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Here it is, babes: my highly requested mixtape how-to !!

HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Blank CD’s + jewel cases

iTunes + a disc drive

Sharpie or other permanent marker

Collage supplies !

glue stick, magazine scraps, stickers, glitter, etc.

HOW TO:

1. Decide your purpose.

What’s it for? Who’s it for? Will you have a theme? What kinda music/genres fit with that theme? 

2. Compile the tracks into a playlist on iTunes.

FILE > NEW > PLAYLIST 

Here are sum tipz for compiling your tracklist:

I like to vary old + new music, genres, moods, etc.

To make it flow, I like to place the songs in an order where each song somehow compliments or contrasts the previous track.

Include a good mix of familiar tracks and new finds.

Live versions of familiar songs are always a good idea.

DO NOT BE SCARED TO INCLUDE CHEESY POP SONGS.

Consider movie soundtracks ! Those are ALREADY like mixtapes!

15 songs is a good # of tracks to shoot for.

3. Burn the CD !!!

Insert a blank disc into your disc drive.

FILE > BURN PLAYLIST TO DISC

4. Wait 4 the disc to burn.

Grab a big ol snack while u wait. Make sure you don’t bump your computer while the disc is burning or the driver could fail.

5. 🌸  DECORATE YER COVER, HUNY 🌸

This is obviously my fav part nnggg. My biggest tip is that collaging takes tons of practice to get a feel for. The person you’re making the mix for will love it NO MATTER WHAT, so don’t sweat it.

Here are some of my biggest tips on art directing yer new creation:

I start by cutting out a little less than 5″ by 5″ piece of plain card stock to act as a solid background.

A good title can MAKE a CD (and lend itself to some solid visuals).

Have a small collection of magazines + clippings to go to for inspiration. My favs are 1980′s Nat Geo’s, “Oh Comely” (a British rag). and NYLON.

To get my clippings, I look through a few issues and clip ANYTHING that relates to the vibe of my mix in any way. Sometimes I have a color scheme in my head or a specific imagine or mood. That guides my pics, but I’m always ready to deviate if something else grabs my eye.

Sometimes simple covers with a big graphic and some dope patterns/color blocking are more appealing than wild ones, so don’t overthink it ~

6. GIVE THAT BABY AWAY!

Here are some covers I’ve made to give y’all some samples:

I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.

IN RESPONSE TO Acknowledged Answered Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK Added Implored Inquired Insisted Proposed Queried Questioned Recommended Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY Admitted Apologized Conceded Confessed Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE Advised Criticized Suggested

JUST CHECKING Affirmed Agreed Alleged Confirmed

LOUD Announced Chanted Crowed

LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL Appealed Disclosed Moaned

ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT Argued Barked Challenged Cursed Fumed Growled Hissed Roared Swore

SMARTASS Articulated Asserted Assured Avowed Claimed Commanded Cross-examined Demanded Digressed Directed Foretold Instructed Interrupted Predicted Proclaimed Quoted Theorized

ASSHOLE Bellowed Boasted Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK Babbled Bawled Mumbled Sputtered Stammered Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER Bargained Divulged Disclosed Exhorted

FIRST OFF Began

LASTLY Concluded Concurred

WEAK PUSY Begged Blurted Complained Cried Faltered Fretted

HAPPY/LOL Cajoled Exclaimed Gushed Jested Joked Laughed

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED Extolled Jabbered Raved

BRUH, CHILL Cautioned Warned

ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG Chided Contended Corrected Countered Debated Elaborated Objected Ranted Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE Commented Continued Observed Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY Enunciated Explained Elaborated Hinted Implied Lectured Reiterated Recited Reminded Stressed

BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME Confided Offered Urged

FINE Consented Decided

TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS Croaked Lamented Pledged Sobbed Sympathized Wailed Whimpered

JUST SAYING Declared Decreed Mentioned Noted Pointed out Postulated Speculated Stated Told Vouched

WASN’T ME Denied Lied

EVIL SMARTASS Dictated Equivocated Ordered Reprimanded Threatened

BORED Droned Sighed

SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME Echoed Mumbled Murmured Muttered Uttered Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN Exaggerated Panted Pleaded Prayed Preached

OH SHIT Gasped Marveled Screamed Screeched Shouted Shrieked Yelped Yelled

ANNOYED Grumbled Grunted Jeered Quipped Scolded Snapped Snarled Sneered

ANNOYING Nagged

I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER Guessed Ventured

I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM Hooted Howled Yowled

I WONDER Pondered Voiced Wondered

OH, YEAH, WHOOPS Recalled Recited Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH Revealed

IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD Scoffed Snickered Snorted

Qi Zai - the brown panda - at the Shaanxi Wildlife Research Center in China.