There is a fine, confusing line that separates hip hop artists’ studio albums and mixtapes.

Mixtapes, at least recently, have been an artist’s collection of non-formal songs that weren’t recorded in a studio.

Artists typically release mixtapes to exhibit their recent work. In doing this, they are free from record company guidelines on what they can release.

Mixtapes are a more collaborative form of an album, so they usually have more songs with featured artists.

Studio albums bring in a lot of income for artists as well as their labels, but mixtapes are sometimes released for free online. This way, the artist can get new music out to fans for free.

Additionally, songs can be released whenever an artist feels they’re ready. Mixtapes are more about the artist and less about the profit.

Junior Delano Jackson prefers mixtapes because of free content.

“Mixtapes mainly aren’t pointed at money,” he said. “They’re usually used just to show the music.”