10 Classic R&B Mixtapes You Definitely Need

Take a moment to add these bangers to your iTunes library.

Music Bliss - While Kendrick Lamar’s awesome To Pimp a Butterfly dominated much of the water cooler convo Monday morning, Tinashe dropped a musical gem of her own that same day. Named for her birthstone, the L.A. rep’s fourth freebie project, Amethyst, follows up her impressive debut LP Aquarius with seven new tracks of Tinashe’s slinky mood music.While you download the 22-year-old’s latest, make sure these 10 other must-have R&B mixtapes have a home in your iTunes library. — John Kennedy

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Music Bliss - While Kendrick Lamar’s awesome To Pimp a Butterfly dominated much of the water cooler convo Monday morning, Tinashe dropped a musical gem of her own that same day. Named for her birthstone, the L.A. rep’s fourth freebie project, Amethyst, follows up her impressive debut LP Aquarius with seven new tracks of Tinashe’s slinky mood music.While you download the 22-year-old’s latest, make sure these 10 other must-have R&B mixtapes have a home in your iTunes library. — John Kennedy

nostalgia, ULTRA, Frank Ocean - With a rich, vintage soul voice and a pen that could cut glass, Frank Ocean entranced music lovers by showcasing the softer side of Odd Future. Somber love songs like “Swim Good” and “Songs for Women” hit you right in the sternum, while the idealism of “We All Try” is wonderfully refreshing.(Photo: Frank Ocean Music)

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nostalgia, ULTRA, Frank Ocean - With a rich, vintage soul voice and a pen that could cut glass, Frank Ocean entranced music lovers by showcasing the softer side of Odd Future. Somber love songs like “Swim Good” and “Songs for Women” hit you right in the sternum, while the idealism of “We All Try” is wonderfully refreshing.(Photo: Frank Ocean Music)

House of Balloons, The Weeknd - The launch of The Weeknd’s maiden mixtape in 2011 was cryptic: Is it one guy or a group? What does he (they?) look like? Where’s the missing “e”? But you couldn’t question Abel Tesfaye’s hypnotizing, emo vibes that would become the perfect muse for Drake’s Take Care album later that year.(Photo: XO Records)

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House of Balloons, The Weeknd - The launch of The Weeknd’s maiden mixtape in 2011 was cryptic: Is it one guy or a group? What does he (they?) look like? Where’s the missing “e”? But you couldn’t question Abel Tesfaye’s hypnotizing, emo vibes that would become the perfect muse for Drake’s Take Care album later that year.(Photo: XO Records)

Sailing Soul(s), Jhené Aiko - We got our first glimpse at Jhené’s cutting, personal songwriting — with a touch of THC — on Sailing Soul(s). Kendrick Lamar and Miguel make appearances while a Drake loosie is co-opted, all suggestive company for the Def Jam singer’s future success.(Photo: Def Jam)

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Sailing Soul(s), Jhené Aiko - We got our first glimpse at Jhené’s cutting, personal songwriting — with a touch of THC — on Sailing Soul(s). Kendrick Lamar and Miguel make appearances while a Drake loosie is co-opted, all suggestive company for the Def Jam singer’s future success.(Photo: Def Jam)

Anticipation, Trey Songz - This musical foreplay to Ready set in motion Trey Songz's 2009 vault to the top of R&B.(Photo: Trey Songz Music)

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Anticipation, Trey Songz - This musical foreplay to Ready set in motion Trey Songz's 2009 vault to the top of R&B.(Photo: Trey Songz Music)

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The Rundown: Chris Brown x Tyga, Fan of a Fan: The Album - Picking back up after the success of their 2010 joint mixtape, Tyga and Chris Brown try to catch lightening in a bottle once again with the release their first official collaborative album Fan of a Fan. Peep the track-by-track breakdown now as the dynamic duo get it in.— Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: RCA Records)

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Fan of a Fan, Chris Brown and Tyga - Chris Brown’s first crawl to redemption after assaulting Rihanna came via his 2010 collaborative mixtape with Cali rapper Tyga. Together, they yielded one of the greatest modern breakup anthems with “Deuces.”(Photo: RCA Records)

Cut 4 Me, Kelela - The fact that this 31-year-old dreadlocked singer from D.C. isn’t yet a commercial star is mind boggling. Her critically loved mixtape rides the waves of love, lust and heartbreak over metallic, progressive production.(Photo: Fade To Mind Records)

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Cut 4 Me, Kelela - The fact that this 31-year-old dreadlocked singer from D.C. isn’t yet a commercial star is mind boggling. Her critically loved mixtape rides the waves of love, lust and heartbreak over metallic, progressive production.(Photo: Fade To Mind Records)

Late Nights With Jeremih, Jeremih - True to its title, Jeremih’s no-pants-dance soundtrack is best played during booty-call hours.(Photo: Def Jam)

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Late Nights With Jeremih, Jeremih - True to its title, Jeremih’s no-pants-dance soundtrack is best played during booty-call hours.(Photo: Def Jam)

Beach House 2, Ty Dolla $ign - Powered by DJ Mustard’s electro bounce and Ty Dolla $ign’s signature brand of ratchet&B, Beach House 2 shies away from romantic records in favor of songs about side chicks (“Paranoid”).(Photo: Taylor Gang, Atlantic Records)

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Beach House 2, Ty Dolla $ign - Powered by DJ Mustard’s electro bounce and Ty Dolla $ign’s signature brand of ratchet&B, Beach House 2 shies away from romantic records in favor of songs about side chicks (“Paranoid”).(Photo: Taylor Gang, Atlantic Records)

1977, The-Dream - The-Dream bleeds the aftermath of his divorce from Christina Milian onto this tender project that was later repackaged and sold by Def Jam.(Photo: Radio Killa, Def Jam)

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1977, The-Dream - The-Dream bleeds the aftermath of his divorce from Christina Milian onto this tender project that was later repackaged and sold by Def Jam.(Photo: Radio Killa, Def Jam)

Call Me Crazy But..., Sevyn Streeter - Making an exception here, this sassy debut EP pushed Sevyn from songwriter to a spotlight of her own, plotting the stages of a failed relationship while gifting ladies with an acronym to combat “THOT” (See: “B.A.N.S.”).(Photo: CBE/Atlantic Records)

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Call Me Crazy But..., Sevyn Streeter - Making an exception here, this sassy debut EP pushed Sevyn from songwriter to a spotlight of her own, plotting the stages of a failed relationship while gifting ladies with an acronym to combat “THOT” (See: “B.A.N.S.”).(Photo: CBE/Atlantic Records)