Many find it hard to believe, but there was a time when Hip Hop music did not dominate all the charts as well as have artist cross-over to pop status. Long before the days of platinum and gold success, a rapper’s worth was in the DJ’s placement within his mix. As the art form fought for legitimization, DJ’s were recording their performances and customizing music mixes for their loyal fanbase, not only to make financial ends meet, but to also lay the groundwork for the street-based culture. Ultimately, it would be the growing popularity and increased necessity of The Mixtapes created by Dj’s that would serve as the lifeline to Hip Hop, as it grew into the most celebrated art form.