Mixtape Shmixtape

Those in no hurry to abandon CDs are advised to check out one of the many collections from a current favorite, Richmond's DJ Juice (www.djjuice.biz). One of the Bay Area's most respected and prolific mixtape jocks, he offers blends of R&B and hip hop, many with a particular focus on local artists.

In the meantime, though, here's a couple of free, downloadable mixes we've recently enjoyed:

Sergio

October Mix

(www.sergioaudio.com/MP3/Sergio-October82006Mix.mp3)

SF Weekly Music Awards Winner Sergio offers up a free mix every month on his Web site similar to the soulful dance music he plays weekly on KALX. The most recent installment blends a lively dancefloor re-work of Del The Funky Homosapien's classic Yay Area hip-hop cut "Mista Dobalina" with dusty disco grooves straight from the house of Salsoul.

Scott Tinetti

SF Mixtape #2

(sf.insomniaradio.net/articles/page.imp?articleid=2051)

When staffers were temporarily unable to record a live podcast for Internet station Insomnia Radio, Tinetti slipped in this blend of mellow and mind-bending down-tempo offerings as a last-minute save. Local acts include Halou, i am jen, and Mentalward. Hooray for happy accidents. I f anything in music has a mutating definition, it's the mixtape. It wasn't that long ago that a mixtape meant a collection of songs on cassette, but that notion was relegated to antiquated status a few years ago in favor of a near-universal switch to CDs by those selling their "for promotional use only" DJ sets. If recent history is any indication, it shouldn't be much longer before the CD mixtape is supplanted by the MP3 mixtape.