YoungstaCPT On Why He Releases More Mixtapes Than Albums

YoungstaCPT On Why He Releases More Mixtapes Than Albums. YoungstaCPT has opened up about his long-standing preference for mixtapes, explaining that the financial demands and industry infrastructure required to release a traditional album make the format difficult to sustain as an independent artist.

Speaking in a recent interview, the rapper argued that not every music project should automatically be labelled an album. In his view, an album is an official body of work that requires the backing of a label, distributor, marketing team or other industry support.

“An album is a body of work. It is an official release, right? It should be backed by a record label, a distributor, marketing, something like that,” he said. “If you don’t have that behind it, it cannot be classed as an album that year. Not really.”

For YoungstaCPT, the financial side of releasing albums has played a major role in his approach to music. The rapper described himself as an entrepreneur who has to carefully consider where his money goes, particularly when an album requires significant investment in production, distribution and promotion.

“Can you just imagine I put all that money into one album, but I did it 36 times. I’d be bankrupt. You wouldn’t see me sitting in this building,” he explained.

That reality has made mixtapes a more practical way for him to consistently put out music without taking on the same financial burden associated with a fully backed album.

YoungstaCPT also questioned the direction of the modern music industry, suggesting that the focus has increasingly shifted away from complete bodies of work and towards individual singles.

“I don’t think artists care about it anymore,” he said. “I think now it’s more about singles. Single, single, single, single, single. One works. When that one works, you repeat the formula.”

According to the rapper, that approach can come at the expense of sequencing, storytelling and the overall craft that goes into creating a cohesive project. He pointed to a recent release that received little attention as an example of how difficult it can be for full projects to compete in the current listening environment.

Technology has also changed how audiences discover and consume music. YoungstaCPT believes the convenience of digital platforms and recommendation systems has made listening more passive, with algorithms increasingly influencing what audiences hear.

“It don’t take effort for you to find that seed, that body of work anymore. You just go on your phone, and you press add. It gives you the whole album. You didn’t even get out of bed,” he said.

For YoungstaCPT, however, mixtapes remain an important part of his creative process. The format gives him room to continue releasing music while working within the financial realities of being an independent artist.

His argument ultimately reflects a wider conversation about what defines an album in the streaming era and whether carefully constructed bodies of work still receive the same attention they once did. For YoungstaCPT, mixtapes are not simply an alternative to albums. They are a sustainable way to keep creating in an industry increasingly driven by singles, algorithms and instant consumption.