street tape

Relics from the early days of hip-hop: physical copy cassette "mixtapes" rappers would give away on the street for free (rarely sell) to anyone willing. If it was good, people would give homemade copies to friends.

Can also refer to bootleg compilations and bootleg live rap show recordings.

Some of these curbside rappers tapes made it big: Bone Thugs "Faces of Death", Afroman "My Fro-losophy", Eazy-E "Boyz-n-the-Hood 86' / Dopeman", many Granfmaster Flash & the Furious Five live bootlegs etc.

"Those aren't homeless people, grandma; those are aspiring rappers peddling their street tapes."

"You ever hear the kendrick street tape from when he was a kid? 'Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)'?"

"You need a coaster for that drink? here's some shitty street tapes some dude was giving away on CD, use that. U can roll that blunt up on the cd case, too."