August 2007

COVER STORY

I WAS THEREThey say you can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re from. 50 CENT has come a long way, and now the G-Unit chief is taking us back to where it all started.

FEATURES

BROWN PAPER BAG
There’s a new breed of talent brewing in Louisiana, and LIL BOOSIE & WEBBIE are leading the pack.

AMUSEMENT PARK
Think YUNG JOC is a one-hit wonder? The A-Town rapper seeks to prove he’s got more heat on the way.

STAYING ALIVE
Is there room for an old vet in the young man’s rap game? Find out how Chicago’s own TWISTA keeps bouncing back.

THE TURNAROUND
As hip-hop comes under attack, Def Jam co-founder RUSSELL SIMMONS finds himself at the center of it all.

GET THIS TOGETHER
With help from his longtime homie Ice Cube, WC is looking to bring the game back to the West.

DEPARTMENTS

EDITORIALYellow Nigga rants and raves.

FIRST OF THE MONTH

USDA has y’all beefin’.

360

Rap’s most wanted

8BALL

Paul Wall

THE TRUTH

Fabolous

HIP-HOP JUNKIES

Robin Thicke

MOVE THE CROWD

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony shake down San Diego.

SHOW & PROVE
Yung Berg
Hurricane Chris
Sean Kingston
Hot Dollar
J. Wells

EYE CANDY

Brianna

THE SHOW

XXL’s annual whips special

FASHION

Having a ball in the park

FREESTYLE

Listen carefully.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

NCAA Football 2008, Warhawk, Stranglehold

REIGN OF THE TECH

The latest gadgets to hit the streets

WALK THIS WAY

Turf’s up.

FULL CLIP

DVDs to swear by

CRITICAL BEATDOWN

The Jump Off

T.I.

Classic Material

Lost Boyz

Train of Thought

Rhymefest

Official Bootlegs

Sean P

Ill Techniques

DJ SWB

Production Credit

Mouse

Block Music

New music from Jadakiss

Chairman’s Choice

Blaq Poet and NYGz

XXIT

SSK