Fri 17 Aug 2007
So my longtime friend and co-warrior in this biz, Elliot Wilson, head of XXL mag, sent me his latest webitorial installment from XXLmag.com…..
And in it, he reveals an interesting turn of events….
Looks like 50 cent and Kanye West are going to be posing together for the next cover of Rolling Stone magazine. This brings up a couple points to me….
1) These two artists are clearly smart enough to force their egos to sublease just enough space for their business savvy. Sure, they both feel like they’re the best. But this battle for 9-11-07 can be a blessing or a curse, why not milk it for all its worth. So play it up: the Bad Guy vs the G.O.O.D guy. The Man against the Machine vs the Man with Big Brother’s blessing.
2) Here’s the other issue that this Rolling Stone collabo brings to mind. It reminds me of a long time ago when Death Row Records were at their height of success and notoriety. And Suge Knight gave the New York Times Magazine unprecedented access to his life for a big story. Honestly it was one of the best (at least most interesting) pieces of hip hop journalism I had ever read…..too bad he wouldn’t let any hip hop journalists in to get the same shot. (well, not without a pre-interview intimidation session)
Anyways, Elliot addresses this issue in a more subtle way, lol….
“50 Cent and Kanye West have decided to join forces and pose together for a Rolling Stone cover. When the white man comes knocking, niggas sure go jumping through hoops to please ‘em…..
…can I get a fuck you to all you hip-hop fucks who prioritize the crackers in the mainstream above us. Y’all make me sick to my stomach.“
Bo bo bo! Love that. Although, I’d also say that mainstream fuckery comes in all colors.
Like El, I have friends at Rolling Stone and love alot of what they do (sometimes, I even get the honor of contributing). But its the principles of the labels more that is the problem. Not the mags who are all trying to create something exciting. Anyways, make sure you check out XXL’s own Kanye cover which El will be leaking this weekend. While some things dont change (ie, hip hop label folks jumping into downward dog salutations to cater to mainstream fantasies)….
Some other things have changed. Like, the fact that those mainstream mags dont have the best hip hop writing anymore : )
August 17th, 2007 at 1:34 am
GREAT FOR HIP HOP I LUV IT
AND AS FOR YELLOW NIGGA HE’S JUST MAD CUZ ROLLING STONE IS GONNA HAVE MORE PRESS THEN HIM MAG…
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August 17th, 2007 at 3:28 am
what the hell are people talking about. What? do these two artist have beef that I don’t know about. Because I swore Kanye said he worked in the studio WITH 50 and they talk. It’s not like there’s some fucking power struggle.
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August 17th, 2007 at 4:14 am
They both suck and are so highly over rated, I couldn’t give a fuck about their albums
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August 17th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
i agree great for hip hop. elliot does have a point though. it would have been nice to see them on the cover of a hop hop pioneer mag rather than the rolling stone. it does seem like a huge sell out. but then again, what, and whom isn’t?
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August 17th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I can understand where El is coming from even if I don’t exactly agree with him. Did 50 and Kanye turn him down and then decide to do the Rolling Stone cover together? If that happened, then he’s definitely got a legitimate grip. ‘Ye and 50 are trying to sell albums, I’m happy two hip hop heavy weights are on the cover of Rolling Stone.
As far as hip hop magazines go…
I still read music magazine articles but I get almost all of my hip hop info(new songs, reviews, interviews etc.) from the internet. It’s easy to find multiple reviews from people that aren’t worried about upsetting artists or record labels because of bad reviews and/or commentary. If an album is universally getting praised on multiple websites, chances are it’s probably pretty decent. I remember the days when the only review source was The Source mag and it was damn near impossible to hear an album prior to purchasing it unless you knew someone that already picked it up. A lot of money was wasted. Now I can hit some forums and blogs and see intelligent(depending on the site) dialog on all things hip hop.
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August 17th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
“can I get a fuck you to all you hip-hop fucks who prioritize the crackers in the mainstream above us. Y’all make me sick to my stomach.“
Bo bo bo! Love that. Although, I’d also say that mainstream fuckery comes in all colors.
Cosigning the use of a racially offensive term is pretty wack info. Your statement about mainstream fuckery coming in all colors doesn’t change you loving an opinion which endorses an ethnic slur. Try changing the quote:
“can I get a fuck you to all you hip-hop fucks who prioritize the Ni**ers and G**ks in the mainstream above us.”
Would you bust a shot for that line?
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August 18th, 2007 at 2:41 am
“niggas think jimmy iovine my boss, nigga FUCK jimmy iovine”
haha 50 done gone crazzzzzzy. good promo for CURTIS droppin 9/11
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August 18th, 2007 at 9:55 am
IF THE COVER OF ROLLING STONES IS HOT AND THE INTERVIEWS ARE ON POINT THEN WHATS THE DIFFERENCE? XXL JUST HAD 2 MAN KISSERS WITH NO SHIRTS ON LOOKING LIKE 2 CHEETAS ON THE COVER, NOW IS THAT BETTER? I THINK NOT.
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August 20th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Faking beef to increase record sales – the greatest invention ever!
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August 20th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Why is Elliott Wilson crying? He’s been trying to bully everyone in the game and sucking 50′s dick for the last three years. So much so that a G-Unit artist being on the cover was not an event anymore. He’s been telling to anyone and everyone that he got the more juice and that HE’s top dog. Apparently not.
Now if they want hype, some artists will try to get Rolling Stone, Blender or other “white” publications which makes a lot of sense.
Elliott Wilson could have had the best hip-hop publication there is but the guy dropped the ball. It’s odd that the better writing and coverage comes from Vibe. XXl is everything but constant.
And could he please stop using the N word so much. It just makes me cringe coming from someone lighter than Mariah Carey.
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August 20th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
@the lone gunner…. you’re totally right. the fact that elliot blamed “cr—-rs” in the mainstream media was wrong to me.
But thats why I added my opinion. I co-sign el’s statement but not that part at all.
I’m sorry the wording wasnt strong enough for you. But I still think its clear that the message I am endorsing and commending is everything EXCEPT the racial component.
I’m not going to go back and add more to it, but I’m definitely co-signing what you posted.
Thank you for that. Especially reality check of your edited version of the same line. I hope folks take notice.
-info
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August 21st, 2007 at 7:20 am
#9-once again i will state my opinion.
if diss tracks sold actual albums then CAMRON would have sold 10 million by going at jay-z,50 cent and nas…but no he flopped for the third time in a row!!!!!i wish people would look at the big picture and stop making retarded excuses as to how 50 sells all those units every time.
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August 28th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Im a 50 fan 4 life so stop hating on the cover invite I think it’s a good move for both men. Please Please stop using the N word you have more morals than that. Good Luck on ya albums guys…
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