XXL (magazine)

XXL
Editor-in-Chief Fredo Ali
Categories Music magazine
Frequency Monthly
Publisher Townsquare Media
Year founded 1997
Country United States of America
Based in New York City, New York
Language English
Website www.XXLMag.com

XXL is an American hip hop magazine, published by Townsquare Media, founded in 1997.

History

In August 1997,[1] Harris Publications released the first issue of XXL. It featured rappers Jay-Z and Master P on a double cover.[2] In December 2006, XXL took over the struggling hip hop producer and DJ magazine Scratch (another publication owned by Harris Publications), re-branding it as XXL Presents Scratch Magazine. However Scratch shut down less than a year later in September 2007.

Other titles with limited runs have been launched under the XXL brand, including Hip-Hop Soul, Eye Candy and Shade45. XXL has released many other special projects including tour programs, mixtapes and exclusive DVDs. XXL also maintains a popular website, which provides daily hip hop news, original content and content from the magazine.[3]

In 2014, Townsquare Media acquired XXL,[4] King and Antenna from Harris Publications.

On October 14, 2014, Townsquare announced it would continue print publication of XXL.[5] In December 2014 the company reported that the magazine would be published on a monthly basis.[4]

Past editors

The magazine's past editors include Reginald C. Dennis (formerly of The Source), Sheena Lester (former editor-in-chief of RapPages and Vibe music editor), Elliott Wilson (formerly of ego trip and The Source, currently locked in at #7 slot on The Source's Digital 30 list.)[6][7] and Datwon Thomas (former editor-in-chief of King).

In May 2009, Datwon Thomas resigned from XXL and executive editor Vanessa Satten, who had been with XXL since 1998, was named the new Editor-in-Chief.[8]

Special releases

Magazine cover of XXL Presents Shade 45

In August 2005, Eminem and XXL teamed up to release a special issue titled XXL Presents Shade 45, and was designed to give maximum exposure to Shade 45 as a radio station, and at the same time give maximum exposure to the Shady Records label as a whole, as well as the radio DJ's and G-Unit Records' artists.

XXL executive Publisher, Jonathan Rheingold, stated that typically magazines based around particular artists were not favorable, but "since Shade 45 is a truly authentic and uncensored rap radio channel, the marriage with the XXL brand made sense," with the feeling that it is what would interest rap fans.[9]

In November 2008 XXL released XXL Raps Volume 1, which included music from 50 Cent, G-Unit, Common, Jim Jones, & Fabolous.[10]

In September 2006, XXL put a special 90 minute DVD called XXL DVD Magazine Vol. 1, which featured exclusive interviews and content with big name rappers such as 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Fat Joe, Paul Wall, & Mike Jones.[11]

On August 20, 2013 XXL released its 150th issue, also celebrating its sixteenth anniversary. The issue featured the first solo cover on the magazine from Drake, and rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and B.o.B reviewing classic albums.[2]

XXL Annual Freshman List

Beginning in 2007 (skipping 2008),[12] XXL releases its annual Top 10 Freshman list. The issue features ten artists-to-watch, all appearing on the cover of the magazine. The list has a history of showcasing unknown/underground rappers, as well as artists considered to be on the rise. The list creates significant buzz among listeners and artists alike, and is credited for giving many artists their first taste of fame.[13][14][15]

In 2013, XXL added an honorary 11th spot for Chicago rapper Chief Keef due to the artist being in a six-day jail stint and he wasn't able to attended the photo shoot in New York City.[16] In 2018, the list was reduced to nine artists following a refusal to appear from Pennsylvania rapper Lil Skies[17] who accused it of being "rigged."[18] Skies' replacement, Rich The Kid, declined the list also.[19][20]

Year Freshmen
2007Saigon, Plies, Rich Boy, Gorilla Zoe, Joell Ortiz, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Boosie, Crooked I, Papoose and Young Dro.[21]
2009Wale, B.o.B, Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth, Cory Gunz, Blu, Mickey Factz, Ace Hood, Curren$y and Kid Cudi.[22]
2010J. Cole, Pill, Nipsey Hussle, Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, OJ da Juiceman, Jay Rock, Fashawn and Donnis.[23]
2011Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Cyhi the Prynce, Lil Twist, Yelawolf, Fred the Godson, Mac Miller, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar and Diggy Simmons.[24]
2012Future, Kid Ink, Danny Brown, French Montana, Macklemore, Don Trip, Machine Gun Kelly, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea and Roscoe Dash.[25]
2013Schoolboy Q, Trinidad James, Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Logic, Action Bronson, Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott, Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze and Chief Keef.[lower-alpha 1][26]
2014Chance The Rapper, Rich Homie Quan, Isaiah Rashad, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk, Kevin Gates, Troy Ave, Vic Mensa, Jon Connor, Lil Bibby, Jarren Benton and August Alsina.[27]
2015 Fetty Wap, Dej Loaf, Raury, Kidd Kidd, OG Maco, Shy Glizzy, K Camp, Vince Staples, Tink and GoldLink.[28]
2016 Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, Denzel Curry, G Herbo, Dave East, Lil Dicky, Anderson Paak, Desiigner and 21 Savage.[29]
2017 Kamaiyah, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Aminé, Kap G, Kyle, Ugly God, MadeinTYO and XXXTentacion.[30]
2018 Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, J.I.D, Stefflon Don, BlocBoy JB, YBN Nahmir, Wifisfuneral and Trippie Redd.[lower-alpha 2][35]

Notes

  1. ↑ Chief Keef was added as an honorary 11th Spot due to a six-day jail stint that made him unable to attended the photo shoot in New York City.[16]
  2. ↑ The 10th Spot winner Lil Skies refused to attend the shoot after originally accepting the offer.[31][32] His replacement, Rich The Kid, declined the list also.[33][34]

References

  1. ↑ "Potential Markets". Freelance Writing. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Drake On The Cover Of XXL's 150th Issue". XXL mag. August 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Hip-Hop News, Rap Music". XXL. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Marc Schneider (December 18, 2014). "XXL Magazine to Print Quarterly Issues". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  5. ↑ Rob Markman (October 14, 2014). "Exclusive: XXL Magazine Isn't Going Out Of Print". MTV News. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ Jacobs, Allen (2008). "XXL Editor-in-Chief Elliott Wilson Fired". www.hiphopdx.com. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  7. ↑ Wolfe, Roman: "XXL Magazine Fires EIC Elliott Wilson", AllHipHop, 2008. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  8. ↑ Langhorne, Cyrus (May 27, 2009). "Former XXL Editor-In-Chief Looks Beyond Publication, "It Was A Hard Decision"". Sohh.Com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ Carl Chery (August 23, 2005). Eminem & Shade Collabo W/XXL For Special Radio Issue Archived June 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. SoHH.com. Accessed January 29, 2008.
  10. ↑ "XXL Raps, Vol. 1: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  11. ↑ "Saigon & Ice Cube I'm Talkin' To You - XXL". Xxlmag.com. September 11, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ Schwab, Isabel (June 4, 2015). "The 'XXL' Freshman Class List Is a Joke: Kidd Kidd, Iggy Azalea, and More Rap Lunacy". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Grading XXL's Top 10 Freshman List". Refinedhype. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  14. ↑ "2010 XXL Freshmen class". XXL. July 14, 2011.
  15. ↑ "2011 XXL Freshmen class". XXL. July 14, 2011.
  16. 1 2 "2013 XXL Freshman Issue Explained: Why Logic? Where's Chief Keef?". MTV News. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  17. ↑ "XXL Announces 2018 Freshman Class, With Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, Trippie Redd & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Lil Skies Says He Declined XXL Freshmen List Because It's Rigged". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  19. ↑ "Rich The Kid Says He "Happily Declined" The 2018 XXL Freshmen List". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  20. ↑ Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (2018-06-14), Editor-In-Chief Vanessa Statten Breaks Down 2018 XXL Freshman Cover, retrieved 2018-06-16
  21. ↑ "Where Are They Now?: 2007 Freshman Recap - XXL". XXL. March 27, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Where Are They Now?: 2009 Freshman Recap - XXL". XXL. March 24, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  23. ↑ "XXcLusive: XXL's 10 Freshmen for '10 Cover Revealed - XXL". XXL. March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  24. ↑ "XXL Presents 2011's Freshman Class - XXL". XXL. February 22, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  25. ↑ JP DelaCuesta (February 28, 2012). "XXL Reveals Cover For Its 2012 "Freshmen Class"". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  26. ↑ "XXL Freshman Class 2013 Cover Revealed - Page 2 of 2 - XXL". XXL. March 27, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  27. ↑ "XXL Freshman 2014 Cover and 10 Spot Revealed". XXL. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  28. ↑ "The Wait Is Over: Here Is the 2015 XXL Freshman Class". XXL. June 3, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  29. ↑ "It's Here: The 2016 XXL Freshman Class". XXL. June 13, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ "XXL Freshman 2017 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  31. ↑ "XXL Announces 2018 Freshman Class, With Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, Trippie Redd & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  32. ↑ "Lil Skies Says He Declined XXL Freshmen List Because It's Rigged". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  33. ↑ "Rich The Kid Says He "Happily Declined" The 2018 XXL Freshmen List". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  34. ↑ Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (2018-06-14), Editor-In-Chief Vanessa Statten Breaks Down 2018 XXL Freshman Cover, retrieved 2018-06-16
  35. ↑ "XXL Freshman 2018 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
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