feature
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, president of the Republic of Senegal. Screenshot from the Senegal7 YouTube Channel. Fair use. On March 24, 2024, Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the youngest elected president in the history of Senegal at just 44 years of age. Faye subsequently entered office on his birthday on March 25. This story is truly remarkable, given that just six months ago, Faye was still in the shadow of his former mentor, opposition leader and former presidential candidate, Ousmane Sonko. First career in state institutionsIn 2000, Faye graduated from Lycée Demba Diop in Mbour, a coastal town 80 ...
Global Voices
When J. Cole apologized for returning fire against Kendrick Lamar on his song “7 Minute Drill” in April, his own fans collectively rolled their eyes. Now, it seems they might be changing their tune. J. Cole is far from the first rapper to apologize in the midst of a brewing rap feud, but his decision to wave the white flag at the 2024 Dreamville Festival in April jeopardized his credibility as a top-ranking MC in the eyes of many supporters. “I was conflicted because I know my heart and I know how I feel about my peers,” Cole told the roaring Dreamville crowd at the time. “These two n***as [Ke...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now The bird Drake chose for his mascot is the owl. A majestic, mostly nocturnal, solitary bird of prey revered for symbolizing wisdom and foresight. However, his current lyrical squabbles with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Rick Ross have the topic of conversation centering around if the Canadian rap star might be a different fowl: the vulture. More specifically, a culture vulture. Rozay inferred the allegation of Drake being an outsider who’s attempting to scavage off the hip-hop culture in the diss song “Champagne Moments,” his response to being shaded by Drake on “Push ...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now Ye not dropping an album on the announced release date is one of the surest bets in hip-hop. The formula is pretty much always the same. He announces an album. He promotes the album. He gives fans a release date. Then, following a lull on updates, the clock strikes midnight on said day and…crickets. Yeezy supporters cry, complain and post angry GIFs on X, formerly known as Twitter. And they do it all again the next time. Thus was the case yet again on Friday (May 3), when Ye and Ty Dolla $ign‘s Vultures 2 did not drop after Ye stated it would. This isn’t a particularly g...
XXL Mag
Just as the sun was rising on the East Coast this morning, Kendrick Lamar delivered yet another series of slanderous jabs towards Drake. Coming in at half the length of K-Dot’s initial diss, “Euphoria,” with less aggression and more soul via an Al Green sample, Kendrick dropped “6:16 in LA.” While the impromptu track, released solely on Instagram on Friday (May 3), contains a plethora of symbolism, there are also very notable and meticulously crafted takeaways as well. Take a look below to find out the deciphered meanings within “6:16 in LA.” 1. Kendrick Thinks Akademiks Is CompromisedOn Kendr...
XXL Mag
Kendrick Lamar has returned fire with a new diss track aimed at Drake titled “6:16 in LA,” and there are numerous meanings behind the title of the song. K-Dot’s latest attack on Drizzy appeared on the former’s Instagram account on Friday (May 3). Fans have already begun to dissect the track. “6:16 in LA” is Kendrick’s second diss track aimed at Drake in less than a week following “Euphoria,” which dropped this past Tuesday (April 30). Before even getting into the song, the title of Kung Fu Kenny’s new diss has a variety of meanings. Fans began picking the title apart almost immediately, citing...
XXL Mag
Yaya Dillo Djerou, dressed in white. Screenshot from the video “Tchad : l'opposant Yaya Dillo tué” on the TV5MONDE Info YouTube channel. Fair use. In Chad, the death of political opponent, Yaya Dillo Djérou, just two months ahead of the 2024 presidential elections has been a major setback for the Chadian opposition. On February 27, 2024, the National Election Management Agency (ANGE) announced that Chadian citizens would elect their next leader at the presidential elections on May 6, 2024. These elections should mark the end of the transition period that began with the death of president Idris...
Global Voices
Double or NothingJim Jones and Maino were once former enemies, but they put the past behind them to create a bond that has translated into an album as rap duo Lobby Boyz. Now, the boys are back with a new project.Interview: William E. Ketchum IIIEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now. Regardless of chemistry in the booth or on the stage, maintaining a rap group consists of managing a lot of moving parts—especially for artists who have already built successful solo careers and have their own responsibilities to tend to. Getting Lobby Boyz toget...
XXL Mag
The debate over the quality of Kendrick Lamar‘s “Euphoria” diss track has continued to rage on ever since it dropped yesterday. Some rap fans have clowned Kendrick’s response to Drake since it’s release on Tuesday (April 30), arguing that while K-Dot undoubtedly rapped circles around Drizzy in his 6-minute response, the MC didn’t reveal anything that Drizzy critics didn’t already know. On the other hand, Kendrick’s die-hard supporters are standing by their king’s response, digging up plenty of easter eggs the rapper scattered throughout the song to showcase his lyrical dexterity and creativity...
XXL Mag
Cleanin’ Out My ClosetDanny Brown has a clearer view on life after going to rehab last year. The brilliant Detroit mainstay is still cooking up rhymes, beats and his lauded podcast while coming clean.Interview: Joey EchevarriaEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now. Danny Brown is a changed man. Being clean and sober will do that. However, when it comes to his unique brand of hip-hop—one that blends introspective commentary with pure comedy—the 43-year-old rapper hasn’t lost his edge at all. With nine mixtapes, four EPs, three collaborative pro...
XXL Mag
閲覧を続けるには、ノアドット株式会社が「プライバシーポリシー」に定める「アクセスデータ」を取得することを含む「nor.利用規約」に同意する必要があります。
「これは何?」という方はこちら