Table of Contents May 2010

FEATURES

44
Return of the Real
A lot can happen in a decade—just ask Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek. Ten years after cleansing ears with their insightful debut, Train of Thought, the duo, collectively known as Reflection Eternal, recount their long road to its follow-up, Revolutions Per Minute.
70 Lost Ones Thanks to cover girl Nicki Minaj, a woman’s voice is finally relevant again in hip-hop. Still, it’s impossible to dismiss the preceding 10-year stretch of feminine invisibility. One has to ask, what’s held the ladies back for so long?
76 Take It Personal After seven years’ worth of feel-good jams, the remaining members of Little Brother are putting the group to rest, in favor of solo enterprises. While the North Carolina trio’s music has been celebrated, their behind-the-scenes story has been far less positive. XXL finds out why.
80
It’s Been a Long Time
Once considered the hotbed of rookie talent, New York has become no country for young men. XXL investigates the Big Apple’s post-2003 breeding issues.

COVER STORY

50 Eyes on Me He’s a Canadian anti-thug who both sings and raps and has ties to a teenage soap opera. Yet, somehow, Young Money’s golden child, Drake, has emerged as the most revered new MC in years. Witness the changing face of hip-hop firsthand.
60 A Star Is Born Like Drake, first-timer Nicki Minaj has become a rap phenomenon with Lil Wayne’s support. Unlike Drizzy, however, she’s had to reinvigorate an entire gender. XXL gets up close and personal with the music industry’s current hot girl.

DEPARTMENTS

35
Show & Prove
Roscoe Dash, Bone, Laws, Party Boyz
90 Eye Candy Keyshia Dior takes a dip.
95 The Cool Take a trip with the freshest spring looks. Plus, hip-hop heads to Hawaii for inspiration.
107 X-Rated E-40 doubles his money, Fat Joe lyrically visits the dark side, and Bun B lobbies for G.O.A.T. status.

PLUS