XXL (magazine)

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

XXL
Editor-in-ChiefFredo Ali
CategoriesMusic magazine
FrequencyMonthly
PublisherTownsquare Media
Year founded1997
CountryUnited States of America
Based inNew York City, New York
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.XXLMag.com
ISSN1093-0647

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 The Beat Down Newspaper, 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 DJs 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]

Annual Freshman Class List

Beginning in 2007 (skipping 2008),[12] XXL releases its annual "Freshman Class" 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 marketing buzz among listeners and artists alike, and is credited for giving many artists their first taste of fame.[13][14][15]

The 10th spot winners are highlighted in bold.

Year Freshmen
2007[a]Saigon, Plies, Rich Boy, Gorilla Zoe, Joell Ortiz, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Boosie, Crooked I, Papoose and Young Dro.[16]
2009[a]Wale, B.o.B, Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth, Cory Gunz, Blu, Mickey Factz, Ace Hood, Currensy and Kid Cudi.[17]
2010[a]J. Cole, Pill, Nipsey Hussle, Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, OJ da Juiceman, Jay Rock, Fashawn and Donnis.[18]
2011[a]Meek 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.[19]
2012Future, Kid Ink, Danny Brown, French Montana, Macklemore, Don Trip, Machine Gun Kelly, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea and Roscoe Dash.[20]
2013ScHoolboy Q, Trinidad James, Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Logic, Action Bronson, Kirko Bangz, Travis Scott, Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze and Chief Keef.[21][22]
2014Chance The Rapper, Rich Homie Quan, Isaiah Rashad, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Durk, Kevin Gates, Troy Ave, Vic Mensa, Jon Connor, Lil Bibby, Jarren Benton and August Alsina.[23]
2015 Fetty Wap, Dej Loaf, Raury, Kidd Kidd, OG Maco, Shy Glizzy, K Camp, Vince Staples, Tink and GoldLink.[24]
2016 Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, Denzel Curry, G Herbo, Dave East, Lil Dicky, Anderson Paak, Desiigner and 21 Savage.[25]
2017 Kamaiyah, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Aminé, Kap G, Kyle, Ugly God, MadeinTYO and XXXTentacion.[26]
2018[b] Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, JID, Stefflon Don, BlocBoy JB, YBN Nahmir, Wifisfuneral and Trippie Redd.[27][28]
2019 Comethazine, Tierra Whack, DaBaby, Lil Mosey, Roddy Ricch, Cordae, YK Osiris, Rico Nasty, Gunna, Blueface, and Megan Thee Stallion.[29]
2020[c] Polo G, Chika, NLE Choppa, Jack Harlow, Lil Keed, Lil Tjay, Fivio Foreign, Calboy, Rod Wave, Baby Keem, 24kGoldn and Mulatto.[30]

Notes

[a] – From 2007 to 2011, there was no such thing as a 10th spot winner.

[b] – In 2018, there was not a 10th spot pick as Lil Skies (and his replacement, Rich the Kid) both declined the list.[31][32]

[c] – In 2020, Pop Smoke was the first freshman selected for the list, but was killed before attending the photoshoot.[33][34]

Additions to the list

Occasionally, the Freshman Class list may contain extra additions to include more rappers. The 2011, 2013, and 2019 Freshman Class lists, for example, had 11 rappers. In the case for the 2013 list, XXL added an honorary extra spot for Chicago rapper Chief Keef due to the artist being in a six-day jail stint and therefore being unable to attend the photo shoot in New York City.[21] In 2014 and 2020, the Freshman Class lists included 12 rappers.

Removals from the list
Year Artist(s) Reason for removal Ref.
2010 Drake Respectfully declined. Chosen too late. [35]
Nicki Minaj
2011 Vado
2012 ASAP Rocky Respectfully declined. Schedule was too slim due to touring.
2014 Young Thug XXL claims he never showed up to the photoshoot.
2015 ILoveMakonnen Not responsive to XXL.
PartyNextDoor
2016 Tory Lanez Respectfully declined. Debatably beyond the list.
Post Malone He didn't wanna take the flight and he felt the pick was inappropriate due to him trying to be an artist of all genres and not just hip-hop.
2017 Young M.A Felt beyond the list. She asked to have a solo cover but they disagreed and said that she needed more attention to her name before that could happen. [36]
YFN Lucci He wouldn't play music for XXL unless he was guaranteed to be on the cover.
Cardi B XXL wasn't sure if Cardi had a better television career or rap career at the time.
Famous Dex XXL stood away from adding Famous Dex after there was evidence shown that he beat up his girlfriend.

They further spoke on XXXTentacion's addition to the 2017 list (as it was controversial), saying that although he was accused of beating up his ex-girlfriend, there wasn't evidence and that he was arguably having a major influence on his generation.

 [36][37]
2018 Lil Skies On Instagram Live, he explained that he respectfully declined due to him apparently being asked to be on the list before the voting process began. Although he respected some decisions made on the 2018 list, He claims that the list was mostly rigged. [31]
Rich the Kid He "happily declined" after hearing he was gonna be a replacement for Lil Skies. [32]
2019 Juice Wrld Respectfully declined. Debatably beyond the list. [38]
2020 Lil Tecca [39]
Pop Smoke Pop Smoke agreed to be on the cover but he was murdered before he could attend the shoot. XXL did everything to try and add him on the cover to honor him, but Pop Smoke's team asked them not to do so. Although XXL wasn't able to add him on the cover, they were able to add an unreleased interview to honor him in the issue. [30][33]
Don Toliver Don Toliver only wanted to be on the cover and didn't wanna take part in anything else related to the 2020 XXL Freshman List, which upset XXL. [40]

References
  1. "Potential Markets". Freelance Writing. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  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. 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.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) 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 January 4, 2014.
  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. "Where Are They Now?: 2007 Freshman Recap - XXL". XXL. March 27, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  17. "Where Are They Now?: 2009 Freshman Recap - XXL". XXL. March 24, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  18. "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.
  19. "XXL Presents 2011's Freshman Class - XXL". XXL. February 22, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  20. JP DelaCuesta (February 28, 2012). "XXL Reveals Cover For Its 2012 "Freshmen Class"". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  21. "2013 XXL Freshman Issue Explained: Why Logic? Where's Chief Keef?". MTV News. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  22. "XXL Freshman Class 2013 Cover Revealed - Page 2 of 2 - XXL". XXL. March 27, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  23. "XXL Freshman 2014 Cover and 10 Spot Revealed". XXL. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  24. "The Wait Is Over: Here Is the 2015 XXL Freshman Class". XXL. June 3, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  25. "It's Here: The 2016 XXL Freshman Class". XXL. June 13, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  26. "XXL Freshman 2017 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  27. Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (2018-06-14), Editor-In-Chief Vanessa Statten Breaks Down 2018 XXL Freshman Cover, retrieved June 16, 2018
  28. "XXL Freshman 2018 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  29. "XXL Freshman 2019 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  30. Cline, Georgette (August 11, 2020). "XXL 2020 FRESHMAN CLASS REVEALED". XXL. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  31. "Lil Skies Says He Declined XXL Freshmen List Because It's Rigged". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  32. "Rich The Kid Says He "Happily Declined" The 2018 XXL Freshmen List". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  33. "Pop Smoke on Brooklyn Drill, New York Hip-Hop in Final Interview". XXL. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  34. Keene, Louis; Taylor, Derrick Bryson (2020-02-19). "Rapper Pop Smoke Is Dead After Los Angeles Home Invasion, Label Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  35. Lyons, Patrick (3 April 2017). "9 Rappers Who Turned Down Spots On XXL's Freshman List". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  36. Kyles, Yohance (15 June 2017). "XXL Editor Explains Cardi B, Young M.A, YFN Lucci & Famous Dex Omissions From 2017 Freshman Class". All Hip Hop. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  37. Tyler Sharp (November 30, 2020). "Famous Dex Is a Suspect in Domestic Violence Case, SWAT Team Called to His House: Report". xxlmag.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  38. "Juice Wrld Explains Why He Turned Down XXL Freshman". All Urban Central. June 22, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  39. Zappala, Giuseppe (2020-07-11). "70K first week at 16 years old off a mixtape with no features*. Also, we passed on XXL this year, but congrats to everyone on it". Twitter.[self-published]
  40. "Don Toliver Wasn't A 'XXL' Freshman Because He Refused To Participate". UPROXX. 2020-08-13. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
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