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After years spent putting in work behind stars like Juvenile and 50 Cent, G-Unit’s mouth of the South finally gets a solo shot at rap success. It’s Young Buck time. Let him shine. Words: Vanessa Satten Images: Michael Schreiber It’s a humid Los Angeles day in June 2001...

With G-Unit sales gone south, the NYC crew turns to its Southern representative to bring the numbers back up. cutting through industry to focus on his powerful new album, Young Buck says it's his time to shine. Interview: Sean A. Malcolm Images: Jonathan Mannion It’s a cold, rainy February night in New York, and David “Young Buck” Brown is seeking attention...

50 Cent has been hanging out with welterweight boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. A lot lately. In fact, they've formed a sort of club. What exactly is the money team? Interview: Vanessa Satten Image: Perou THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH, MAYBE MORE, IN STUDIO B OF BROOKLYN’S FAST ASHLEY’S STUDIOS, AND IT ALL BELONGS TO 50 CENT AND FLOYD MAYWEATHER...

Having reclaimed the throne with the resounding success of Recovery, Eminem has recruited a remarkable stable of renowned MCs to revive his record label.The underground-scene supergroup Slaughterhouse: Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Crooked I and Royce Da 5' 9"...

More rappers than ever are turning to books to scratch their creative itch. A list of the 10 best ever Words: Adam Fleischer, Jesse Gissen, Mark Lelinwalla, Jayson Rodriguez Images: Socrates Gomez These days, when rappers pull out a pen and a pad, or even get on the computer or their smart phones, it’s not certain they do so with the intent of writing a rhyme. Mo...

We thought we knew what the movement was like. But then there was trouble in Dipset paradise. With co-founder Cam still M.I.A., can Jim, Julez and Zeke bring the title back to Harlem? Interviews By: Vanessa Satten Photography By: Perou A rap crew is hip-hop’s best display of strength in numbers...

XXL revisits the late hip-hop impresario's 2003 feature story...

B.G. starts a fourteen-year bid behind bars. Words: Brendan McCarthy THE 32-YEAR-OLD MAN SHUFFLES INTO THE VISITING BOOTH AT FCI BEAUMONT MEDIUM, PART OF THE BEAUMONT FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, ON AN OCTOBER AFTERNOON. HE’S SLOW, banged up, recovering from a broken foot in a prison basketball game...

his Saturday, Nas’ magnum opus Illmatic turns 20. The Queensbridge native’s journey into becoming a legendary MC all started with a groundbreaking debut that captured his worldview of the projects through a sharpened lens. XXL is celebrating the monumental anniversary with Nas Week, and we are proud to present you with every cover the iconic rapper has appeared on...

This Saturday, Nas’ magnum opus Illmatic turns 20. The Queensbridge native’s journey into becoming a legendary MC all started with a groundbreaking debut that captured his worldview of the projects through a sharpened lens. XXL is celebrating the monumental anniversary with Nas Week, and we are proud to present you with every cover the iconic rapper has appeared on... Read More ...

This Saturday, Nas’ magnum opus Illmatic turns 20. The Queensbridge native’s journey into becoming a legendary MC all started with a groundbreaking debut that captured his worldview of the projects through a sharpened lens. XXL is celebrating the monumental anniversary with Nas Week, and we are proud to present you with every cover the iconic rapper has appeared on...

This Saturday, Nas’ magnum opus Illmatic turns 20. The Queensbridge native’s journey into becoming a legendary MC all started with a groundbreaking debut that captured his worldview of the projects through a sharpened lens. XXL is celebrating the monumental anniversary with Nas Week, and we are proud to present you with every cover the iconic rapper has appeared on...