Can cassette tapes make a comeback?

JOHANNESBURG - American rap star Eminem has made a new release of his "The Slim Shady LP" in the form of a cassette.

According to an online television report, an autographed collection of the tapes, which includes a bundle with a T-shirt and a 3-D motion print cover has already sold out.

He announced the re-release in a tweet last week, sparking a fairly sceptical response from fans.



@Eminem man wtf is this, my cassette player is long gone.

- . (@AtraManus) March 5, 2016

@Eminem c'mon Em nobody uses cassettes anymore — Sign ☮ the Times (@poproyaltystan) March 4, 2016

One tweep asked where on earth they would even get a cassette player, but the 1999 album is clearly a hit regardless of its outdated form.

@Athecheat @Eminem I feel like I'm 18 again — Truly Awesome Darren (@TheTrueDocLove) March 6, 2016



@Eminem Fantastic, finally my tape deck in my 2002 CR-V will be used for the first time @Honda

- Kyle (@world_nomad24) March 5, 2016

@Eminem I love this idea. Take us back to the old school way. I still got my cassette player 😊 — IAm Woman Of Worth☔️ (@Uniquely_sweet_) March 5, 2016

In South Africa, online classifieds like OLX and Gumtree are somewhat proof of a continued demand for cassette tapes and other related devices.

Gumtree's Estelle Nagel says "We are seeing them slowly coming back into vogue, with more and more searches popping up for cassette players as users get nostalgic over their "mix tape from the 80s". This bodes well because a few years ago, vinyl LPs were selling for a few rands each (if at all) but today they are considered an extremely hot commodity and sell out very fast at high prices on Gumtree."

She says it's mostly popular with adults with nostalgia.

"It's a pattern that keeps repeating itself. Individuals who are up and coming and earning well get nostalgic over the things they enjoyed as children or teenagers (whether it was their early 90s boombox or 80s troll dolls). They now have the means to purchase these items at inflated prices. My advice would be to hold on to your old tape deck players and VCRs…you never know when the boom will happen."

Will you be purchasing Eminem's new release?