Annual Freshman Class List īeginning in 2007 (skipping 2008), XXL releases its annual 'Freshman Class' list. The issue featured the first solo cover on the magazine from Drake, and rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and B.o.B reviewing classic albums. On AugXXL released its 150th issue, also celebrating its sixteenth anniversary.

1, which featured exclusive interviews and content with big-name rappers such as 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Fat Joe, Paul Wall, & Mike Jones. In September 2006, XXL put a special 90 minute DVD called XXL DVD Magazine Vol. In November 2008, XXL released XXL Raps Volume 1, which included music from 50 Cent, G-Unit, Common, Jim Jones, & Fabolous. XXL executive Publisher, Jonathan Rheingold, stated that typically magazines based around particular artists were not favorable, but 'since Shade 45 is a truly authentic and uncensored rap radio channel, the marriage with the XXL brand made sense,' with the feeling that it is what would interest rap fans. In August 2005, Eminem and XXL teamed up to release a special issue titled XXL Presents Shade 45, and was designed to give maximum exposure to Shade 45 as a radio station, and at the same time give maximum exposure to the Shady Records label as a whole, as well as the radio DJs and G-Unit Records' artists. In May 2009, Datwon Thomas resigned from XXL and executive editor Vanessa Satten, who had been with XXL since 1998, was named the new Editor-in-Chief. Dennis (formerly of The Source), Sheena Lester (former editor-in-chief of RapPages and Vibe music editor), Elliott Wilson (formerly of The Beat-Down Newspaper, ego trip and The Source, currently locked in at #7 slot on The Source's Digital 30 list.) and Datwon Thomas (former editor-in-chief of King). The magazine's past editors include Reginald C. In December 2014 the company reported that the magazine would be published on a monthly basis.

On October 14, 2014, Townsquare announced it would continue print publication of XXL. In 2014, Townsquare Media acquired XXL, King and Antenna from Harris Publications. XXL also maintains a popular website, which provides daily hip hop news, original content and content from the magazine. XXL has released many other special projects including tour programs, mixtapes and exclusive DVDs. Other titles with limited runs have been launched under the XXL brand, including Hip-Hop Soul, Eye Candy and Shade45. However Scratch shut down less than a year later in September 2007. In December 2006, XXL took over the struggling hip-hop producer and DJ magazine Scratch (another publication owned by Harris Publications), re-branding it as XXL Presents Scratch Magazine. It featured rappers Jay-Z and Master P on a double cover. In August 1997, Harris Publications released the first issue of XXL.

Xxl freshman 2019