These days, there are many DJs who compile the hottest new songs and release the compilation for people who always need to be the first to have the latest hits.
It is a common practice, but many people have no idea where it came from.
The mixtape has been around for as long as hip hop itself, but it was not always used the same way it is today This type of compilation started in the 1970's, but it was known as a party tape at the time.
People loved going to the clubs so much that they wanted to take the DJ experience into their homes and cars.
Famous DJ crews such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became popular through their DJing gigs and then became rich by selling recordings of those gigs.
The music fan that had money to spare could get their own customized party tape from a DJ like Grandmaster Flash.
For about a dollar a minute, they could get a 30 to 120 minute tape of all of the hottest music with their name shouted over it in echo effect.
The customized tapes were a hit and Grandmaster Flash made thousands of dollars each month just from making them.
Another unlikely market for these party tapes was the cab drivers in various cities.
In the 1970's, many cab drivers had nice cars and would take clients on a "hold call," which meant that someone with money would aimlessly ride around in a nice, chauffeured car.
The cab driver with the best party tapes would be the one to get most of the lucrative hold call business.
Modern day DJs may have perfected the art of the mixtape, but they certainly did not originate it.
This unique way of sharing popular music goes all the way back to the 1970's.
It has continued to be popular throughout the decades and will most likely remain a staple of hip hop culture.