[Editor's Note: This Originally appeared in XXL's April 2003 issue]

Life After Death proved to be a sadly prophetic title for 24-year-old Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace’s second album. Clearly, the Brooklyn rhyme slinger had it all mapped out. B.I.G. would follow up his platinum 1994 debut Ready To Die—a street hustler’s morality tale that ended with the narrator’s gunshot-inflicted suicide—with an expansive musical statement that unapologetically celebrated the successful MC’s newfound love of life and all its rewards.

Recorded over 18 months, in New York, Los Angeles and Trinidad, Life After Death documents the extraordinary and ultimately tragic final chapter in the life of an ascending star. The sessions were interrupted by B.I.G.’s arrest for marijuana and gun possession, a car accident that shattered his left leg and the increasing pressures of fame. And of course, everything was taking place under the shadow of a media frenzy surrounding the interpersonal strife between B.I.G. and California rapper Tupac Shakur.

Released March 25, 1997, less than a month after B.I.G. was tragically gunned down while leaving a Soul Train Awards party in Los Angeles, Life After Death sold a mammoth 690,000 copies its first week, according to SoundScan, debuting at no. 1 on both Billboard‘s Pop and R&B charts. Eventually, it went on to surpass the sales mark set by Tupac’s nine-times platinum double album All Eyez On Me, joining Hammer’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em as rap’s only diamond-certified discs.

On the sixth anniversary of the notorious MC’s passing [eds. note: 2013 is the sixteenth anniversary], XXL interviewed friends, associates and fellow artists who played a part in the making of his classic opus. Assembled here, their remembrances give a track-by-track glimpse into a creative process that resulted in one of hip-hop’s most enduring artistic achievements. All hail Big Poppa!—KEITH MURPHY

Life After Death Players:

B.I.G.’s Hitmen:

Sean “Puffy” Combs CEO of Bad Boy Records and Executive Producer of Life After Death • Steven “Stevie J.” Jordan Former member of the Hitmen, Bad Boy’s in-house production team.• Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie CEO of Crazy Cat Records. Former Hitman. A&R of Life After Death. Voice behind skit character, the Madd Rapper. • Lil’ Cease Longtime friend of The Notorious B.I.G. and member of the Brooklyn-based rap crew Junior M.A.F.I.A. • Lil’ Kim Bed-Stuy-born rapper and first lady of Junior M.A.F.I.A. • Nashiem Myrick Former Hitman. • Jadakiss Member of rap trio The LOX, formally signed to Bad Boy. • D. Roc Childhood friend and longtime confidant of B.I.G. • Havoc One half of the infamous rap group Mobb Deep. • DJ Premier One half of the revered rap duo Gang Starr. • Chucky Thompson Former Hitman. • Krayzie Bone One fourth of groundbreaking Cleveland, Ohio rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. • Layzie Bone One fourth of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. • Carlos Broady Former Hitman. • Carl Thomas Bad Boy R&B singer. • Easy Mo Bee Brooklyn-based rap music producer. • RZA Mastermind behind Staten Island rap conglomerate Wu-Tang Clan. • DMC Legendary MC from Run-DMC. • Kay-Gee Former member of Naughty By Nature, CEO of Divine Mill Records. • Buckwild Bronx-based hip-hop producer. • Schoolly-D Philadelphia gangster rap pioneer. • Clark Kent Mild-mannered hip-hop DJ and producer.

The post The Making of Life After Death:
Many Men appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/rappers/2013/03/the-making-of-life-after-death-many-men/feed/ 49 http://www.xxlmag.com/rappers/2013/03/the-making-of-ready-to-diefamily-business/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-making-of-ready-to-diefamily-business http://www.xxlmag.com/rappers/2013/03/the-making-of-ready-to-diefamily-business/#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:00:45 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=408

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Ten years ago, along with his co-D P. Diddy, Biggie Smalls made history: Proving that an MC could make commercial bangers without sacrificing an ounce of street credibility. In his memory, we’ve gathered up the players to reminisce on his star-making jump-off.

The post The Making of Ready to Die:
Family Business appeared first on XXL.

]]> XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

 

Originally appears in XXL‘s April 2004 issue

The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 debut Ready To Die is a double threat: a serious, artistic album equipped with catchy, radio-friendly singles. Rap Svengali Sean “Puffy” Combs encouraged his hardcore young MC to put his mack down on records like “Big Poppa” and “One More Chance”; Biggie played along, and it worked. Becoming hip-hop’s answer to the hedgehog-looking porn star Ron Jeremy (if he could get laid, anyone could), the plus-size charmer conquered the pop charts and watched his sales pass the two-million mark.

Mainly, though, Ready To Die offers uncompromising street material—a grim depiction of urban hopelessness told in one of the most immediate voices the form has ever known.

The difference between the grimier content and the hit singles might be explained by a two-part recording process. Songs like “Ready To Die,” “Gimme The Loot” and “Things Done Changed” (which engineer “Prince” Charles Alexander characterized as “a scream from the ghetto”) were recorded in 1993—shortly after Puffy signed Big to Uptown Records on the strength of a demo tape made in the basement of former Big Daddy Kane DJ, Mister Cee. On these records, an inexperienced, higher-pitched Biggie sounds hungry and paranoid. Also notable were the notebooks Biggie brought to the studio; he was still writing down some of his rhymes.

But with less than a full album’s worth of material recorded, Puffy was fired from Uptown, leaving his signee in contractual limbo. Big quickly slid back into the drug game, famously leaving a North Carolina drug house—at the behest of Puff, who’d sent him a ticket back to New York—one day before it was raided by the police and its occupants were sent to jail.

When he returned to the studio to record the second half of the album in 1994, he possessed a smoother, more confident vocal tone. He had also learned to commit his lyrics to memory, eschewing pens and paper. By this time, Puffy, who had eyes beyond the East Coast, had launched his own company, Bad Boy Entertainment, with Craig Mack’s smash, “Flava In Ya Ear,” and invented the remix. (Or at least introduced the concept of the overbearing executive producer to hip-hop.) Endlessly tinkering with instrumentals, mixes and vocals, Puffy worked from a blueprint more Motown than Cold Chillin’—the Bad Boy brand superseded all else. This was obvious on “One More Chance,” which was remixed three times for the album and once more for 12-inch release. If the original producer wasn’t present, Puff would ask another producer to add drums, a sample or even a whole new instrumental.

While Puffy’s vision pushed Ready To Die to higher heights than other records of the era, it was Big’s ability to be menacing one moment (“I don’t give a fuck if you’re pregnant/Gimme the baby rings and the ‘Number One Mom’ pendant…”) and heart-wrenchingly honest the next (“My mama got cancer in her breast/Don’t ask me why I’m muthafuckin’ stressed…”) that truly sets his debut apart. Ready To Die is more than a street record; it’s a vulnerable record.

On the seventh anniversary of Biggie’s death [eds. note: 2013 is the sixteenth anniversary], XXL has compiled a track-by-track, behind-the-scenes breakdown of the work that went into creating a classic, Ready To Die, as told by those involved.—ADAM MATTHEWS

Ready to Remember
Biggie’s Bad Boys:

-Lil’ Cease: Biggie’s close friend, member of rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A.
-Banger: Junior M.A.F.I.A. member
-“Prince” Charles Alexander: Ready To Die engineer
-Easy Mo Bee: Producer
-Chucky Thompson: Producer, member of Bad Boy Records’ Hitmen collective
-Nashiem Myrick: Producer, member of the Hitmen
-Mister Cee: DJ at New York’s Hot 97, former DJ for Big Daddy Kane, discovered Biggie in 1992.
-Matteo “Matt Lyphe” Capoluongo (a.k.a. “Matty C”): Former Source staffer, brought Big’s demo to Sean “Puffy” Combs
-Method Man: Wu-Tang Clan rapper
-Jean “Poke” Oliver: Producer, one-half of the beatmaking duo TrackMasters
-Digga: Producer/Artist
-DJ Premier: Producer, one-half of rap duo Gang Starr
-Lord Finesse: Producer, member of Diggin’ in the Crates collective

The post The Making of Ready to Die:
Family Business appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/rappers/2013/03/the-making-of-ready-to-diefamily-business/feed/ 32 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/03/giveaway-man-bites-dog-records-sxsw-survival-kit/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giveaway-man-bites-dog-records-sxsw-survival-kit http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/03/giveaway-man-bites-dog-records-sxsw-survival-kit/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:00:10 +0000 Eric Diep http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=288694

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Next week on March 13, Man Bites Dog Records will be holding their first SXSW showcase that’ll be featuring Roc Marciano, Copywrite, Eddie B. & Harry Fraud, Bronze Nazareth, Wais P, Double Ab & Dub Sonata, Hayze, Curly Castro, Spit Gemz, Snak the Ripper and Playdough. Sounds like quite the lineup, right? Which is why we are here to help you make it out in one piece with an official SXSW Survival Kit. MBD is rewarding the first 200 showcase attendees... Read more »

The post Giveaway: Man Bites Dog Records SXSW Survival Kit appeared first on XXL.

]]> XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Next week on March 13, Man Bites Dog Records will be holding their first SXSW showcase that’ll be featuring Roc Marciano, Copywrite, Eddie B. & Harry Fraud, Bronze Nazareth, Wais P, Double Ab & Dub Sonata, Hayze, Curly Castro, Spit Gemz, Snak the Ripper and Playdough. Sounds like quite the lineup, right? Which is why we are here to help you make it out in one piece with an official SXSW Survival Kit.

MBD is rewarding the first 200 showcase attendees to arrive at the venue an SXSW Survival Kit. But they also want to give out the exclusive package for fans that aren’t able to make it out.

Here’s what you’ll receive in the survival kit:

• Man Bites Dog Records DJ tote bag
• Copywrite’s previously unreleased Carbon Copy Phony Art Pub Scam EP (cassette)
• Eddie B & Harry Fraud’s Horse Power EP (cassette)
• Hayze’s The Smoker’s Section mixtape (cassette)
• Curly Castro’s FIDEL album (cassette)
• Raw rolling papers
• Krave Jerky
• Zen rolling trays
• Beeline hemp wick
• Surf School (Harry Fraud’s label) shot glass
• Man Bites Dog Records bottle opener

XXL is helping to give away five of these survival kits. To enter, contestants must tweet the following sentence: “I’m trying to survive #SXSW2013 with a little help from @manbitesdogsrecs #XXL”

Man Bites Dog Records will contact the winner and give additional information to retrieve the survival kit. For more details on the label, check here.

Follow @XXL and @manbitesdogrecs

The post Giveaway: Man Bites Dog Records SXSW Survival Kit appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/03/giveaway-man-bites-dog-records-sxsw-survival-kit/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-eminem-dr-dre-50-cent-money-power-respect-originally-published-on-february-2003/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-the-archives-eminem-dr-dre-50-cent-money-power-respect-originally-published-on-february-2003 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-eminem-dr-dre-50-cent-money-power-respect-originally-published-on-february-2003/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:41:31 +0000 Eric Diep http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=280636

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

As we proceed to give you what you need! XXL‘s Get Rich or Die Tryin celebration continues today, and what better way to acknowledge both 50 and our own accomplishment than to put on one of the best hip-hop cover stories to ever grace the newsstands? The blockbuster feature that is Em, Dre, and 50—”Triple Threat.” Published a decade ago, right around the release of 50′s now classic debut, check... Read more »

The post From the Archives: Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent: “Triple Threat” [Originally Published on February, 2003] appeared first on XXL.

]]> XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

As we proceed to give you what you need! XXL‘s Get Rich or Die Tryin celebration continues today, and what better way to acknowledge both 50 and our own accomplishment than to put on one of the best hip-hop cover stories to ever grace the newsstands? The blockbuster feature that is Em, Dre, and 50—”Triple Threat.” Published a decade ago, right around the release of 50′s now classic debut, check out the current giants of hip-hop in their slightly younger days discussing their then quarrels with Ja Rule, The Source, and much more. 

Marshall’s home! And he brought along hip-hop’s greatest producer, DR. DRE, and its next big star, 50 CENT, to discuss all their bickering beefs. Shady/Aftermath season has begun, crumbs. You can hate them now.

Words: Noah Callahan-Bever

Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of All Ages

Rap is a circus. Step right up and witness the three-ring spectacular. Clowns, jugglers, acrobats and strongmen, everybody competing for the spotlight. But it gets hot under that glare. And not just from the wattage of the bulb. It’s the burning stare of a million jealous eyes. It’s knowing you’re a target, as bit-players jockey for your position. Success breeds envy. It’s just the penalty of leadership. The top dog is just who everybody wants to be, an’ shit. Let’s call this the All-Eyez-On-Me Principle. Word to 2Pac.

Currently, there’s no question as to who is hip-hop’s main attraction. Having sold more than 20 million records over the past four years and generated over $100 million at the box office with a hit movie loosely based on his life, Eminem has simply blown a hole in the big top. He is now a global pop-culture figure. He is Elvis, Madonna, Michael Jackson. Of course, this would never have been possible without the contributions, tutelage and partnership of the greatest producer in hip-hop history, the most important musical figure of the last 25 years (Yup. We said it)—Dr. Dre.

So just when it looked like things couldn’t get any better for Em and Dre, they made a move that seemed to put a lock on the future. In a joint venture between Em’s Shady Records and Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, the pair signed the fastest-rising name in the rap game: 50 Cent.

Now, 50 Cent has a unique talent for making people feel uneasy. The brash, fearless Jamaica, Queens rapper (who first ripped through the industry back in ’99 with the stick-up kid anthem, “How To Rob”) was stabbed in a March 2000 brawl with Ja Rule’s Murderers crew, and shot nine times in an unrelated incident two months later, only to emerge this past summer as the streets’ hottest commodity. New York has been steadily pulsing with the sounds of 50’s syrupy hooks, sharp tongue and memorable drawl. There hasn’t been a buzz like this since the Notorious guy from Bed-Stuy.

Invoke the aforementioned principle right…now. First, in a magazine interview published this summer, Ja Rule said he was going to try and “take down” Em and Dre for signing 50. In November, on the airwaves of New York’s Hot 97, Ja and his Murder Inc. boss Irv Gotti accused 50 Cent of snitching to police.

Things got even weirder in November 2002. Quite out of the blue, longtime Boston rapper and “co-owner” of The Source magazine, Raymond “Benzino” Scott, began publicly disparaging Eminem—first on a radio freestyle, which targeted the superstar for his use of professional security, then on a three-verse mixtape exclusive, “Pull Your Skirt Up,” which attacked him for not representing the streets, not respecting his own mother and generally for being a fraud. Eminem responded with two songs of his own: “The Sauce,” a vicious dig at Benzino and The Source publisher Dave Mays which questioned the integrity of the magazine, and the more damming, more personal “Nail In The Coffin.”

Never one to roll over, Benzino retaliated with “Die Another Day.” Flipping his beef into one about skills to one about race, he labeled Eminem “the rap Hitler” and called for his death and that of his daughter.

Although in radio interviews Benzino maintains that he keeps his relationship with The Source and his rap career completely separated, he has nonetheless brought the magazine into his war or words (“Sayin’ that I’m broke, you must be crazy/Every time you’re in The Source your label has to pay me”). Likewise, The Source issued a press release that asserted the magazine’s objectivity, then went on to say that Eminem represents a “dangerous” machine that threatens to take hip-hop out of the hands of the Black community that created it.

Here’s where things get tricky for XXL. As if anyone needed to be reminded, the magazine you now hold in your hand is in direct competition with The Source. By involving itself in a musical dispute between its co-owner and a rap celebrity, our rival publication has made itself a part of a story it’s our job to cover. Our goal is to document one of the more bizarre episodes in rap music history, not merely provide a forum for the biggest starts in the business to slam our competition. (Our editor-in-chief does a fine job of that in his editorials.)

Furthermore, XXL would like to stress that, while we believe rap battles are an integral part of hip-hop, and animosity often fuels artistic brilliance, we’d like to make it very clear: We are against the escalation of words into violence. Everybody knows controversy and conflict sell, and a good amount of the posturing and posing is for dramatic effect. We’re all for keeping it that way.

As the various parties align themselves strategically—finding unlikely partnerships with those that share common beefs—Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent are in Los Angeles putting the finishing touches on 50’s Get Rick or Die Trying. XXL catches the treacherous three on the set of the video for the first official single “In Da Club,” where they take a moment to sit down and discuss the situation that they find themselves in.

Rap is a circus. Welcome to the greatest show on Earth.

The post From the Archives: Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent: “Triple Threat” [Originally Published on February, 2003] appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-eminem-dr-dre-50-cent-money-power-respect-originally-published-on-february-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-still-i-rise-originally-published-on-september-2001/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-the-archives-50-cent-still-i-rise-originally-published-on-september-2001 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-still-i-rise-originally-published-on-september-2001/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:35:43 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=280441

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

For the second installment of XXL‘s Get Rich of Die Tryin week, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of 50 Cent’s monumental debut, we look back at an extensive narrative penned by writer Kris Ex on 50′s imminent return to the rap game, right before his blockbuster debut which was cosigned by Eminem and Dr. Dre. Check out 50′s story before the Vitamin Water and headphone deal. Words: Kris Ex He’s hustled,... Read more »

The post From the Archives: 50 Cent, “Still I Rise” [Originally Published on September, 2001] appeared first on XXL.

]]> XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

For the second installment of XXL‘s Get Rich of Die Tryin week, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of 50 Cent’s monumental debut, we look back at an extensive narrative penned by writer Kris Ex on 50′s imminent return to the rap game, right before his blockbuster debut which was cosigned by Eminem and Dr. Dre. Check out 50′s story before the Vitamin Water and headphone deal.

Words: Kris Ex

He’s hustled, been shot, stabbed, crippled and hated on by various rappers. Got dropped from his label, then disappeared from the game without a trace. Sorry shook ones. 50 Cent is back to break his silence and keep it gangsta.

His pendant—a platinum cross, embedded with hefty diamonds–clinks against his bulletproof vest every time he moves, which he does often. He’s an expert raconteur: his sizable, sculpted arms—adorned with elaborate curlicued tattoos—wave in the air. He breaks his sentences into punchlines, adding a smile, a “ya feel me?” or a grimace to bring his point home. “I ain’t never bit my tongue,” he says. Pause. “Once, by accident.” Smile. The rubber-gripped semi-automatic handgun never leaves his waist. Well, only once, to show the bullet wounds on his legs.

His stories spill like liquid. He’ll trace a line from the ramifications of his infamous single (more on that later), to rappers using the “tools of engrossment” (“In they music, everyone expands things.”), to Jadakiss (“He’s a hot nigga”), to touring with Nas (“The only nigga that did something for me without expecting something in return”), to regional differences in niggas’ gangsta, to “A lot of situations…”

He trails off, comes back. “I got so much to talk about that I don’t even know where to start.”

Curtis Jackson was born July 6, 1976. He never knew his father. His mom passed away when he was eight. He was raised by his grandparents, who grew up in a time when a $100 pair of sneakers made sense like Al Sharpton running for President. By age 12 he was selling drugs. “I was on the boulevard selling quarter-grams,” he says referring to the $25 pieces of cocaine. His supplier gave him five pieces. He would pay for four, the profit from the last one was his payment. Coke was as popular as weed. “I was serving it to any and everybody,” he says. He sold to his aunts and uncles, who didn’t know he was a dealer. “Seem like I’m going to the store to get a friend of mine, but I already had it.” He bought those sneakers, kept them at his friend’s house. The friend kept his sneakers at Curtis’ crib. They had different shoe sizes, so all their guardians would say is, “Damn, why don’t you tell him to take his sneakers home?”

He got schooled by older dudes. The game was good and bad to him: He got new cars like niggas got new kicks; he went into police custody like niggas go to the corner store.

“He was always the nigga having beef on the block,” says a neighborhood friend. “When he was coming, niggas was like, ‘This nigga gonna get niggas robbed, take niggas work, ‘cause he want the whole block.’ He always wanted the whole block for himself.” He robbed the competition relentlessly. One guy came at him with a gun. “Yo, my daughter gotta eat,” the guy said.

I’m not trying to take food from your daughter’s mouth,” Curtis replied. “I’m just trying to get you to do it the right way.” The guy ended up getting work from Curtis. “I gave it to him on consignment,” he recalls. “I’m not stopping a nigga from totally doing what he would do. If you do that, then niggas is gonna kill you, bottom line.”

The post From the Archives: 50 Cent, “Still I Rise” [Originally Published on September, 2001] appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-still-i-rise-originally-published-on-september-2001/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-speaks-on-how-to-rob/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-the-archives-50-cent-speaks-on-how-to-rob http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-speaks-on-how-to-rob/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:49:45 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=279838

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Originally published in the May 2000 issue of XXL, the following interview was published when 50 Cent’s controversial single “How to Rob” made noise throughout New York City. While it didn’t sit too well with many rappers that were comically victimized on the song, several, including NaS who 50 later openly dissed on record, reached out to the then young Queens rapper and built an early camaraderie. To celebrate the... Read more »

The post From the Archives: 50 Cent Speaks on “How To Rob” appeared first on XXL.

]]> XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Originally published in the May 2000 issue of XXL, the following interview was published when 50 Cent’s controversial single “How to Rob” made noise throughout New York City. While it didn’t sit too well with many rappers that were comically victimized on the song, several, including NaS who 50 later openly dissed on record, reached out to the then young Queens rapper and built an early camaraderie. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of 50′s landmark debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin, which was released on February 4, 2003, XXL is digging up its extensive archive to share some of the best 50 Cent stories throughout the week. Check out the first installment below.

When 50 Cent dropped “How To Rob,” last year, he pissed off a lot of people. In the aftermath, several MCs made on-wax responses that were clearly not in 50′s favor, to say the last. While he’s been quite quiet of late, the Queens-bred troublemaker has returned with his long-awaited debut, Power of the Dollar. Hoping to prove he’s more than a one-hit wonder, one must wonder, does 50 regret any of the drama his song has caused? Don’t bet on it. —Bonsu Thompson

XXL: What rappers actually like 50 cent?

50: Me and Nas got a relationship. Bravehearts, Nashawn and CNN. I ain’t even been hated on by the people-I-hated-on’s friends.

XXL: Were you aiming to anger certain rappers?

50: We know the game has changed, the artists are getting a lot more money so it’s like, how to rob them. It was a warning to a point in a comedic way I wanted to make it funny at the same time. That’s why I got the Madd Rapper [on the song].

XXL: What about the negative way rappers look at you?

50: I prefer that. A hit record affects you. If I made that record and it wasn’t good, nobody would’ve mentioned it.

XXL: Did you really fight Ja Rule in Atlanta?

50: Yeah. I went down there with just my road manager and my DJ. He rolled down there with him and eight other dudes. So when we got down there, homeboy gave me a little look. I laughed at him and went into the hotel. My road manager came in and asked me, “How do you want to handle this situaton with Ja?” I said, “I’ma go talk to him.” I tapped him like, “Yo, let me holler at you.” I told him why I made the record. He felt comfortable because he had eight dudes around him and starting going off at the mouth, so he got busted in his eye. He was on some show-off shit. How much of that are you going to take before you punch someone in the face?

XXL: How did it feel to get dissed by Jay-Z?

50: I seen him at [NY's Hot 97 FM] Summer Jam right after I dropped the record. Jay told me he was gonna say something back. He went on stage and said that rhyme, “I’m about a dollar, who the fuck is 50 Cent?” He spoke his piece and later he put it on his record—that’s hip-hop. Like when that kid Ghostface put something on his new record, I don’t know if you heard it of not…

XXL: Oh yeah, at the end of his album. What’s up with that?

50: That was surprising to me, that they [Wu-Tang] would do that because I was expecting Ghost to come with something. That was weak to me. Saying that on record and changing your voice is like you scared. And outside of that Sticky Fingaz made a record…

XXL: Yeah. Were you offended by that?

50: Not at all. I know that when you hurt a person’s feelings, they doing that in the heat of the moment. Sticky Fingaz was mad that I said something about him and I obviously hurt his feelings for him to return a shot like that. That might have been the biggest mistake he made of his career, by going on television and acting like he was going to beat up this white boy and then the white boy actually whips his ass. He shouldn’t have even put himself in that situation. If you lose, it stays there, it doesn’t go away. So next time you kick some hard-core shit, the only thing a nigga see is a white boy beatin’ your ass on MTV.

XXL: So you don’t have any second thoughts about making the song?

50: I ain’t never going to say something and say, “Yo, I didn’t mean that.” I thought that shit out. At first Madd Rapper asked Riche Nice and Tone & Poke, “Does he know what he’s doin’?” He hadn’t met me yet. He was like, “Is he a real street cat or is he just somebody who knows how to rap?” Me, I’m still a newborn, I’m still a baby to hip-hop so it [the attention] affects me, but when I break past this record, I’ma be bigger than the rest of this shit—a bigger, better artist. I hold myself down to the fullest. You never want it to go there, but if it does, by any means, I’m gonna handle my business.

The post From the Archives: 50 Cent Speaks on “How To Rob” appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/02/from-the-archives-50-cent-speaks-on-how-to-rob/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/kendrick-lamar-performs-in-london-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kendrick-lamar-performs-in-london-video http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/kendrick-lamar-performs-in-london-video/#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:57:57 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=268217

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Check out footage from K Dot's performance at London's Hammersmith Apollo last weekend.

The post Kendrick Lamar Performs in London [Video] appeared first on XXL.

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Check out footage from K Dot’s performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo last weekend.

Props NahRight

The post Kendrick Lamar Performs in London [Video] appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/kendrick-lamar-performs-in-london-video/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/sl-jones-drops-new-ep-trappers-delight-download-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sl-jones-drops-new-ep-trappers-delight-download-now http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/sl-jones-drops-new-ep-trappers-delight-download-now/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:23:25 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=268047

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Check out the latest offering from the Grind Time Lieutenant

The post SL Jones Drops New EP, Trapper's Delight [Download Now] appeared first on XXL.

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Little Rock’s SL Jones is back with a seven-track EP entitled Trapper’s Delight. Produced entirely by M16, the EP sees Jonesy stand on his own with no featured guests. Below you can see Jones talk about the making of the project. Stream and download Trapper’s Delight at LiveMixtapes.

SL Jones Speaks On His Upcoming EP “Trapper’s Delight” as well as legal issues he dealt with while recording. from 3 Little Digs on Vimeo.

The post SL Jones Drops New EP, Trapper's Delight [Download Now] appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/sl-jones-drops-new-ep-trappers-delight-download-now/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/01/8ball-ft-young-dolph-b-hav-roll-up-poe-up-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=8ball-ft-young-dolph-b-hav-roll-up-poe-up-video http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/01/8ball-ft-young-dolph-b-hav-roll-up-poe-up-video/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:55:10 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=267826

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Check out the first visual off of 8Ball's upcoming Premro 2 mixtape...

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]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/01/8ball-ft-young-dolph-b-hav-roll-up-poe-up-video/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/riff-raff-responds-to-spring-breakers-controversy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=riff-raff-responds-to-spring-breakers-controversy http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/riff-raff-responds-to-spring-breakers-controversy/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:09:57 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=267614

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Here's what Riff Raff had to say about Gucci Mane's recent remarks regarding James Franco's character in 'Spring Breakers'

The post Riff Raff Responds to 'Spring Breakers' Controversy appeared first on XXL.

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Riff Raff and 'Spring Breakers' director, Harmony Korine

Last week, XXL interviewed Gucci Mane about his role in the upcoming film ‘Spring Breakers.’ When asked to speak on rumors that James Franco’s character in the film was based on Houston rapper Riff Raff, Gucci shot down the claim, asserting ‘That’s absolutely false.” Franco issued similar statements in an interview with GQ last May, stating that the character’s biggest influence came from a Florida rapper named Dangerous. To make the situation even more unclear, Riff has been seen with the film’s director, Harmony Korine, on several occasions since the rumors began circulating, even recently appearing together on the cover of SNEEZE magazine. Over the weekend, we reached out to Riff Raff to get his thoughts on Gucci’s recent remarks. He responded via text with the following statement and photographs:

“YOU CANT BE A WHiTE RAPPER WiTH TATTOOS AND HAVE BRAiDS AND COLORED BEADS WiTH COLORFUL CLOTHES & BE SURROUNDED BY WHiTE GiRLS iN NEON BiKiNis & AN ALiEN TATTOO ON YOUR ARM & GOLD JEWERLY & GOLD GRiLL iN YOUR MOUTH AND NOT EXPECT PEOPLE TO RECOGNiZE RiFF RAFF ……….. THATS LiKE SAYiNG iF YOU SEEN A THiN LiGHT SKiNNED DUDE WiTH A PERFECT JERRY CURL iN A RED & BLACK LEATHER JACKET, A WHiTE GLOVE, AND PATENT LEATHER SHOES MOONWALKiNG BACKWARDS BUT NOT EXPECT FOLKS TO RECOGNiZE MiCHAEL JACKSON HAHAHAHAHA.

*Court Adjourned…Closes Versace Briefcase and rides Segway to the parking lot with 15 tan golden bronze white girls in bikinis and gets in the Hologram Benz with Harmony Korine”

What do you make of the ‘Spring Breakers’ controversy? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Riff Raff Responds to 'Spring Breakers' Controversy appeared first on XXL.

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XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

The Roots frontman is 42 today.

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Happy birthday, ?uestlove!

The grammy-award winning Roots frontman and drummer turns 42 today and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Although he’s worked with some of the biggest names in the game, like John Legend and Common, he hasn’t just stayed in the rap game. ?uest has been in movies and even helped design sneakers as well.

That all? Of course not. He also placed 8th in the Rolling Stone Readers Pick for Best Drummers of all Time. We think he deserves to have his cake and eat it too.

The post Happy Birthday ?uestlove appeared first on XXL.

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XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

The Trap God tells XXL about his first foray into the world of cinema.

The post Gucci Mane Speaks on His Film Debut in 'Spring Breakers,' Says Riff Raff Is Lying appeared first on XXL.

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Gucci Mane and...is that James Franco???

On Thursday, MTV premiered the trailer to Spring Breakers, which stars James Franco, Selena Gomez,Vanessa Hudgens and, most importantly, Gucci Mane. The film, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters March 22, will mark the Trap God’s first foray into the world of cinema, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. XXL caught up with the Atlanta rapper in between studio sessions to find out how he landed the gig, what his future in film holds, and if there’s any truth to the rumors that James Franco’s character is based on Riff Raff. Here’s what Gucci Mane had to say. – As told to Neil Martinez-Belkin (@Neil_MB)

XXL: What’s going on, Gucci?

Gucci Mane: I’m in the studio. Working on my mixtape, Trap God 2.

When is that coming out?

I’m dropping that on Spring Break. I’ve got a movie coming out Spring Breakers, so I’m dropping Trap God 2: Spring Break Edition to coincide with the movie.

Well, that’s what I wanted to talk about. I just saw the trailer for the movie.

Let’s talk about it.

How did you first get approached to be in this movie?

I gotta give all the credit to Mariah Carey. I thank her for that. Also I want to give a shout-out to Nick Cannon and Mariah and their family. I thank her for introducing me to Brett Ratner, who did Rush Hour 3. I met him through her at our video for the song we did together, “Obsessed.” Later she put me in touch with Brett Ratner and Harmony Korine, who’s the director. They told me they were interested in putting me in a film, but she was the connect to that.

When was this?

She was pregnant at the time. That’s all I remember.

So what happened next?

Basically they told me that they didn’t think anybody could play this role better than me and so that’s why they sought me out. Harmony Korine, he was a fan of my music and a fan of my movement. Him being from Nashville, Tennesee, well, I got a big following in Nashville. So you know he wanted to bring my following to his movies, so it made a lot of sense for him too. He can get all my audience and I just felt like it was a great opportunity ’cause now I can get some of his audience too.

Were you familiar with any of his previous movies?

I knew about the movie Kids that he made, but I wasn’t really familiar with that much. But then I got to know him and I consider him a great friend, and I know that we’re gonna have a friendship that’s gonna last a long time and we’re gonna do a lot more business together. I like the way he do his videos and I just like the way he handles his business, period. He’s a good person.

What exactly is your role in the movie?

I’m a super bad guy in this role, you know what I’m saying? It’s like a role that was easy for me to play ’cause I’m just a street guy, you know? James Franco, his name’s Alien in the movie and I kind of taught him everything he knows. He’s a bad guy, but I’m a super bad guy. I’m badder than a bad guy.

How was working with Franco?

It was mind-blowing, man. I’m new to the film thing but I took to it like a fish to water ’cause that’s how I am. Still, even though I never been in a lot of movie shit, just working with him I could tell how intelligent he was. Him channeling into the role he played and how he did it, it’s great.

I keep hearing that James Franco’s character in the movie is based on Riff Raff. What do you know about that?

That’s totally false. I think Riff Raff’s just trying to gain some attention. And I think maybe [Franco] may favor a little bit his appearance, but it don’t have anything to do with the artist named Riff Raff. I know that for a fact.

Riff Raff certainly seems to think the character is based on him.

Truthfully, he lying.

You also worked alongside Selena Gomez. Were there any Bieber sightings on set?

I heard one time Justin came to the to the set to support Selena and support the movie. I didn’t see him but shout out him for supporting the movie and shout out Selena for being in the movie.

How long did you spend filming your part of the movie?

They had me there for like two weeks. This was a big, big, big film. This was a big opportunity and they paid me a lot of money to be in it. And I thank God that I had this chance, ’cause rap don’t pay like the movies pay.

Did you find acting to be challenging?

It was easy as rolling a blunt.

Really?

Easy as rolling two blunts back to back.

So we should expect to see Gucci Mane on the big screen again?

You can definitely expect me to work with Harmony Korine and James Franco again. I’m so thankful to have my movie debut be in one of the biggest movies of 2013. Biggest film of the year. Everybody should be excited ’cause it’s my big break in movies.

The post Gucci Mane Speaks on His Film Debut in 'Spring Breakers,' Says Riff Raff Is Lying appeared first on XXL.

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XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Peep the latest offering from Break alumnus Ariez Onasis

The post Ariez Onasis "Roll Call" appeared first on XXL.

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[audio:http://www.xxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ariez-Onasis-_-Roll-Call-produced-by-Saint-1.mp3]

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]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/01/ariez-onasis-roll-call/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/the-break-presents-jabee/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-break-presents-jabee http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/the-break-presents-jabee/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:26:45 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266580

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Get familiar with this rising rapper out of Oklahoma City

The post The Break Presents: Jabee appeared first on XXL.

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Standout: “Starvation”

Also check out: “Decency”

And: “Nobody”

Name: Jabee Williams

Age:29

Hometown: Oklahoma City , OK

I grew up listening to: Gospel like Willie Neal Johnson. Old school stuff like The Ohio Players and the Chi-lites. In terms of Rap music I listed to 2pac, Company Flow , E-40, MF Doom. Of course Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson. My dad always played old school hip hop too. Whodini, Grandmaster Flash , Melle Mel.

Most people don’t know I:Like to draw, or that I’ve done mission work in Ecuador. Most people dont know I have a tattoos of 2pac, Lauryn hill, and Huey P. Newton on my chest.

My style’s been compared to: I think I sound like Oklahoma! People always try to find simularities though. I’ve heard everything from Too Short, Nas, Kanye, MF Doom, Mos Def, to Brother Ali.

My standout records and/or moments to date have been: The “Stephanie” song with EL-P and him letting me jump on some of his tour dates. The video for that was a standout. Also getting props from Chuck D stands out as well. I’ve got some great things coming so I’m just trying to keep pushing.

My goal in Hip-Hop is: To be myself, be honest and make a living. To put on for Oklahoma and make music that will help inspire and that people will love.

I’m gonna be the next: I don’t plan on being the next anything or anybody. I just wanna be the best Jabee… ACTUALLY I WANNA BE RAVEN SYMONES NEXT BOYFIREND!

To check out more of my music: Follow me on Twitter @MyNameIsJabee. Also check me out at iamjabee.bandcamp.com , soundcloud.com/Jabee-Williams , and Facebook.com/jabeemusic

The post The Break Presents: Jabee appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/the-break-presents-jabee/feed/ 4 http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/aap-rocky-and-overdoz-hit-the-studio-for-the-making-of-pain-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aap-rocky-and-overdoz-hit-the-studio-for-the-making-of-pain-video http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/aap-rocky-and-overdoz-hit-the-studio-for-the-making-of-pain-video/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:09:44 +0000 XXL Staff http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266602

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Check out this footage of A$AP Rocky and Overdoz in the studio for the making of their Long.Live.A$AP collaboration

The post A$AP Rocky and Overdoz Hit The Studio For The Making of "Pain" [Video] appeared first on XXL.

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Check out this footage of A$AP Rocky and Overdoz in the studio for the making of their Long.Live.A$AP collaboration

The post A$AP Rocky and Overdoz Hit The Studio For The Making of "Pain" [Video] appeared first on XXL.

]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/01/aap-rocky-and-overdoz-hit-the-studio-for-the-making-of-pain-video/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/joe-budden-returns-to-espns-first-take-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=joe-budden-returns-to-espns-first-take-video http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/joe-budden-returns-to-espns-first-take-video/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:08:32 +0000 Adam Fleischer http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266451

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Joey continues to flex his sports knowledge.

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]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/joe-budden-returns-to-espns-first-take-video/feed/ 0 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/drake-in-toronto-shooting-a-video-for-new-song-started-from-the-bottom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drake-in-toronto-shooting-a-video-for-new-song-started-from-the-bottom http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/drake-in-toronto-shooting-a-video-for-new-song-started-from-the-bottom/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:53:28 +0000 Eric Diep http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266397

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Comeback season sooner than later?

The post Drake in Toronto Shooting a Video for New Song “Started From the Bottom” appeared first on XXL.

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A few days ago, Drake sent out a crypt tweet that hinted that a new song would be arriving soon. According to the official fansite Word on Road, Drizzy is currently in Toronto shooting a video for “Started from the Bottom.” While many expected “No New Friends” would be the first sign of new music from him, it looks like he’s going in a different direction. Head over here for photos and check out the tweets below.

Coming from the higher ups.

— Drizzy (@Drake) January 15, 2013

Video directed by Director X who also directed ‘HYFR’.

— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) January 16, 2013

Drake is currently in Toronto shooting a video for his new song! #startedfromthebottom

— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) January 16, 2013

 

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XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

The duo are getting together once again to make fans "Jump."

The post Kriss Kross Is Reuniting appeared first on XXL.

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It’s been just over two decades since pint-sized duo burst onto the scene with their hit record “Jump” and No. 1 album Totally Krossed Out, and the guys are now ready for a return. According to TMZ, the twosome will be getting together for the 20th anniversary So So Def concert in Atlanta in February. In the 1990s, the Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac put out three albums, as well as a compilation, though they were never quite able to recapture their initial success.

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]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/kriss-kross-is-reuniting/feed/ 7 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/master-p-releases-new-mixtape-al-capone-download-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-p-releases-new-mixtape-al-capone-download-now http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/master-p-releases-new-mixtape-al-capone-download-now/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:01:04 +0000 Eric Diep http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266335

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

Check out the No Limit soldier's long-awaited mixtape.

The post Master P Releases New Mixtape “Al Capone” [Download Now] appeared first on XXL.

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It’s finally here. Master P is making his return to rap with Al Capone. Previously, the No Limit soldier has released songs like “Brick To A Million” and “Louie Sheets” for longtime fans. The 15-track effort features his Louie V Mob (Fat Trel, Alley Boy), Meek Mill, Nipsey Hussle, Game and more. After the tape, Percy is working on his new album, Boss Of all Bosses: The Godfather Album.

You can stream the mixtape below and download it over at LiveMixtapes.

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]]> http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/master-p-releases-new-mixtape-al-capone-download-now/feed/ 19 http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/big-boi-performs-cpu-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=big-boi-performs-cpu-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-video http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2013/01/big-boi-performs-cpu-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-video/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:47:09 +0000 Adam Fleischer http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=266307

XXL - Hip-Hop On A Higher Level

The ATLien continues to make the rounds in support of his recent album, Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors.

The post Big Boi Performs “CPU” on Jimmy Kimmel Live [Video] appeared first on XXL.

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The post Big Boi Performs “CPU” on Jimmy Kimmel Live [Video] appeared first on XXL.

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