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If you’ve ever used a No. 2 pencil to desperately try to reel a slack cassette tape back into play mode or felt the doom gloom over one your boombox ate from hitting rewind a few too many times (*enter sound of fave song screeching at supersonic speed*), you’re probably at once in shock and in your feelings to learn those playback tapes are again popular.
Apparently we all somehow stepped into Doc’s time machine a la Back to the Future and landed squarely in the ’80s and ’90s. Despite the fact the compact cassette is quite literally the only mode of music that doesn’t allow an auto-jump between tracks without tedium, the retro tape is all the rage. Here, a handful of the top tapes carrying value beyond nostalgia.
Ten | Pearl Jam: “Jeremy has spoken,” indeed. The subculture Seattle band’s debut cassette—spawning the grunge era and all those flannels and baggie jeans you wore then (or now)—inspired a generation with its 15+ million copies sold, and now grabs upward of $4K as a sealed first pressing.
Nevermind | Nirvana: Two words: Kurt Cobain (RIP). Billed by many as the ultimate grunge gerents of the Seattle battle (perhaps the bill on the cover art was an omen?), Nirvana’s stripped-back sound, well, smelled like teen spirit. The iconic alt-rock sophomore album reels in ~$1,500, while an unsealed can still grab $50 and up.
Madonna | Madonna: Bangles and black lace have reentered the chat. Count your lucky stars—turns out the Material Girl has earned that “Queen of Reinvention” nickname, so now maybe you can go on holiday. The self-titled debut album, which spent 168 weeks on the charts, can still pull a pretty penny sealed (up to $350) and used (~$65 to top sellers).
Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys: The genre-bending “rhymin’ and stealin’” ’80s debut album lit up the charts. A sealed copy of the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard 200—and only ’80s one to become certified diamond—can net up to $1,500.
Ready to Die | The Notorious B.I.G.: Whether or not he’s still “alive” IRL—he’s alive in our hearts and on the charts—even reppin’ on toddler tees (for real). A “notorious” version of Big Poppa’s debut hip-hop cassette—and the only complete one by the legend in his lifetime—will grab ~$600 sealed, but even a used one can nab a cool $90. East Coast, beast coast!
Doggystyle | Snoop Dogg: Lodi dodi we likes to party. Snoop Dogg’s No. 1 debut entree to the pound is still the “shiznit”—from breaking sales records in its first week to bringing “West Coast, best coast” hip-hop vibes mainstream. Sealed versions will score as much as $500, while used can still earn up to $60.
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