XXL Mag

It was the verse that woke up the rap game and made everyone start looking around and eyeing each other uncomfortably; King Kendrick, still on the ascent after dropping the best debut rap album in recent memory with 2012's good kid, m.A.A....

Alchemist will be hitting fans with the new project, The Cutting Room Floor 3, on Christmas day, an LP comprised of tracks new and old. One day early we get the song "Pool Hall Hustler" featuring Action Bronson and Roc Marciano. TCRF3 will feature Nas, Raekwon, Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, 50 Cent, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Fashawn and more...

Wale looks to be having a divine day breezing through the streets of The District in the new video for "Heaven's Afternoon" featuring Meek Mill. Magazine beef looks to be the last thing on the rapper's mind as he spits for cameras while flexing in a two-tone Rolls Royce...

2013 has been full of meltdowns in hip-hop. Whether originating via Twitter, television, or over the phone; rappers seem to have let a lot of steam off of their chests this past year. Recapping the emotional antics and outbursts of everyone from Kanye to Gucci Mane, XXL presents "Hip-Hip's Best Meltdowns In 2013...

Kanye West is facing a lawsuit over the sample he used for the Yeezus single "Bound 2" featuring Charlie Wilson. Ricky Spicer,56, former lead singer of the '70s soul group The Ponderosa Twins Plus 1, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday (December 23) alleging West used his vocals without consent...

Snoop Lion is up in smoke. The Cali OG releases the official visual for his Collie Buddz assisted single, "Smoke The Weed." As you can imagine, the video also features a plethora of THC clouds. Also check for cameos by Curren$y, Sugarfree, dead prez and others...

Just as there were plenty of albums to choose from, there were a lot of mixtapes that dominated our playlists in 2013. For one reason or another, this year marked an influx of new and hungry MCs who all wanted to make a statement with their projects...

Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of Pro Era member Capital STEEZ. In honor of their late rhyme partner, Pro Era releases a visual for the STEEZ track, "47 Piiirates" featuring Dirty Sanchez. This is reportedly one of Steelo's last recorded videos and is made up of lost footage...

Last night, Street Execs 4th Annual Christmas concert went down at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. Rich Homie Quan, Trinidad Jame$, B.o.B., Travis Porter, Young Dro, August Alsina, Cap 1, Shawty Lo, Doe B and others graced the stage along with 2 Chainz who headlined the event...

Chevy Woods confiscates Meek Mill and Travi$ Scott’s “I’m Leanin” instrumental and takes it for a spin. The Taylor Gang rapper released his Gangland 2 mixtape back in October. Check out "Leanin,'"

Kanye West closed out the Yeezus Tour last night in Toronto by bringing out the rap god, Drake. T Dot's own came out and performed his collab with Kanye "Forever" before blessing the crowd with his recently certified gold single, "All Me...

Troy Ave keeps his tradition alive by dropping another installment from his White Christmas series. Hosted by DJ Drama, Troy Ave keeps it mostly New York with special guests Uncle Murda, Lloyd Banks, and Styles P. Production comes from frequent collaborator Chase N Cashe, Yankee and Statik Selektah...