G-Unit "God's Plan" (Mixed by DJ Whoo Kid, 2002)

God's Plan is the third mixape released by G-Unit. It was initially distributed as an independent release on November 1, 2002, but was later re-released in 2006 by BCD Music Group. God's Plan emerged during a prolific era for G-Unit, preceding 50 Cent's official debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', in 2003. The mixtape features a collection of tracks where the group showcased their lyricism over instrumentals from other artists. This approach of reinterpreting existing beats allowed G-Unit to infuse familiar sounds with their distinct style, creating a unique listening experience that resonated with fans. The cultural importance of God's Plan extends beyond its tracks. By rapping over instrumentals from other artists and releasing it for free, 50 Cent and G-Unit helped create a model that other artists would later follow. In recognition of its impact, God's Plan was named the 9th best mixtape ever by XXL magazine. God's Plan not only showcased G-Unit's raw talent and adaptability but also underscored their strategic approach to music distribution, challenging traditional industry norms and paving the way for a new era in hip-hop. By the time God’s Plan dropped, 50 Cent was already building a strong buzz from Guess Who’s Back? and 50 Cent Is the Future. But God’s Plan was another level—it made it clear that he wasn’t just an underground sensation; he was about to take over mainstream rap. The energy, the aggressive delivery, and the raw storytelling on God’s Plan were all previews of what he’d refine on Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which went on to be a classic (certified 9x Platinum as of 2020). Listen to God's Plan...

Where does God's Plan place in your favorite mixtapes?

Prodigy "H.N.I.C" (Mixtape, 2000)

"In 2000, before Prodigy released his official solo debut album, H.N.I.C., he teamed up with DJ Whoo Kid to drop his first ever solo mixtape called H.N.I.C. Pt. 1. The tape, hosted by the two, featured unreleased exclusives and never-before-heard freestyles from Prodigy. Whoo Kid recalls Prodigy's respect for the DJ, saying: "He was a fan of the DJ, so he was a fan of Clue, a fan of me, a fan of Cutmaster C, all the Queens DJs that was out there ... Prodigy was actually the first one to give me album cuts that aren’t finished. He did like, maybe a few freestyles, but it was mostly unfinished versions of other Mobb Deep songs, Havoc cuts. It was kind of bugged out." The mixtape had songs Prodigy did with Alchemist that were never released, so when they dropped the tape, it caused issues between Whoo Kid and Alchemist "because Prodigy was the type who didn’t care about getting permission to release his own shit." ...  Remembering what made Prodigy so unique, Whoo Kid points to P's unique delivery as a distinction. "Whenever you’d hear Prodigy come on, you know, Havoc was the cool nigga, he’s in the back, he got his verses or whatever, but when you finally hear Prodigy come on, he was believable. His voice, his cadence, made you want to do what you gotta do, because of the way he was dealing with his sickness. His sickness came out into the music." - XXL

DJ Whoo Kid & Stretch Armstrong "Unbreakable" (Mixtape, 2001)

After the success of DJ Whoo Kid & Stretch Armstrong's Murda Mixtape series, they returned to collaborate on Unbreakable, a mixtape released in 2001. The mix stands out in my mind because it highlighted the then-beef between House of Pain's Everlast and Eminem, who exchanged a few shots back and forth on record. It's interesting when you consider that the mix tape was Hosted by Eminem, lol. I guess it's clear where they fell on the beef. The rest of the mix includes freestyles from Em, D12, Prodigy and Franchise, as well as tracks from Xzibit, Beanie Sigel, Snoop Dogg, Sticky Fingaz, Memphis Bleek, Black Rob, Nature, Capone-N-Noreaga, Shyne, Dr. Dre & more. Listen below...

DJ Whoo Kid "Murda Mixtape" (Mixtape, 2000)

DJ Whoo Kid's Tape Kingz release of Murda Mixtape 2000. The mix features a terrible intro, but lots of solid cuts from Nature, Jay-Z, Raekwon, The LOX, 50 Cent, Kurupt, DMX, Shyne, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Drag-On, Eminem, Nas, 2Pac, Mobb Deep, and more. The tape highlights beef and personal attacks like The Lox vs. Puffy, DMX vs Kurupt, Jay-Z vs 50 Cent and others. I'm not the biggest fan of Whoo Kid tapes, but take the good with the bad, it's got some joints on it. Updated.

Tape Kingz "15th Anniversary" (Mixtape, 2004)

Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Tape Kingz (in 2004), DJ Envy, Green Lantern, DJ Kayslay, Doo Wop, Dirty Harry, DJ Whoo Kid, and DJ Pudgee P collaborated on this Shady Records exclusive mixtape. Along with the mixtape was the message: "Special thanks to all the DJs who gave their time for Tape Kingz 15th Anniversary CD. Thanks to all the DJs that we have featured over the last 15 years. Most of all, extra special thanks to the supporters of the mixtape scene... From the record company execs leaking stuff to the DJs, to the artists who contribute to and support mixtapes and to the fans who cop the CDs." Iain McNee, the owner of Brooklyn-based Tape Kingz, once said: "It's totally illegal, but in rap industry music law, it's totally legal and a vital part of rap music." An incredibly storied tradition of releasing some of the most influential mixtapes, I wanted to post up this anniversary mix for those may have missed it back in '04. The mix features tracks from Big Pun, Fat Joe, 2Pac, Ason, David Banner, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, The Game, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Nas, Papoose, Buckshot, Mobb Deep, The Notorious B.I.G., M.O.P., Joe Budden, and a lot more. Updated audio link.