Art by Mika Väisänen

Chris Daly is a Handsome Boy graduate.

While we could debate endlessly what makes a “good” mixtape, we all can agree the best starting point is to have some deep crates and an excellent ear for what sounds sound great together.  Having produced some of the greatest music in the history of hip-hop probably doesn’t hurt one’s standing in the pantheon of top mixes, either.  Prince Paul’s latest, “It’s Not the Size of Your Mix, It’s How You Use It,” inarguably hits on all the right “excellent mixtape” cylinders.

Whether he’s simply between gigs with one of his numerous bands (who isn’t ready for a Stetsasonic reunion?) or hasn’t decided which legend he wants to produce next, Mr. Paul Edward Huston has hosted a new, roughly 45 minute jam of classics and seldom heards on his Mixcloud account.  In his own words, the mix “is a collection of songs that I never get to hear outside of my iPod . I based this mix on songs I like to listen to not artist or popularity.”  In other words, you’re as likely to hear comedy sketches as you are old school BDP, but don’t expect too much (read: virtually any) top 40 fluff here.  While the emphasis clearly is on boom bap for the old heads, His Royal Paulness has seldom worked on anything that didn’t groove with the best of them, and “It’s Not the Size…” continues his run of incredible hip-hop projects. As if this gift from seemingly nowhere wasn’t enough, PP also announced that this is likely the first in a series of mixtapes he’ll drop in 2015.