XXL’s double, year-end December/January 2012 issue features five special covers celebrating the 5 Faces of 50 Cent in honor of the superstar’s fifth album and an EP coming this January.

2012 marks 10 years since Fif took over the mixtape game with the release of 50 Cent is the Future. Over the past decade, the superstar rapper has expanded his brand further than the average hip-hop artist and the different covers honor the five hats 50 juggles: The rapper, the actor, the businessman, the philanthropist and the bad guy, the latter cover which he shares with good friend and current Welterweight Boxing Champion Floyd Mayweather.

In the cover story, 50 analyzes the current music climate: “I don’t see what I fell in love with,” he says. “So now I gotta make music that reflects what N.W.A made. I have to make music that has the moments that Nas had. I have to make music that has what Biggie offered.” He also discusses his currently untitled fifth solo album: "For me, I’m still up against what I’ve done," he says. "So in order to top it, I know it’s a difficult task. You know, I see the bloggers. My audience hasn’t grown with me. They keep saying, “Aw, man, I want the old 50!” ’Cause those people, it would take them on a safari. I was bringing them close enough to the animals, without being able to get hurt. I was taking them into my neighborhood, where you can very well get your ass killed."

In addition Fif talks Hollywood, feeding kids in Africa through Street King and much more. And 50 and Floyd break down their crew: The Money Team. "The Money Team is money, is power and is respect," Floyd says. "It’s a lot of us. The team is, The Money Team is worldwide, and it’s growing. It’s growing each day."

The fully loaded issue also includes stories with Common, Mac Miller and the new-age Bay Area rap scene, which shined bright nationally this year. There’s also a list of the 10 best books written by a rapper, an investigation on the battle between Uncle Sam and hip-hop’s finest, an interview with Drake, a Take Care review and then some.

XXL's December/January 2012 issue hits newsstands nationwide on December 6. Check out XXLMag.com for extras from the special collector’s issue, including video and outtakes, as well as everyday hip-hop news and much more.—XXL Staff

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