XXL Asks: Is Birdman Hip-Hop’s Last True Hip-Hop Mogul?

Birdman -- aka Baby, the co-founder of Cash Money Records -- positioned his down south imprint at the top of the music industry in the late 1990s, landing a $30 million distribution deal with Universal and rolling out platinum acts, such as the Hot Boys, Lil Wayne, and Juvenile. However, after his biggest acts left (Juvenile, B.G., and the Hot Boys), and before Weezy rose to prominent position that he holds today, it forced the label owner to start over...
XXL Freshman Class Mixtape 2011
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Download: XXL, DJ Whoo Kid – 2011’s Freshman Class: The Mixtape

Every year, hip-hop fans and the industry itself anxiously await the release of XXL's new "Freshman Class" issue, and 2011 was no different. After dropping the list of newcomers to watch for in the new year this February, the mag is further celebrating the honor with a free mixtape, which they unleashed on Wednesday (March 23) on their official website, XXLMag.com. XXL linked up with mixtape king, DJ Whoo Kid, for the second year...

Lil B, Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar Among XXL’s 2011 Freshman Class

Over the last few years, XXL's "Freshman Class" as become a list to watch for among hip-hop fans. The highly anticipated 2011 grads have finally been revealed. Usually, it's 10, but this year the long-running mag chose 11. Although the cover leaked nearly a month ago, the official list was just this week. The 11 rappers XXL thinks you should watch are: Lil Twist, CyHi Da Prynce, Big K.R.I.T., Meek Mill, Diggy Simmons...

Kanye West Pens New XXL Cover Story, Opens Up About Taylor Swift Incident

Kanye West has always seemed to have a love and hate relationship with the media, simply because he feels his words are taken out of context or misunderstood. But, if something is taken the wrong way in the new cover story for the October issue of XXL, he'll only have himself to blame. Why? Because he penned the piece himself...

Shyne Freestyle Live From Belize

Shyne's getting ready for his return so XXL gave him the cover of their upcoming September "Real Street Issue". The mag's editor-in-chief, Vanessa Satten, traveled to Belize for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Shyne Po, during which they shot a lot of video footage. Here's a piece of the footage of the rapper walking through the third world country, takes pics with the kids, and spits a freestyle.

Gucci Mane Checks In From Jail — Talks Buzz, Sober Living

It's been only a few months since Gucci Mane was sentenced to prison for a probation violation, but he's been able to reflect in that short time. In a recent interview with XXL, the rapper looks back on his quick rise in music over the past year, the journey leading to his heightened buzz...
Rosa Acosta
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Rosa Acosta Named XXL’s 2009 Eye Candy of the Year

Each year XXL magazine honors the women we see in music videos throughout the course of the present year. After weeding through the countless beauties, one woman is awarded the annual Eye Candy of the Year honors. So, without further adieu 2009's winner is: Rosa Acosta.

XXL Names BallerStatus.com A “Top 100 Hip-Hop Website”

Our owner Jay Casteel was recently profiled in a recent issue of Hip Hop Weekly, for their Web Watch Feature, and now XXL is recognizing BallerStatus.com as one of the Top 100 Hip-Hop Websites, via a feature in their upcoming December/January issue with 50 Cent on the cover.

Jay-Z Says The Game and Jim Jones Are No Competition

Jay-Z has become the target of attacks as of late. While Jim Jones has always disliked the Brooklyn rapper, The Game has been on the war path, calling out Jay at a string of concert appearances. In a new interview with XXL, Jay explains why he doesn't respond.

Dollicia Bryan Named XXL’s Eye Candy Of The Year

XXL's Eye Candy of the Year is always a big deal for rising models and video girls. If you win it, that means you are the hottest to do it, as far as hip-hop videos are concerned. For 2008, the honor goes to Dollicia Bryan.

Elliott Wilson: Checkin’ In With YN (Pt. 2)

Elliott Wilson might not be the Editor-In-Chief of XXL anymore, but as he stated in the previous Ballerstatus.com installment, his focus right now is on "Miss Rap Supreme," the latest project from the mind squad of ego trip.

Elliott Wilson: Checkin’ In With YN (Pt. 1)

In the first installment of this Ballerstatus.com exclusive, Wilson shares what he learned in the earlier part of his journalism career, discusses his departure from his Editor-In-Chief post at XXL magazine, and weighs in on his future in journalism.