Private Club / Commission Music Making XXL’s annual Freshman Class cover is both an honor and a call to action for those selected whether they anticipate it or not. Just ask Madeintyo, who kicks off his new six song EP, True’s World by saying, “XXL chose a real nigga/Can’t let my fans down.” It’s a […]
Mass Appeal Records The question on many people’s minds when discussing Fashawn and his more than 10-year rap career is why he’s only dropped two albums? Well, despite what the mainstream lens captures, the Fresno, Calif. native and 2010 XXL Freshman has been steadily grinding even before he dropped his 2009 debut LP, Boy Meets […]
Duck Down Music When Sean Pricepassed away in his sleep two years ago at the age of 43, hip-hop lost an underground legend. He may not have been a household name, but there was a good chance he was one of your favorite rapper’s favorite rappers. For two decades, Price was a force to be […]
Atlantic Meek Mill has had a tough two years to say the least. From his public breakup with Nicki Minaj to exponentially declining album sales and finally his defeat in a rap feud against Drake basically making him the butt of every meme, Philly’s favorite Rolex-wearing rapper faced a healthy dose of adversity coming into […]
Columbia Records Tyler, The Creator has never been one to oversaturate the market, which for most rappers, is easier said than done. On average, Tyler gives himself at least a year-and-a-half between albums in attempts to live enough new experiences to write another poignant project consisting of new messages, meanings and musical mayhem. Since his […]
Roc Nation Chicago’s reemergence as a breeding ground for rap talent may have been spurred in large part by the city’s patented drill sound, however, its extended presence on the national stage has been more the product of artists that would rather heal their hometown than glorify the violence that engulfs it. Vic Mensa, an […]
Slaughter Gang LLC / Epic Records When the 2016 XXL Freshman Class was revealed to the world in June of last year, one of the most unfamiliar faces to grace the cover was likely 21 Savage. Mainstream hip-hop fans were surely in the know when it came to picks like Anderson .Paak, Desiigner and Lil […]
The Other People’s Money Company / Interscope A stint in jail can throw off an artist’s entire career but luckily for Los Angeles native Jay 305, the setback was inspiration for his comeback, which is detailed on his debut album, Taking All Bets. This new LP lets listeners know more about the West Coast new […]
Roc Nation When one of the great musical icons of all-time decides to release an album, the occasion is sure to manufacture equal amounts anticipation and expectation. This has been a formality JAY-Z has gone through for much of his career, and continues to do so with the release of his 13th studio album, 4:44. […]
Bad Boy/Epic Few rappers have mastered the art of remaining omnipresent quite like French Montana. The Moroccan sensation out of the South Bronx has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a DVD peddler, evolving into a bonafide rap star while gradually building his Cocaine City empire into one of the strongest movements […]
