April 2006

Cover Story
DRIVE SLOW

If the crown fits, he’ll wear it. He called himself King, and the hip-hop nation bowed before him. Now T.I. is playing it cool to extend his rule—he’s making it be about more than just music.

Features
THIS IS ME

We all know and love his style. The same goes for his beats. So how will we all feel about Pharrell as a solo artist? With his debut LP finally coming, it looks like we’re about to find out what the pastel-loving Nerd has been storing for us.

BREAKIN’ OLD HABITS

DJ Drama may be part of the Aphilliates DJ crew, but he’s quickly turning into the number-one mixtape DJ in the game, thanks to his Gangsta Grillz series of tapes. So what’s the next step for the newest hustler on the scene?

MY WAY HOME

UGK have been reunited. Pimp C is back. After being locked up for four years, it’s finally time for Texas’ most infamous rapping inmate to grab hold of hip-hop and make it his own.

HEY MAMA

Just because her son has been dead for nine years now doesn’t mean there is any less pain or drama. With lawsuits, the LAPD, Diddy and money all still issues, Voletta Wallace, mama of the Notorious B.I.G., gives us a clear update on the saga.

PUSHIN

It’s hard to be a new artist from New York. You gotta have confidence. You gotta have skills. And you gotta have some heavy endorsements. Meet Papoose, he’s got all three.

Departments
EDITORIAL

Yellow Nigga rants and raves.

FIRST OF THE MONTH

You still can’t decide how you feel about G-Unit.

360

XXL does the remix.
8Ball: Lil Wayne
Truth: Big Boi
Hip-Hop Junkies: Kevin Federline
Move the Crowd: The Fugees try to play nice in London.

SHOW & PROVE

Mistah F.A.B.
Glasses Malone
Killa Kyleon
The Product
Vakill

EYE CANDY

Meet the Rookie of the Year, LaToiye.

THE SHOW

XXL’s annual sneaker blowout is here.
How We Do: Rappers living the high life
Fashion: We hit Sin City in the season’s hottest fashions.
Walk This Way: Kick spring into gear with our exclusive sneaker preview.
Flow: In these shades
Games People Play: EA Sports Fight Night Round 3, Dead or Alive 4
Full Clip: DVD reviews to swear by
Reign of the Tech: Up your game with the latest gadgets.

CRITICAL BEATDOWN

The Jump Off: Ghostface
Classic Material: GZA
Train of Thought: Ice Cube
Official Bootlegs: Clinton Sparks & Kanye West
Ill Techniques: DJ Jelly
Spin Cycle
Production Credit: The Beat Bullies
Chairman’s Choice: Bo$$ Hog Barbarian$

XXIT

Voletta stays fly.