The Game Spends $40k To Make Free Mixtapes, Still Doesn’t Understand Music Industry

Last week, he released the free mixtape “Purp & Patron,” a 29-track record with All-Star collaborations, including the explosive rock and percussion-fueled “Can A Drummer Get Some” with Travis Barker, Swizz Beatz, Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross. On Monday, he put out the 15-song follow-up, “Purp & Patron: The Hangover.”

The Compton-bred rapper believes the generous musical gift will establish even more loyalty with his fans, who won’t have a problem buying his forthcoming “R.E.D.” album when it comes out later this year.

“‘He gave us 30 tracks. Why wouldn’t we go buy his 15 when the album comes out?'” Game said, forecasting reaction from fans.

It took the Dr. Dre protégé one month and tens of thousands of dollars to produce the mixtapes presented by DJ Skee and hosted by Funkmaster Flex. “I spent like over $40,000 getting that mixtape done,” he said.

Between both mixtapes, Game features songs with T-Pain, RZA, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Lil’ Boosie, Bun B, Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Fabolous, Timbaland, Mista Fab, and Wiz Khalifa, among others.

Game told Rolling Stone that “Purp & Patron” mixtape was downloaded more than 1 million times within its first three days available.

–via Yahoo News

The common misconception among popular artists these days is that paying for music is somehow more justifiable if the artist releases music for free to compensate. Ah, if only music fans followed this 2-for-1 logic. Game, you’re not on to anything new. Trust that MP3s are no longer a profitable commodity by any degree, and the line between mixtape and album has more to do with marketing than quality. On the other hand, how did he land Travis Barker, Swizz Beatz, Lil’ Wayne, Rick Ross, T-Pain, RZA, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Lil’ Boosie, Bun B, Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Fabolous, Timbaland, Mista Fab, and Wiz Khalifa for only $40k?