Mixtapes and albums are both musical releases, but they differ in several ways. Here are the key differences between mixtapes and albums:

Mixtape:

• A mixtape is a compilation of songs created by an artist, usually a hip-hop artist.
• Mixtapes are produced casually and are given away for free.
• They are often referred to as "street albums" and are considered a rarity for a record store to carry.
• Mixtapes can be a combination of any genre of music, but they are largely identified throughout the hip-hop community.
• They are typically more limited in length than albums and fall into the category of an EP.
• Mixtapes can be less organized than albums and may not have a coherent theme.

Album:

• An album is a professionally produced, artistically focused lineup of songs that belong together in one place.
• They are usually of higher quality, more structured, and released for profit.
• Albums are often released through a label and sold in retailers, major streaming apps/radio, and have a publicity tour of some sort.
• They are more polished and produced in a way to monetize directly from the singles released.
• Albums are a coherent collection of songs that move within a certain theme or work together as a whole.
• They are often about a time in the artists life, an event, or songs featuring stories or ideas relating to the same idea.

In summary, mixtapes are typically free, casual, and less organized than albums, while albums are professionally produced, structured, and released for profit. Mixtapes can be a combination of any genre of music, while albums are often focused on a specific theme or idea.