kids from the start.
Odd Future’s projects carried a teenage sense of creative freedom that feels impossible to replicate today. Any other release from the group at that time could easily have fit on this list, but this one had the whole crew.
Because the Internet ~ Childish Gambino (2013)
Because the Internet by Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) is the main reason I wanted to write this piece. Released as his second studio album, it came during a transitional slump between writing for TV and reaching the artistic peak we see him at today. Because the Internet was a massive undertaking, blending audio and visual elements into a conceptual narrative.
During its creation, Glover was going through an existential crisis—locking himself in hotel rooms and meditating on life, the future, and technology. Alongside the album came a short film (Clapping for the Wrong Reasons) and a 72-page screenplay that was included with early vinyl pressings.
Glover himself described the project as the “rap OK Computer.” Each track is intricately crafted, pushing the story forward. It was truly ahead of its time and remains one of his best works. Songs like 3005 and Sweatpants became internet classics. Listening now, they hold nostalgia for YouTube’s golden era, but they also take on new meaning as an adult who relates to Glover’s existential anxieties.
If you’ve never heard Because the Internet, I highly recommend it. It’s one of those rare albums that changes meaning each time you revisit it.
Faces ~ Mac Miller (2014)
I’ll be straight up, this is my favorite Mac Miller record. Created during a drug-fueled binge in his home studio, “The Sanctuary,” Faces represents some of his darkest lyrics, sharpest bars, and most creative samples. Songs like Diablo show off his lyrical mastery, while Colors and Shapes or Funeral bring an emotional weight that lingers.
The mixtape was self-released on Mac’s website, unlocked by playing an interactive sandwich-making minigame.
For me, this record is tied to being 20 and in college—balancing school stress with the reckless thrill of freedom. I had it on repeat for years, and I still spin the CD I burned from my old DatPiff downloads.
Acid Rap ~ Chance the Rapper (2013)
Acid Rap carries a huge wave of nostalgia. Even after it hit streaming, it wasn’t fully cleared until its 10th anniversary. Back then, downloading it (like most of Chance’s early tapes) was an adventure in itself. I remember being a teenager, riding in my friends’ Pontiac Grand Prix with blown-out speakers blasting Cocoa Butter Kisses and Favorite Song.
Released the same year as Because the Internet, it also featured Childish Gambino, tying the two projects together in a way that felt like artistic symmetry. Tracks like NaNa with Action Bronson added even more depth to the era.
Like Faces, the push-and-pull between productivity and indulgence is what makes Acid Rap so rewarding. Sure, Chance has grown past these immature themes, but there’s no shame in wanting to revisit the playful, whimsical energy this tape captured.
A Kid Named Cudi ~ Kid Cudi (2008)
Kid Cudi’s debut mixtape has been on my mind again, especially with his recent memoir Cudi. In it, Scott Mescudi explains the struggles of promoting Day ’n’ Nite as a small, unknown artist. I’ve always loved these underdog stories, and hearing that beat for the first time was unforgettable.
Many of the best tracks were re-released on his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Still, the original mixtape versions were rawer and more unpolished, which many fans prefer. Unfortunately, not all tracks made it to streaming, leaving gems like 50 Ways to Make a Record inaccessible to new listeners.
For purists, I recommend tracking down the original tape on DatPiff or Mixtape Monkey. It’s like a “diet Man on the Moon,” but if you loved the album, you’ll find something here to connect with.
House of Balloons ~ The Weeknd (2011)
House of Balloons was the world’s first taste of Abel Tesfaye’s alter ego, The Weeknd. Some fans still call it his best project—and for good reason. It sounds like being lost in a haunted nightclub, surrounded by danger, beauty, and excess. From The Morning to Glass Table Girls, the whole project is flawless.
The mixtape was followed by Thursday and Echoes of Silence, all later compiled into Trilogy. While the remasters had cleaner mixing, many fans prefer the gritty originals.
Even now, with The Weeknd’s global fame and record-breaking hits like Blinding Lights, House of Balloons reminds us of his dark, underground beginnings.
Conclusion
I could talk for hours about the records I missed—A$AP Mob’s early days, Mos Def’s hidden masterpiece The Ecstatic, and countless others. The blog and mixtape era of the internet is one we may never return to, but one we can always look back on with fondness.
Yes, many of these projects eventually made it to streaming, but re-releases often lose the grit and context of their original drops. Music, the internet, and the way we share evolve together. Maybe not always for the better, but looking back feels like welcoming an old friend home.
With growing rejection of corporate media, maybe there’s hope to relive that DIY nostalgia—downloading files, burning CDs, and listening on your own terms. If nothing else, having these projects accessible today lets both new and old fans reconnect with a special moment in music history.
Screen Falcon 