Hip-hop followers had been dismayed to study that long-running mixtape streaming website DatPiff — whose existence even predates that of extra mainstream DSPs like Spotify — had shut down yesterday, resulting in a interval of mourning on social media for one of many pillars of the modern-day web.
That’s till DatPiff’s Twitter account popped up with a message reassuring customers that the service was nonetheless alive and nicely. “Regardless of the rumors, we’re blissful to report that we are going to nonetheless be supplying you with all of the mixtapes you’re keen on,” it learn. “We’re working by technical points on our website and app, however nonetheless actively replace our youtube! Thanks for all of the love and issues however we promise, we’re nonetheless right here.”
Regardless of the rumors, we’re blissful to report that we are going to nonetheless be supplying you with all of the mixtapes you’re keen on. We’re working by technical points on our website and app, however nonetheless actively replace our youtube! Thanks for all of the love and issues however we promise, we’re nonetheless right here
— DatPiff (@DatPiff) March 14, 2023
So, what provides?
Effectively, you know the way I’m continually harping at you all about ensuring you get your information from reliable sources? Yeah. Reddit.com just isn’t a reliable supply. Apparently, a subscriber of the subreddit r/hiphop101 interpreted a few of these technical glitches as an indication that the corporate had fully folded. That submit was then shared broadly amongst hip-hop heads on social media — there’s an Instagram screenshot of the Reddit screenshot within the tweet beneath, courtesy of Complex — and it appears everybody just about ran with this story with out confirming it by way of any legit information publications or first-person accounts.
DatPiff, which hosts mixtapes from each megastars and up-and-coming artists, holds a unique place in hip-hop history. As a result of it was simpler to add a brand new tape to the location immediately than going by Apple Music (previously iTunes, the one actual title within the streaming sport on the time), many artists acquired their begin by sharing DatPiff hyperlinks with their followers within the early days of social media. That features names like ASAP Rocky, Huge Sean, Drake, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar, amongst others (I wrote about a few of them here). Your complete weblog rap period mainly ran on DatPiff (and unlawful file-sharing websites like ZippyShare and MegaUploads), and followers had been fast to acknowledge its significance whereas (mistakenly) eulogizing the location.
RIP @DatPiff 🫡
Pioneers of the mixtape period. Thanks for shaping the tradition within the 2000s and altering the music business without end.
Lengthy dwell Biggy Jiggy Mixtapes. So many traditional tapes from Weezy and Gucci Mane. A launching pad for Drake, Wiz, and so many extra. pic.twitter.com/2rJaGGwqAU
— gino.eth 💽 (@GinoTheGhost) March 14, 2023
I have never used DatPiff in years but when the location is admittedly gone then RIP, loads of historical past was made there and adjusted a lotta artist’s lives.
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) March 14, 2023
Except for being an incredible archive of mixtapes and unofficial initiatives that can by no means, ever contact DSPs, DatPiff outlasted the slang that it named itself after by a few years, which I discover most unimaginable.
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) March 14, 2023
RIP Datpiff — who in all probability has crucial archive of music from the previous 10-15 years wherever on the web. It was a bridge between the weblog period and the streaming period — and a hub for initiatives that can by no means see the sunshine of day on DSPs.
Thanks in your service.
— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) March 14, 2023
DatPiff held us DOWN. Without end in debt
— Low (@LowKeyUHTN) March 14, 2023
After all, with the reveal that the location wasn’t shutting down (but), evidently these flowers, whereas warranted, had been untimely. If the location can itself again up and working, now may be a great time to obtain all of your favourite tapes for posterity — simply in case. If not, nicely, there’s all the time LiveMixtapes.
