**THE TEXT BELOW ORIGINALLY APPEARS IN THE DEC./JAN. 2012 ISSUE OF XXL, ON STANDS NOW** Comedian Jay Pharoah is having a breakout season on Saturday Night ...

On a sunny October day, Common rolls up to Chicago's West Loop Athletic Club to shoot hoops. He lives in Los Angeles now, but having ...

50 Cent is at a crossroads. A decade ago, the man born Curtis Jackson III, 36, overhauled the rap game with a legendary mixtape run ...

Up-and-coming New Jersey producer Clams Casino’s name has been buzzing a lot over the past year. To many he was first introduced as the man ...

The Infamous Mobb Deep celebrated the release of their new EP, Black Cocaine—the group’s first studio release since Prodigy was released from prison last March—on ...

Up-and-coming Memphis, TN rapper Don Trip has been building quite a buzz with his heartfelt Cee-Lo-assisted banger, "Letter To My Son." But when XXL recently ...

Now that the Maybach brand is no more, XXL ponders what Rick Ross should name his record label...

When the Thornton Brothers, Malice and Pusha T, emerged in 2002 with their platinum-selling debut, Lord Willin' —featuring singles "Grindin" and “When the Last Time”—and ...

Atlanta's own DJ Holiday sends his good wishes on Turkey Day...