The Purple Tape and I celebrate our birthdays tomorrow. Up North Trips is already one step ahead...
Only a handful of pieces of nostalgia come to mind which have a stronger association to an artist's legacy than Raekwon's Purple Tape. Twenty years from now in Hip Hop's Museum, located on a shelf placed between one of Jam Master Jay's fat gold rope chains and Flava Flav's clock, will we find that purple colored cassette. Seventeen years from the date of its release, "The Purple Tape" is more popular of a term to describe Rae's debut than the album's title itself. The Chef describes how the idea to color the cassette was influenced by the crack game. He explains how back in the day, during his hustling days, it was customary for dealers to identify their product by using colored vial tops. In one of the most genius marketing moves of Hip Hop's era, Rae decided to adopt this same method for his debut release. At the time, i'm sure, not Raekwon nor the Marketing Department at Loud could've envisioned the impact of this decision, and now fifteen years removed, it's saga continues. Even with the demise of the cassette format, its still one of the most sought after cassettes by Hip Hop memorabiliists, tape heads, and cassette collectors [the OG cassette is now up on Ebay for $260.00]
For the anniversary of the legendary release, we decided to pay tribute, The Up North Trips way. So we put together a dope mix of grape tinted classics for your listening pleasure. Now let's get purple like Grimace or Barney...
