July 2007

COVER STORY

Being the King of the South can get tiring, but T.I. ain’t about to relinquish the crown. And neither is T.I.P. Get reacquainted with the rapper, actor and businessman with two faces.

FEATURES

MORE THAN MUSIC

There’s no storm strong enough to stop Baby Boy Da Prince from shining. Watch as the N’awlins MC reps his city.

CANDY PAINT

Two years ago, HOUSTON was on top, Swishahouse was king and a few H-Town MCs were holding court. Things done changed, but why?

Paul Wall – SAY IT TO MY FACE

Mike Jones – STUCK ON YOU

Slim Thug – GET LOW

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

Which is the better route for rappers—major labels or independents? Find out how the indies might be winning the tortoise-and-hare race.

THINGS YOU DO

Whether indie or major, record-label terrain is hard to navigate. XXL gets to the nitty-gritty of how it all works.

I AIN’T HARD TO FIND

What is hip-hop? Joell Ortiz thinks he knows the answer. And he can’t wait to tell you.

DEPARTMENTS

EDITORIAL

Yellow Nigga rants and raves.

FIRST OF THE MONTH

Young Buck cleans up the letters section.

360

That damn Imus shit

8BALL

Green Lantern

THE TRUTH

Rich Boy

HIP-HOP JUNKIES

Perez Hilton

MOVE THE CROWD

Nas tears down Toronto.

SHOW & PROVE

1 Shop Boyz

2 Lil Mama

3 Damani

4 Foxx

5 Willy Northpole

EYE CANDY

Brittany

THE SHOW

Art imitating life

FASHION

As sexy as sexy can get

FLOW

Shore thing

WALK THIS WAY

Be first to stand in line.

FREESTYLE

Tee time

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

The Darkness, Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars, Ninja Gaiden Sigma

REIGN OF THE TECH

The latest gadgets to hit the streets

FULL CLIP

DVDs to swear by

CRITICAL BEATDOWN

The Jump Off

Swizz Beatz

Classic Material

Goodie Mob

Train of Thought

Pharoahe Monch

Official Bootlegs

The Game

Ill Techniques

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Production Credit

Danja

Block Music

New music from Fabolous

Chairman’s Choice

Skyzoo & Torae

XXIT

Party in Vegas