129 December/January 2011

FEATURES

58THE WAITINGDR. DRE is making his return to rap’s spotlight, and in an exclusive interview, the legendary producer dishes on his long-awaited LP Detox, growing old in hip-hop and why he’s done rapping. Say it ain’t so.
48GIVE THE DRUMMER SUM Last year, teen production sensation LEX LUGER was making beats in his mom’s Virginia home. This year, he’s emerged as a breakout boardsmith, having crafted hits for some of hip-hop’s favorite names. So what will next year bring?

50MY WORLDThe former in-house producer for Ruff Ryders has grown as both an artist and a brand since his inception in hip-hop 12 years ago. How do you stay the course when the going gets tough? SWIZZ BEATZ explains.

70LISTENEver wonder who and what determines which songs get played on commercial radio? Us, too. XXL investigates why every time fans turn the dial they keep getting the same old song and dance.
76MOJO SO DOPENICKI MINAJ is a muthafuckin’ monster. She’s dominating the charts, murdering rappers on their own records and is a target of every lady MC with an ax to grind. Now it’s time for her solo debut, her biggest test of all.
82CANDY SHOP Pop rappers, sellouts, cornballs—call them what you want. But artists like The Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida and Pitbull are doing better than many of the rappers that cultural purists currently champion. Is the game ready to finally accept that rap has gone pop?
84NOT AFRAID She started out in the mid-1980s as a b-girl in Hollis, Queens, and now DEB ANTNEY is situated in Atlanta at the forefront of the game, after guiding the careers of rap stars Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj and her son Waka Flocka Flame. It’s been a hell of a ride.

DEPARTMENTS

23360 Lil Wayne’s finally free, rappers’ mini-mes, and Charlie Wilson talks G.O.O.D. Music.
39Show & ProveSTS, Smoke DZA, L.E.P. Bogus Boys, Bobby Brackins
86 Eye CandyXXL crowns Keyshia Dior Eye Candy of the Year.Clap for her.
109 X-RatedDoes Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy live up to the hype?

PLUS