The UK’s own musician and DJ, TADI stops by to tell Viper which classic mixtape is his favourite of all time…
What’s your favourite mixtape ever?
J Hus – ‘The 15th Day’ mixtape.
Why is it so significant to you?
The range of vibes on there, there’s serious bits but there’s also parts where Hus and co are just having with it. J Hus and all the features bring an unmatched bravado with this and I think it was a flawless debut mixtape.
Were there any artists or producers that you discovered through this tape?
Yeah Deepee from Section Boyz [now Smoke Boyz], whoever JOAT is/are, I never got to find out much info about them but I knew if I heard their tag the beat was gonna be fire.
Where exactly were you when you heard the mixtape for the first time?
Walking to my first job in a care home kitchen, it always took me around 45 minutes to walk to work from my house so with the tape being 38 minutes, there was enough time for the entire tape with room for wheel-ups.
Did it come into your life at a significant time?
Yeah it did, I was at my first ever job and I used to start work at 7:20am so this was the perfect soundtrack to get me amped up in the morning.
How did the mixtape cover make you feel?
Like I was looking at Hus.
Describe the mixtape in three words?
Gritty, energetic, dated – in a good way though, this is a high-res snapshot of a monumental time for the Afro-swing movement.
What song is your personal favourite?
It’s a tie between ‘No Lie’ or ‘Dem Boy Paigon’.
If you could put a price on this mixtape, how much would you pay?
I think it’s priceless, I wouldn’t even need to buy this for myself, it would have to belong to a museum.
Did you have a physical copy?
No
No? Which is your favourite that you have a physical copy of?
I don’t have any physical mixtapes but my friend Howie sent me his tape with beats on one side and a mix on the other so shout out to him for keeping music on physical media alive.