There are more and more of them every day, but I’m still not sure what to make of mixtapes comprised of original material. What’s the harm in calling them albums or EPs?
Charli XCX contributed to the categorization confusion earlier this month with the release of Super Ultra, a mixtape featuring eight new tracks and an equal number of producers.
Now there’s a music video for its lead track, “Cloud Aura,” which features some rapping from Brooke Candy, co-star of Grimes’ absolutely bonkers “Genesis” video. And just as mixtapes flout convention, the Ryan Andrews-directed clip for “Cloud Aura” is very nearly a compilation of GIFs (Britney Spears, Honey Boo Boo, Lauren Conrad of The Hills, Sissy Spacek in Carrie, et al). Oh, those kids today:
The “Cloud Aura” chorus is a cousin to Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!),” no?
Free download of Charli XCX feat. Brooke Candy – “Cloud Aura” (featured on the Super Ultra mixtape) via her website.