ThisMixtapes as we knew it are dead. Dropping song and visuals on Youtube and DSPs is the wave with the target demographic.
Think about it, they drop a mixtape of 12 songs only for maybe 2 or 3 to really stick. But if you keep dropping songs, each song gets it's own time to shine. And that helps with touring also.
Foogiano dropped a mixtape with 17 songs and at best 2 might be remembered now.
Visuals>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>mixtapes
It's been years (the blog rap era) since an actual full mixtape put a Black artist on. Now it's almost always particular songs that put people on (Kodak, Cardi, City Girls, etc). Even with Youngboy it was the videos to "38 Baby" that made peoole check out that mixtape.
These young cats not making any money off sales... No need to drop an album or a mixtape less its a label obligation
Get yo youtube money, put out 10-15 songs throughout the year with visuals thats gonna blow up n get yo show money