ANIMAL » XXL

50 Cent Dressed as A Muslim Woman While Soulja Boy Holds His Dick Cover

Bucky Turco — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:57:24 +0000

I’m really not sure that anything 50 Cent says, does, or posts on Twitter can be considered outrageous at this point, but at least he’s still trying. Behold the latest cover of XXL that features the rap mogul with his tattooed protégé Soulja Boy. Apparently they’re very close.

See XXL’s ‘Freshman List’ for 2010 Now

Bucky Turco — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:27:31 +0000

Each year, hip hop magazine XXL releases their ‘Freshman Class’ issue, that features the top ten up and coming rappers on their cover. But no need to wait until 2010 to see who made the cut, thanks to an intrepid tipster who claims to have taken a spy shot of the roster. Although we can’t independently verify the authenticity of the list, ~~it’s very likely that it’s legit, after all,~~ this wouldn’t be the first time they got scooped on their own content.

UPDATE: XXL Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten says she appreciates the “enthusiasm,” but the list isn’t from the mag, it’s a fraud! Her statement below:

I’m writing from XXL to let you know the email about XXL’s 2010 Freshman Class is a fake list that did not come from our magazine.

While we are flattered about the enthusiasm and heat The Freshman Class generates, this list did not come from XXL and was most likely created and leaked by someone in hopes of boosting their career.

We are always on the lookout for the most promising artists who do, in fact, make it into XXL.

The current issue of XXL (our double Dec/Jan 2010 issue with 50 Cent Â
on the cover) is on stands now.

Vanessa Satten
Editor-in-Chief
XXL Magazine
1115 Broadway
8th Floor
NY, NY 10010
212.462.9630
www.XXLMag.com

XXL Still Not On the List

Bucky Turco — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:30:30 +0000

Still not content with getting scooped on a print feature that was obviously created with the intention of attracting pageviews, rap mag XXL thought it’d be wise to finally get around to releasing their 100 favorite Hip Hop websites piece online, but in parts, over the next few days. Smart, right? Or…you could just go see the full list ANIMAL already leaked now!

XXL Keeps It 100 With Favorite Hip Hop Blogs List

Bucky Turco — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:05:04 +0000

Why these hip hop magazines don’t post this shit themselves before sites like ANIMAL scoop them I’ll never know, but here’s XXL’s 100 favorite Hip Hop Blogs list from their soon to be released December/January issue.

They must have learned from Vibe’s fiasco and decided not to even try and rank them, although they did list themselves and practically ever other website out there. There’s nothing like playing it safe. Did you make the cut?

1200squad.com
2Dopeboyz.okayplayer.com
24hourhiphop.com
57thave.com
allhiphop.com
ballerstatus.net
bbcicecream.com
beatsandrants.blogs.com
bestofbothoffices.com
blogxilla.com
bobatl.com
bossip.com
brandonsoderberg.blogspot.com
buckmarleyxxx.com
byroncrawford.com
chamillionare.com
cocaineblunts.com
complex.com
concreteloop.com
cratekings.com
daily-math.com/weblog
dallaspenn.com
Datpiff.com
daveyd.com
dctobc.com
differentkitchen.blogspot.com
djsmallz.com
down-south.com
dubcnn.com
fakeshoredrive.com
getrightmusic.com
globalgrind.com
grandgood.com
gyantunplugged,.com
hear-it-first.net
herfection.com
hiphopdx.com
hiphopgame.com
hiphopisread.blogspot.com
hiphopofficial.com
icedotcom.blogspot.com
illdoctrine.com
illroots.com
itsthecons.com
itsthereal.tumblr.com
joebuddentv.com
kanyeuniversecity.com
karencivil.com
kevinnottingham.com
live.dr.jays.com
Loud.com
lupefiasco-lupend.blogspot.com
mauricegarland.blogspot.com
maliceoftheclipse.com
mediatakeout.com
missinfo.tv
mixtapekings.com
mtv.com/news
myfabolouslife.com
nahright.com
necolebitchie.com
octobersveryown.blogspot.com
ohhla.com
okayplayer.com
onsmash.com
ozonemag.com
pliesworld.com
poisonousparagraphs.blogspot.com
prodby.altervista.org
radioplanet.tv
rapradar.com
realtalkny.uproxx.com
rickrossdeeperthanrap.com
roc4life.com
sandrarose.com
sohh.com
smartenupnas.com
smokingsection.net
soulassassins.com
souljaboytellem.com
spinemagazine.com
the305.com
theblastbydigiwaxx.com
thefader.com
therapup.com
theybf.com
thinkcommon.com
thisis50.com
thisizgame.com
trapsntrunks.com
unkut.com
usda2day.ning.com
vibe.com
vladtv.com
wordofsouth.com
worldstarhiphop.com
wydublog.com
xclusiveszone.net
xxlmag.com
yourheardthatnew.com

Media Critic 50 Cent On Jay-Z’s Takeover of XXL

Bucky Turco — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:56:03 +0000

50 Cent just released a new track that goes at Jay-Z called “Flight 187,” but instead of focusing on the beef, he’d rather discuss the publicity that his fellow rap mogul generates, especially when it comes to a certain Hip Hop magazine. “Did you see the new XXL?” Fitty asks. “There’s about 40 pages of Jay-Z in there.” And he ain’t exaggerating too badly either. Hov appears on the cover, in most of the 24 pages of premium ads Rocawear booked (front inside cover included), the table of contents, editor’s letter, in miscellaneous editorials and his Blueprint 3 ad even graces the back cover, completing a full monopoly of the mag.

Jay-Z: Bigger Than Hip Hop, Skyscrapers

Bucky Turco — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:07:14 +0000

Hip Hop mogul, rapper, and September 11th opportunist Jay-Z scored the October cover of XXL to help hype his hotly awaited album, Blueprint 3. Hov discusses a variety of topics, including why he’s better than everyone else in the game: “But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it.” He’s also got the t-shirt.

XXL’s Pay To Play Cover Policy

Bucky Turco — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:58:42 +0000

Back a few years ago when he could still afford a Range Rover, rap mogul Damon Dash was shelling out millions to advertise Roc-A-Fella properties in Hip Hop magazine XXL. What kind of coverage does a buy like that get? Depends. When blindly filling out insertion orders, all he received was a bunch of gossip items, but the minute he complained and threatened to pull ad dollars, the mag actually gave him the cover along with Cam’ron. Then Editor-in-Chief, Elliott Wilson, was fully complicit in the shady dealings and wrote this nonsense in an attempt to justify the purchased cover story while not alienating BFF Jay-Z:

But truth be told, Dame Dash deserves this cover. For 10 years he helped build Roc-A-Fella Records into the dynasty he and his partners, Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, kept insisting it was. Indeed, Jigga will go down one day as the greatest rapper of all-time (that’s right, the G.O.A.T, fuckers!), but without his hardworking, ball-breaking, take-no-shit pit bull by his side, the road to the riches would have been much harder for Shawn Carter. Holla!

|XXL|

‘Giant’ Folding?

Bucky Turco — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:34:16 +0000

A very reliable source in the magazine industry tells ANIMAL that Giant is folding after its July issue, citing abysmal ad sales. If true, this would be the second magazine that Smokey Fontaine* ruined—he was the Editor-in-Chief of America back when Dame Dash could still afford a Range Rover and helped drive that book into the ground too. This would also indicate that the attack letters allegedly sent out by rival rag XXL were either really effective or highly predictive. Either way, maybe that explains putting this funeral-home-ready shot of Nick Cannon mourning on the cover of what could be the last issue.

*Although Smokey is not the current Editor-in-Chief—he’s the Content Editor for its parent company Radio One—the dude was responsible for dramatically changing the face of the magazine (for the worse).

XXL Needs Sales Gangsta To Bring in Cash Money

Will Sherman — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:31:11 +0000

With advertising dollars drying up across the magazine industry, XXL is “in search of a sales ‘gangsta’ for an Advertising Director position,” one who can “bring in the cash money” and be able “to ‘bring it’ and ‘shut it down’” with “Big Idea” ad sales. Strangely, the job description doesn’t mention issuing attack memos about rival publications as a responsibility. Perhaps they assume anyone attracted by a job listing that quotes Wu-Tang’s C.R.E.A.M. will have no problem trashing the competition to win some advertising dollars.

Louis Vuitton Calls Out Rick Ross

Will Sherman — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:51:59 +0000

He’s lied about working as a prison guard and about his crew’s safety to get them to shoot a video in Colombia, so it’s not surprising that Rick Ross sports gear that’s just as deceptive. After seeing the 33-year-old rapper on the cover of XXL magazine’s May issue, a Louis Vuitton lawyer wrote in to point out “the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit.” |XXL|