After a successful 2018, Dreamville Records is ready to takeover and reach new heights in the new year. Ahead of the inaugural Dreamville Fest next month, the label covers XXL‘s new spring issue. Shot by famed photographer Jonathan Mannion, the cover story and shoot was done with Atlanta during the label’s Revenge of the Dreamers III sessions that brought out many of today’s heavyweight artists and hot producers to work on the upcoming compilation album. Lead by J. Cole, the spring issue features individual Q&A’s with Dreamville’s full roster that includes Bas, Cozz, EarthGang, J.I.D, Lute, Omen and Ari Lennox.

The Revenge of the Dreamers III recording sessions, individual solo projects, the path each artist took leading up to joining Dreamville, and plans in 2019 are all discussed. Read each artist’s individual interview by clicking here and check out some J. Cole excerpts and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot below.

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Despite featuring two of his beats, it’s fair to say that Tha Carter V could’ve used more Mannie Fresh. Thankfully, the old Cash Money cohorts have got something up their sleeves.

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Already widely regarded as his best work, the legend of JAY-Z’s The Blueprint continues to grow. Today the National Recording Registry announced that Hov’s 2001 LP is being archived in the Library of Congress alongside other iconic records including Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly, Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam,” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”

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Meek Mill and Amazon have joined forces to create the upcoming documentary series, Free Meek. Executive produced by Jay-Z, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, and Paul and Isaac Solotaroff, the six-part original is set to debut later this year, focusing on the Philadelphia rapper’s much-publicized battle with the criminal justice system.

“Free Meek is an upcoming documentary series that will follow Meek and his fight for exoneration while exposing flaws in the criminal justice system,” says a summary posted with the first released trailer. “The series will give viewers unprecedented access to the star’s life, career, and criminal justice odyssey, while demonstrating the negative effects long tail probation is having on urban communities of color.” Watch the docuseries trailer below.

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In news that should make any Roc Boy throw their diamonds in the sky, a Roc-A-Fella Records biopic is officially in the pipeline. That’s according to the label’s co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke, who announced in a new interview with REVOLT that he’s “working on it right now.”

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Missy Elliott is set to receive an honor of a lifetime. After being nominated back in November of last year, the Virginia native will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The four-time GRAMMY Award winner leads the 2019 inductee class that includes Dallas Austin, John Prine, Tom T. Hall, Yusuf Islam and Jack Tempchin. “I want to CONGRATULATE all the AMAZING songwriters who have been inducted into the 2019 “Song Writers Hall of Fame🙌🏾🙌🏾 also those who were nominated because their body of work is AMAZING🙌🏾 I AM SO HUMBLY GRATEFUL & crying tears of Joy to now be inducted also thank you God🙏🏾 and I love all of you so much! I will forever be HUMBLED & GRATEFUL #SHOF2019 ✍🏾#VA,” said Missy in a post on Instagram.

Known for breaking barriers and going outside the norm with her music and music videos, Elliott becomes the first female hip-hop artist to achieve the accomplishment. Missy joins Jermaine Dupri (2018) and JAY-Z (2017), as the only hip-hop acts to be inducted. The 50th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner takes place on June 13 in New York City.

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To promote his new album Evil Genius, Gucci Mane stopped by Streetz 94.5 in Atlanta to spread the word and sit down for an interview. At one point during the conversation, Gucci Mane revealed that any past differences with Waka Flocka have been put aside and the two have reconciled. The news comes a month after Waka posted a video on Instagram, where he reaches out to Gucci to work things out.

“We spoke one time after that, I reached out to him,” said Gucci, referring to the video posted by Waka. “We had a conversation. Everything’s in the past now.” During their rise in Atlanta’s trap scene, Gucci and his former protégé worked together under 1017 Records. The relationship started to dissolve in 2010, and tension between the two eventually lead to them parting ways.

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Eminem and long-time manager/Def Jam CEO Paul Rosenberg serve as executive producers of the newly released battle rap film, Bodied. As hip-hop lovers enjoy the movie, Eminem decided to take it back to where it all started. Inspired by the film, Slim Shady drops a ten-minute freestyle called “Kick Off.” For the performance, Marshall heads to The Shelter at St. Andrew’s in his hometown of Detroit, the very place the ‘Rap God’ took part in various battles in the early stages of his career. As expected, Eminem goes off touching on Islamic regime, the Manchester bombing after an Ariana Grande concert, and his status when it comes to the greatest MCs.

“Since the day Dre gave me beats, I was made elite…that’s basically what makes me me/ Creating stink till these tats are fading ink/ Who’s the greatest? Think…we’re still debating. Wink.”

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Hip-Hop icon Snoop Dogg received his just due on Monday afternoon (Nov. 19), as the Long Beach native was the 2651st honoree to be enshrined on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place in front of the El Capitan Entertainment Center on Hollywood Boulevard, where Jimmy Kimmel Live! is taped weekly.

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The Wu-Tang Clan are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their culture-shifting classic LP, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). On the exact date it released back in 1993 (Nov. 9), the legendary rap group appeared on Good Morning America. All members of the iconic Staten Island collective including Young Dirty Bastard, the son of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, performed the song “Protect Ya Neck.” Wu-Tang’s recent promo run also included a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, all leading up to the release of their 36 Chambers documentary thats out today.

Watch Wu-Tang Clan invade GMA below.

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