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The symbolic Ferris Wheel, part of the Pripyat amusement park which was scheduled to open May 1, 1986. Image by Keith Adams via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. On April 26, 1986, a catastrophic accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A planned shutdown of the reactor, lasting 20 seconds, seemed like a routine check of electrical equipment. However, a few seconds later, a chemical explosion released about 520 types of dangerous radionuclides into the atmosphere. Thirty-eight years later, Belarusian officials say 12 percent of the country's territory is still contaminated. The ...
Global Voices
Judith Suminwa Tuluka, DRC's prime Minister. Screenshot from France24 YouTube channel. OnApril 1, 2024, in a historic decision few nations worldwide can boast of, Judith Suminwa Tuluka was named prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As prime minister, she will be responsible for running the day-to-day administrative tasks and implementing the policies set by the president, who oversees the executive functions of the government. WithJudith Suminwa Tuluka‘s appointment as prime minister, the Congolese people's wait for a new government has finally concluded. Three months ...
Global Voices
AttentionIn a few years’ time, Druski has ascended from your favorite rapper’s favorite Instagram comedian to budding actor and mogul in the making. With more in store for 2024, he continues to get the last laugh.Interview: C. Vernon Coleman IIEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now. Sometimes, one doesn’t have to be a rapper, producer or record exec to be a popular hip-hop figure. Enter Drew “Druski” Desbordes, a social media comedian-turned-multihyphen- ate entertainer who’s become a massive figure in the culture. It all started in 2017, when...
XXL Mag
Paul Amegakpo, president of the Tamberma Institute for Governance (ITG) based au Togo. Photo by Jean Sovon, used with permission. Originally scheduled for April 20, 2024, Togo is getting ready to hold its combined legislative and regional elections on April 29, 2024. As this will be the first regional election to be held under the decentralization process, this election will be a first for this country of over nine million inhabitants. Togo is divided into five administrative regions and has 113 members of parliament elected for a six-year term (including the April 2024 elections). Following t...
Global Voices
Cop Your XXL Merch Now Doja Cat has had a tumultuous relationship with social media throughout her career. One on hand, the California rapper-singer has been able to use the internet as a launching pad for stardom. However, when it comes to social interactions on platforms such as Instagram or X, formerly known as Twitter, she seems to have zero qualms about going toe to toe with fans. In fact, Doja’s online conversations tend to get so contentious, that it often seems as if she’s trying to alienate her own fan base. Either that or just defending herself. Ironically enough, Doja Cat’s first ta...
XXL Mag
What’s HappeninFrom radio to television, La La Anthony just keeps expanding her brand, but always keeps hip-hop part of it.Interview: Aleia WoodsEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now. As a proud member of 50 Cent’s Powerverse, La La Anthony has found her groove as an actress with roles in Power and BMF. Before those looks, La La was known in hip-hop as a radio personality and VJ. Her gig as a face on MTV’s Total Request Live in the 2000s made her popularity soar. Fast-forward two-plus decades, and she’s become a household name. XXL spoke to L...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now All is fair in love and rap battles. In 2024, that apparently includes the use of artificial intelligence. Drake using A.I. voices of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg to taunt Kendrick Lamar in their ongoing beef on Drizzy’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” was a polarizing move. It even angered some fans. However, the choice isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Drake’s move was very strategic. The OVO lyricist rapped as West Coast legends ’Pac and Snoop in an attempt to goad reclusive Cali rap savior K-Dot into a response. “Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast savior,” Tupac’s likeness can...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now In the current age of technology, advancements are happening at a rapid rate and affecting a multitude of industries, hip-hop included. So much that it’s unclear if rap songs that are coming out are actually artist-made or created via artificial intelligence, better known as A.I. The landscape and craftsmanship of music is facing an evolution that could be for better or worse—a question that has yet to be answered and will likely linger for some time. Besides, who would have ever thought skepticism would become an innate response to newly released music or that some sort...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now One of the most powerful men in the music industry is having a lot of discourse around his name in hip-hop circles lately. Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has been in the music business for 45 years. The North London native is a certified knight with the honor bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II, who did so in 2016, through her 90th Birthday Honours list, which praised the music industry and its leadership through its challenging times. The guy’s a big deal. Unfortunately, his name has been used by Ye as ammunition to go at Drake on a diss t...
XXL Mag
Cop Your XXL Merch Now The battle royale that is currently going on in hip-hop has taken center stage in recent weeks as the spirit of competition has returned to rap in a major way. Diss songs, social media insults and interview digs have been the norm in the past few weeks. Instead of being introduced to the public via Funk Flex’s bombs, mixtapes and radio world premieres, much of the content has been disseminated via popular streamers and podcasters. Podcasters and Streamers Have Become the New DJs in Rap BeefIn the famous words of The Notorious B.I.G., “things done changed.” Podcasts and l...
XXL Mag
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