To say that the music industry has changed since the popularization of the Internet would be a bit of an understatement. Just a lil’ bit. The American Gangster ReMixtape Contest we ran is a pretty astounding example of just how far things have come in the past decade or so. In less than a month – December no less – we received nearly 130 full remix albums. 10 years ago, this just wasn’t possible.

Between the advancements of beat making software and the Internet, the playing field has definitely been leveled in a lot of ways. Anyone can get their beats out there nowadays. Largely to my surprise, these weren’t mostly bargain basement beats either. With so many submissions I was expecting the vast majority, 80 or 90 at least, to be terrible. Sure, there were some really bad ones, but narrowing it down to the 5 best was damn near impossible. This is why it is now 10 to vote on incidentally. But on the real, the last 20 or 25 that didn’t make the cut were real dope and were very difficult not to include.

Just like all the color coded Black Album’s a few years ago, producers had a theme to work with and we had no shortage of variations with plenty of creativity. There were American Cowboys, Canadian Gangsters, European Gangsters, Jamaican, Nigerian, French, British, Latin, Hispanic, Southern, Ethiopian, Animated, Suburban and Brazilian one’s. Other exclusively sampled or mashed up Jay’s vocals with other artists’ work; Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Pink Floyd, Daft Punk, Led Zeppelin, U2, 2Pac, 80’s pop songs, British rock and even sampling nothing but cartoon theme songs.

HipHopDX would like to thank all of you for participating and congratulate everyone who made the final 10. Now, get your vote on.

Click on the title to download and listen.

The Breax - Eye Am Gangster

Otitis – American Gangster Otitis Remix

Big Syphe & DJ Kemo Present – Jay-Z American Vanguards Remixtape

Remot – American Gangster Remixed

Sal The Savior – The Gangster & The Savior

SoulKlap – A Soulful American Gangster

K-Def - Real Live Gangster

Von Pea – American Angster

Hannibal King & Blackfist Productions Present Jay-Z vs. Sinatra – American Gangsters

Jay-Z vs. Elvis Presley – Billboard Gangsters – The Cookin Soul Remixes