T.I. on next cover of XXL

This isn't Tip's first cover with XXL, but the inside story may be the most reveiling.

Where's the lion?

Minaj: Cover to Cover

If there was any doubt that Ms Minaj is the female rapper du jour, she has not only managed to bag the last cover of XXL (which she shared with Drake), but has now gone one better and taken the next cover of VIBE all for herself.

The XXL cover which she shared with Drake; slightly more tame than the VIBE cover (below)...

You can love her or hate her, but from the looks of these covers, you have to respect her!

Diddy gets an XXL cover

When the likes of 50 cent and Jay-Z have about 10 XXL covers each, it may come as a suprise to hear that Diddy has never graced XXL's glossy front cover. Sure, he may not match the lyrical and commercial success of the fore-mentioned - but not even one! With all the entrepreneurial, and yes, musical contributions he's made to Hip Hop; I think he deserves this one. Should be a good read.

June 2010

XXL Freshmen mixtape

As I blogged before, XXL magazine is soon to release its annual Freshmen edition. This last month has seen them host some short freestyles from the finalists, but just to keep us even more hyped with anticipation comes the XXL Freshmen mixtape, featuring 17 new tracks from all the artists featured in the magazine. Tracks from: Pill, Jay Rock, Nipsey Hu$$le, Big Sean, Fashawn, Freddie Gibbs, Whiz Khalifa, J Cole, OJ Da Juiceman have been nicely packaged together by the lovely DJ Whoo Kid for our listening pleasure!

Get the download link here

Thanks XXL!

XXL COVER

It's that time of year again: XXL are soon to release their "Freshmen of 2010" cover. In anticipation they have been dropping short freestyles from all the listed artists, which you can check on the website. Here's the cover...



Unfortunately, us UK folk will probably have to wait a little while longer before it hits our shelves, but hold on in there.

Who do you rate from this line-up?

Fashawn...XXL Freshman

Another of XXL's picks for Freshemen of 2010. Really like this guy, and I still haven't got Boy meets world.


Check his freestyle

XXL Freshman

Every year my fave mag XXL list their 'Top 10 Freshmen class'. It's 2010; the countdown has begun!

So far...

1 = Pill


2 = Wiz Khalifa


Now, I can see why these guys have made the list but, in my opinion neither even compare lyrically to Proto!! Right? Next year...next year!