YoungstaCPT has explained why mixtapes have become a more practical part of his career than traditional albums, pointing to the financial demands and industry support required to properly release a full-length project.
The Cape Town rapper recently discussed his approach to releasing music, arguing that the term “album” should carry more weight than simply referring to a collection of songs.
YoungstaCPT on what makes an album
For YoungstaCPT, an album is more than a project containing multiple tracks. He believes a traditional album should come with the infrastructure needed to support its release, including a record label, distributor, marketing campaign or other industry backing.
“An album is a body of work. It is an official release, right? It should be backed by a record label, a distributor, marketing, something like that,” he explained.
That distinction has influenced the way he approaches his own catalogue, particularly as an independent artist responsible for managing much of the business behind his music.
The cost of putting out albums
YoungstaCPT also highlighted the financial pressure involved in producing and promoting albums.
As an entrepreneur, he said he has to think carefully about where he invests his money. Releasing a major album requires spending across areas such as production, distribution and marketing, making the process difficult to repeat frequently without significant financial backing.
“Can you just imagine I put all that money into one album, but I did it 36 times. I’d be bankrupt.”
For him, mixtapes provide greater flexibility. The format allows him to continue sharing music with his audience without necessarily taking on the same costs associated with a fully supported album campaign.
Has music become too focused on singles?
YoungstaCPT also questioned the direction of today’s music industry, particularly its growing emphasis on individual tracks.
He argued that many artists now operate around a cycle of releasing one single, watching its performance and then attempting to replicate the formula with another track.
“I think now it’s more about singles. Single, single, single, single, single.”
The rapper believes this approach can make it harder for artists to prioritise sequencing, storytelling and the creation of cohesive bodies of work.
Streaming and the algorithm
Technology has also changed the way audiences discover music, according to YoungstaCPT.
He suggested that streaming platforms and recommendation algorithms have made music easier to access, but have also reduced some of the effort listeners once put into discovering an artist’s wider catalogue.
Instead of actively searching for a project, listeners can increasingly rely on platforms to recommend songs and automatically deliver new music.
For YoungstaCPT, this shift has contributed to a listening culture where individual tracks can receive more immediate attention than complete projects.
Why mixtapes remain important
Despite the changing industry, YoungstaCPT continues to see value in mixtapes. They give him a way to remain creatively active while working within the financial realities of being an independent musician.
His comments also raise a broader question about what qualifies as an album in the streaming era and whether full projects still receive the attention they deserve.
For YoungstaCPT, mixtapes are more than a substitute for albums. They offer the creative freedom and financial flexibility needed to keep releasing music without compromising the sustainability of his career.
