XXL
2024 XXL Freshman Cyphers Trailer
updated
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J. Cole released the brand new song "Port Antonio," which reveals the real reason he pulled out of the Kendrick Lamar rap battle. On the track, he also addresses Drake. It’s been six months since the North Carolina MC waved the white flag and bowed out of the beef between K-Dot and Drizzy. This past April, Cole even apologized to K-Dot on stage in front of thousands at his annual Dreamville Fest. Six months later, J. Cole dropped a new track, “Port Antonio,” which gives new insight into why he backed out of one of the biggest rap battles in hip-hop history. Here's a deep dive into the lyrics on Cole's new song.
#JCole #KendrickLamar #Drake #Beef #RapBattle #Rapper #Rap #HipHop #Rappers
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Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman's passion for hip-hop runs deep. As the cofounder and CEO of Duck Down Music and the CEO of 3D Consulting and Distribution, Dru Ha has been entrenched in the culture for over 30 years. On this episode of XXL's Inside Track podcast, the White Plains, N.Y. native discusses his early days of managing Smif-N-Wessun with Buckshot, how that led to running a successful independent record label, working with MCs like Young M.A and Joey Bada$$, currently managing comedian Druski and more.
#DruHa #DuckDown #YoungMa #JoeyBadass #Druski #Rapper #Rap #HipHop
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Kendrick Lamar made a calculated move by releasing his latest untitled song, a pointed critique of the industry, during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on September 11. He added an Easter egg with the cover art, which features a beat up pair of black Air Force 1s, the universal symbol for choosing violence. The story behind how K-Dot got the photo and what happened next is an interesting one.
#KendrickLamar #Rapper #HipHop #Rap #AirForce1 #BlackAirForce1
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When controversial Jacksonville, Florida rapper Foolio was shot and killed in Tampa this past June, many people in the hip-hop community weren’t that surprised. If his music and the reports are to be believed, Foolio led a dangerous lifestyle. His career was lowlighted by brazen songs dissing his living and dead opps. Those tactics have proven to be a formula for negative consequences in hip-hop in the past. This story has had some strange twists that have kept Foolio making headlines even after his death. Here’s how.
#Foolio #FoolioMurder #FoolioDead #JulioFoolio #YungeenAce #HipHop #Rapper #Rap
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Rich Homie Quan’s death came as a shock to rap fans when he passed away on September 5 at the age of 34.
An artist who made his mark as one of hip-hop’s most respected contributors to the melodic rap movement in the 2010s, the Atlanta rapper’s death prompted many to go back and listen to his biggest hit records, including "Type of Way,” and “Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh),” and “Lifestyle” as part of Rich Gang with Young Thug and Birdman.
Even his 2014 XXL Freshman freestyle got replays. Quan’s streams reportedly shot up 277 percent the week after his passing, and his monthly Spotify listeners doubled. Take a look at his life remembered and details of his passing.
#RichHomieQuan #Rapper #HipHop #HipHop
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Lenny S, senior vice president at Roc Nation, is a self-described "accessible guy" with an elite level of access within the music industry. On this episode of XXL's Inside Track podcast, Lenny S discusses his unwavering success as an A&R, his upcoming book based on photos taken on his now-famous gold couch in his Roc Nation office and being a part of major moments that made rap game history.
After cutting his teeth in hip-hop as an independent street promoter in his home borough of the Bronx, a one-year stint with Bad Boy Records led Lenny to an intern position at then-upstart label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996. He quickly became a key player at the Roc and has been firmly positioned at the right hand of Jay-Z ever since.
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
#LennyS #JayZ #RocAFellaRecords #DefJam #MusicIndustry #HipHop #Rappers #Rap
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Diddy has been arrested by the Feds following a six-month investigation and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in a grand jury indictment. On Tuesday, September 17, the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York unsealed the details of Diddy's grand jury indictment. The 14-page indictment details shocking allegations. Here's a look at Diddy's indictment.
#Diddy #DiddyArrested #HipHop #Rapper #Rap
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Many people may think YoungBoy Never Broke Again's career could be over due to his many legal issues. While his legion of cult-like fans propelled him into stardom, years and years of legal problems have prevented him from being a true superstar. Numerous legal upsets have plagued the 24-year-old rapper throughout his career. Now, he is just starting a prison bid and dealing with new charges, both of which have halted his music career. This is a look at his cases and how they affect his career.
#YoungBoyNeverBrokeAgain #NBAYoungBoy #HipHop #Rap #Rapper
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A sense of nostalgia comes whenever a blog-era MC drops a new release, and Big Sean's return to rap this year has brought that good old feeling back. The Detroit rapper proves that taking time off for some self-improvement can work out for the best. The last time he put out a project was the joint EP What You Expect with Hit-Boy in 2021. Sean's renewed energy and elevated bars are showcased on his sixth studio album, Better Me Than You. The respected artist discusses the message he's delivering with his new LP, consistency in hip-hop, inspiring flows and more for his XXL magazine digital cover.
See Big Sean's XXL magazine digital cover story interview: xxlmag.com/big-sean-interview
00:00 Intro
00:21 On His Energy
00:59 On His New Album
02:36 On His Current Headspace
03:11 On Being Multifaceted
03:50 On the Lack of Consistency
05:14 On His Impact on Hip-Hop
07:42 On His Sound and Originality
09:03 On His Motivation
#BigSean #HipHop #Rap #Rapper #Interview #BigSean Album #BigSeanBetterMeThanYou
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Unfortunately, for decades, many rappers' murders have gone unsolved. However, these days, suspects are caught more quickly, arrested and later convicted. Hip-hop is getting its rightful justice.
Rappers' murders being solved hasn't always been the case. From the late 1980s to the 2010s, countless hip-hop stars' slayings went unsolved and are still cold cases to this day. The Notorious B.I.G sticks out as the most high-profile murder in which someone has yet to be charged. Yet, there are countless others that have yet to be solved as well. Fat Pat, Soulja Slim, Mac Dre and Stack Bundles, to name a few.
In recent years, things have changed as the rate of murdered rappers' cases seem to be solved more often than not. There are several examples that have occurred in the last few years. XXXTentacion's killers were tried and found guilty of his 2018 murder in March of 2023. PnB Rock's murder has been solved, as so has Nipsey Hussle's death and Pop Smoke's killing. Here's a look at why rappers' murders are being solved more often than they used to be.
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Orlando Wharton, executive vice president at Capitol Music Group and president of Priority Records, has a keen eye for talent. The list of rappers he's put on during his time as an A&R and record executive is impressive and includes Kodak Black, PnB Rock, XXXTentacion and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, among others. The list continues to grow. On this episode of XXL's Inside Track podcast, he discusses working with some of those artists, the effect that recent rappers' deaths have had on the landscape of hip-hop, how he eyes new talent and more.
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
#OrlandoWharton #XXXTentacion #PnBRock #KodakBlack #PopSmoke #MusicIndustry #HipHop #Rappers #Rap
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50 Cent may have found a new home following the success of his inaugural four-day-long Humor & Harmony Weekend Festival in Shreveport, Louisiana from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11.
50 not only brought an economic boost to the city, but there were also performances from himself, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, DaBaby, comedy sets from Dave Chappelle and Katt Williams, a car show with Power 105.1’s DJ Envy and much more.
#50Cent ABoogieWitDaHoodie #DaBaby #DaveChappelle #KattWilliams #Rap #Rapper #HipHop
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
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Steve Stoute has seen it all and been through it all as a music executive for nearly 25 years. Fortunately, he still has the hunger for more. After helping boost the careers of artists like Nas, Will Smith, Mariah Carey and other artists as a manager and label head, Stoute's latest company, UnitedMasters, is changing the game for independent artists. On this episode of XXL's Inside Track podcast, he discusses his storied past, UnitedMasters' role in the music industry and the future of the rap game.
#SteveStoute #BigXthaPlug #UnitedMasters #NLEChoppa #Podcast #Interview #Rapper #Rap #HipHop
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
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There aren't many rappers as vocal about the upcoming presidential election as Lil Pump. After putting his support behind former President Donald Trump in 2020, the Florida rapper has been extremely expressive on social media over the last few months about getting Trump back in office when it comes time to vote in the Nov. 5 election. In an exclusive interview with XXL, conducted on Aug. 8, Lil Pump speaks on why he's a Donald Trump supporter, the diss track he planned to aim at current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump for president, his upcoming Spanish album and his transformation to a healthier lifestyle.
#LilPump #DonaldTrump #KamalaHarris #Rap #Rapper #HipHop #Interview
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The first half of 2024 has been a whirlwind in hip-hop. In six months, the genre has produced four No. 1 albums and six No. 1 songs, the biggest rap battle in decades, one of the most enthralling scandals in mainstream media and a whole bunch of headline-grabbing moments that no one saw coming. Here's a look at the most viral moments in hip-hop from 2024 so far.
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
#HipHop #HipHop2024 #Rapper #Rappers #Drake #KendrickLamar #NickiMinaj #MeganTheeStallion #Diddy
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The success Rob49 has achieved over the last year has even surprised him. He's locked in features with Cardi B and Lil Wayne, and appeared on Travis Scott's Utopia album, all since becoming an XXL Freshman in 2023. The New Orleans rapper's trajectory is coated in promise and success. In an exclusive interview with XXL, Rob49 opens up about "On Dat Money," his new track with Cardi, collaborating with Weezy, headlining his own tour and dropping a new project featuring some heavy-hitter names.
#Rob49 #Interview #HipHop #Rap #Rappers
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Jonathan Mannion's work as a photographer and filmmaker speaks for itself. Over the course of two decades, he's shot some of the most legendary album covers in rap history. Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, Eminem's The Eminem Show, OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and DMX's Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood are some of the classic covers the photographer has captured. Mannion has shot more than 300 of the biggest album covers in the genre. On this episode of XXL's Inside Track podcast, he discusses some of his biggest moments with rap's biggest stars and explains his career trajectory from a rookie photographer to rap's go-to tastemaker.
Beat for video produced by Luka The Sin
#JonathanMannion #JayZ #Photographer #Photography #DMX #Nas #Podcast #Interview #Rapper #Rap #HipHop
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Watch the 2024 XXL Freshman cypher featuring That Mexican OT, Skilla Baby, ScarLip, Cash Cobain and Lay Bankz.
Beat for cypher produced by Southside
Video directed by Travis Satten (travissatten.com)
Video produced by The Rhythm Section Creative (therhythmsection.us)
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#2024XXLFreshman #XXLFreshman #XXLFreshmen #Cyphers #Cypher #ThatMexicanOT #SkillaBaby #ScarLip #CashCobain #LayBankz #HipHop #Rap #Rappers #Southside
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Watch the 2024 XXL Freshman cypher featuring BigXthaPlug, BossMan Dlow and Maiya The Don.
Beat for cypher produced by Southside
Video directed by Travis Satten (travissatten.com)
Video produced by The Rhythm Section Creative (therhythmsection.us)
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#2024XXLFreshman #XXLFreshman #XXLFreshmen #Cyphers #Cypher #BigXthaPlug #BossManDlow #MaiyaTheDon #HipHop #Rap #Rappers #Southside
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#2024XXLFreshman #XXLFreshman #XXLFreshmen #Southside #Producer #HipHop #Rap #Rapper #ABC #Beats
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The 808 Mafia leader shares his passion for uplifting new artists and why he produced the beats for the 2024 XXL Freshman Class cyphers.
Beat for video produced by Southside.
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#2024XXLFreshman #XXLFreshman #XXLFreshmen #Southside #Producer #HipHop #Rap #Rapper #Beats #Interview
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