XXL Mag

Want to know what goes into selecting the hottest new artists for XXL's coveted Freshmen cover? The magazine's editor-in-chief Vanessa Satten and senior editor Dan Rys recently chopped it up with NPR news for their Microphone Check segment and gave an insightful interview about what goes into putting the anticipated issue together, the two extra positions in this year's class, adding R&B arti

Kid Cudi will soon be able to add another section to his movie industry resume as the Cleveland entertainer recently announced he will be writing and directing a short film based on the song "Balmain Jeans" from his recent release, Satellite Flight...

Just Blaze, a.k.a. Justin Smith, is a well-known producer who has crafted the biggest hits in hip-hop. From his run with Jay Z to Kanye West, Just has accomplished a lot in his decade-plus career. These days, you can find the veteran producer on tour with dance DJs like DJ SOUL, Electric Punanny, DJ Sliink, and Dirty South Joe...

Chicago rapper Lil Reese is publically accusing 2 Chainz of stealing his lyrics and using them on his new mixtape Freebase. The song in question is Tity Boi's Lil Boosie assisted track "Wuda Cuda Shuda." According to Reese, the words were contrived from his verse on Lil Herb's track "On My Soul" where he utters "You's a woulda, shoulda, coulda nigga/Okay your clique's a b

The women of Chicago are uniting to tackle Boi-1da and Vinylz's banger "Chi-Raq." After Dreezy and Katie Got Bandz tried their hand on the beat, Sasha Go Hard drops her version that is completely redone from the original. Producer Hazonthebeat takes an EDM-inspired route that gives an added oomph to speak her mind...

As promised, Mac Miller comes through with his new project Faces on Mother's Day. The latest effort from the Pittsburgh MC contains a lengthy 24 tracks and boasts features from ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross, Mike Jones, Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples and more...

Despite some backlash, yesterday, Diddy returned to Howard University to receive his honorary doctorate degree and deliver this year's commencement speech for the graduating class. Check out the inspiring words from the rap mogul, above...

After recently inking a new management deal, Big Boi has recently announced he has signed a new record deal as well. The OutKast member will be rejoining L.A. Reid, this time at Epic Records. "I just signed a deal with Epic Records," Big Boi recently told Huffington Post's Paul Cantor...

Iamsu and frequent collaborator Sage The Gemini recently hit the Arsenio Hall Show stage to perform their song "Only That Real." Su's upcoming album Sincerely Yours is coming soon.

The Wu-Tang Clan affiliated rapper who cut his penis off then attempted suicide has had his manhood successfully reattached by doctors, according to a report by TMZ. There were doubts that plastic surgeons would be able to reconnect, Andre "Christ Bearer" Johnson's johnson after the rapper severed the muscle and leapt from two stories last month during a suicide attempt at his North Hol

Young Thug finally gives his hit street single "Stoner" a proper visual. In the clip, things get a little trippy for a trio stoners who begin to tweak during a session. The video also features cameos from Birdman, DJ Drama and Fabo.

With the release of his upcoming project, Faces less than 24 hours away, Mac Miller decides to have a little fun dropping a visual for his cover of Eric Burdon and The Animals' song "House Of The Rising Sun." Mac jokingly wales away while playing the slow tune on the keyboard as images of random people scroll across the screen...