Case Study Magazine

XXL Magazine Case Study

XXL is an American hip hop magazine, published by Harris Publications which was founded in 1997. 

In August 1997, XXL released its first issue. It featured rappers Jay-Z and Master P on a double cover. 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. However Scratch shut down less than a year later in September 2007. 

Here are the examples of the magazines that were released for the first issue:

The reason for Jay-Z and Master P were on the front covers of XXL's first issue magazine is because they were killing the Hip-Hop scene. The coverline of Jay-Z magazine states that Jay-Z is untouchable, this shows that he is untouchable and is also at the top of his game. Also on the magazine it says "Master P, FROM ROCKS TO RICHES", this shows that Master P who is also on top of his game will appear in  the magazine.

On the second magazine it has Master P on the front cover and as a coverline it has "Jay-Z THE CROWN JEWEL", this shows that Jay-Z is the king and is currently holding the crown of the genre he specifies in, 

Other titles with limited runs have been launched under the XXL brand, including Hip-Hop Soul, Eye Candy and Shade45. XXL has released many other special projects including tour programs, mixtapes and exclusive DVDs. XXL also maintains a popular website, which provides daily hip hop news, original content and content from the magazine.

Reviews

XXL rates albums from "S" (poor) to "XXL" (classic). Editors have initially awarded XXL status to only nine albums:

• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
• The Blueprint by Jay-Z
• Get Rich or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent
• Be by Common
• Late Registration by Kanye West
• Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse
• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
• Life Is Good by Nas
• good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar

A later issue in December 2007 re-rated and retroactively rated some albums and gave XXLs to:

• The Chronic by Dr. Dre
• Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
• Illmatic by Nas
• The Diary by Scarface
• The Infamous by Mobb Deep
• All Eyez on Me by 2Pac
• Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z
• The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory by 2Pac
• Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G.
• 2001 by Dr. Dre
• The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
• The Lost Tapes by Nas
• The College Dropout by Kanye West

Freshman

XXL also releases an annual Top 10 Freshmen list. The issue features the ten picks of whom to watch out for, and on the cover of the magazine and showcases new rappers that aren't well known, but are considered to be on the rise. The list has become known to create buzz and is credited for giving many artists their first taste of fame.

Year	Freshmen
2008	Lupe Fiasco, Lil Boosie, Joell Ortiz, Plies, Saigon, Rich Boy, Gorilla Zoe, Young Dro, Papoose and Crooked I.
2011	Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Mac Miller, Lil B, Yelawolf, Lil Twist, Meek Mill, Cyhi The Prynce, YG, Diggy Simmons and Fred Tha Godson.
2010	J. Cole, Jay Rock, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle, Pill, OJ da Juiceman, Fashawn, Freddie Gibbs and Donnis.
2012	Danny Brown, Hopsin, Machine Gun Kelly, Macklemore, French Montana, Future, Kid Ink, Don Trip, Iggy Azalea and Roscoe Dash.
2009	B.o.B, Kid Cudi, Curren$y, Wale, Ace Hood, Asher Roth, Mickey Factz, Cory Gunz, Blu and Charles Hamilton.
2013	Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze, Trinidad James, Logic, Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott,

In 2013, XXL started their own annual awards. With the top 5 being chosen by a public vote and all other winners and nominees picked by the XXL staff.