Tag Archives: MGK

XXL’s 2013 Freshman Class: Ab-Soul, Joey BadA$$, Chief Keef, Action Bronson

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XXLs 2013 Freshman Class: Ab Soul, Joey BadA$$, Chief Keef, Action Bronson

By Maurice Bobb

Timing is everything. Ahead of their appearance on “RapFix Live” today on MTV Jams and MTV.com at 4 p.m. ET, Trinidad James and Schoolboy Q, who are both making noise in the game in their own ways—James for “All Gold Everything” and Q for his upcoming album, Oxymoron—made XXL magazine’s highly-debated Freshman Class cover. 

The magazine’s May/June 2013 issue, which is highlighted with the cover line “2013’s Freshman Class Best Ever?,” will hit newsstands shortly and will feature some of rap’s most celebrated neophytes: Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott, Angel Haze, Dizzy Wright, Logic and Chief Keef, who is listed as the “11th Freshman.”

Every year, the magazine’s freshmen class is celebrated, shunned and discussed at length, but as much as the choices draw ire from artists, pundits and fans, it’s still one of the most anticipated media events of the year in hip-hop. Past alums include B.o.B, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and MGK, who all graced previous Freshman covers before their major-label debuts.

While fans have likely heard of most of the MCs on the list, they may not be as familiar with the Maryland-bred spitter Logic, who took to Twitter this morning after the cover reveal to celebrate his big break with this tweet: “From the basement with my team, to magazine covers.” See what other hip-hop heads had to say below.

@CurrenSy_Spitta Some respectable selections made on the ##Q##13 XXL freshman cover….

@SkinnySaan best list since the 2010 list

@jmaack Really? Chief keef and Trinidad are on the XXL freshman list?

@Autopilot_Jet Stalley def deserved XXL freshman

@Josh_Is_4U2NV So the XXL Freshmen are out and its tight. Except for missing Casey Veggies, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Childish Gambino & Chris Webby

@NegroGotWings FINALLY ACTION BRONSON GETS THE HYPE HE DESERVES

@soooo_amazing Action Bronson & Angel Haze on the xxl freshman cover? word!

@guccisilly026 dont mind this xxl freshman class thank god ab souls on the list

@four1111s i ironically f— with trinidad james and chief keef but cmon son what are they doing on that xxl freshman list?

@_TeeLittle If I was Schoolboy Q or Ab-Soul I wouldn##Q##t even wanna be on the XXL freshman list, they aren##Q##t freshmen.

@jas0nzula Action Bronson is on 2013 XXL Freshman Cover. Whaddddddddduuupppppp!!!

@ASAP_Judy Congrats to Joey bada$$, Ab-Soul, and Schoolboy Q for making it on the XXL Freshman cover!

@_CabinFever_ this is the best XXL freshman list yet but I still have to call it whack cuz @iamKingLos aint on there, like how?!

@iMadeSmartCool The XXL Freshman Class this year is so lame. XXL got sick of picking wrong so now they pick guys that have already made it. #XXLJuniorClass

@FuckinAldinnn 2013 XXL Freshman Class List just sucks. it gets worse every year.

@JYungStar My Boy @DizzyWright on the XXL Freshman Class 2013 Congrats bro ! Keep puttin Vegas ON ! #SinCity

Machine Gun Kelly Wins Woodie Of The Year, Delivers Heartwarming Speech

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By Henna Kathiya

Machine Gun Kelly was all energy last night for his co-hosting gig at the 2013 mtvU Woodie Awards but the moment that took the cake was when he won the Woodie of the Year.  He couldn’t contain his excitement and went on to deliver a heartwarming acceptance speech.After he took home Breaking Woodie last year, MGK had set his sights on a bigger award this year. He beat out the likes of A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar who were also nominated in the category.

He had a speech ready, which he humbly delivered after celebrating and running around stage for a bit. “Let me just say, this is a big deal to me, man. When I began making music as a kid, I never grasped that it could bring you materials or money or women, because as a kid, I never wanted anything more than an escape, and that still holds true to this day,” he explained.

He went on to acknowledge the fact that even though he may not have as many record sales as the other nominees or a spot on the Hottest MC’s list he was thankful for the award. “I may not have sold the most records, and I may not be loved by journalists, critics or the mainstream in general, but what I do have is the people,” he continued. “And that to me is worth more than any platinum plaque, any magazine cover, any top 10 MC list. And if you want proof, you can direct your attention to my hand, because we got the Woodie of the mother—-ing Year!”

MGK also gave one last shout out to the fans before closing out his speech. “Last but not least, I want to thank my fans, because they##Q##re crazy, they##Q##re relentless, they##Q##re misunderstood, and I love you for it, and I##Q##m honored to have you guys by my side,” he said. “ And as for respect in this industry, you guys don##Q##t have to give it, because we##Q##re about to take it this year. The revolution##Q##s begun. Black Flag!”

Kobe Bryant, MGK, Hit-Boy And More Make ‘Hottest MCs’ Picks

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If you ask MGK, polling rappers about their picks for “Hottest MCs in the Game VIII” is an exercise in futility — they##Q##d always just pick themselves. We figured we##Q##d try anyway. Read the full story at MTV News.

French Montana, Diddy, MGK, Red Cafe, Los Set Fire In ‘Ocho Cinco’ Video

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French Montana tapped Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly, Red Cafe and Los to film the video for his single “Ocho Cinco” out in Los Angeles and the full clip premiered on MTV.com Sunday morning. Watch above.

French’s debut album Excuse My French is due on May 21 and the Bronx rapper thinks it’s gonna be one to remember, telling MTV News it’ll be the album of the decade. “I don’t understand what people want me to say. I know my work,” he said confidently. “I know that I’m the hottest in the game with no album out. Let’s get that clear.”

“When Muhammad Ali stepped in the ring, he knew what he was doing. I feel like [I'm just] breathing a breath of fresh air in the game, just bringing a different sound. Every time I play [the album] for anybody, they love it.”

French Montana, Diddy, MGK, Red Cafe, Los Shoot ‘Ocho Cinco’ Video

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The new visuals to accompany French Montana’s “Ocho Cinco” premiere Sunday morning on MTV.com but in the meantime, MTV News dropped by the video shoot in Los Angeles for a little preview. Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly, Los and Red Café were all on set.

Machine Gun Kelly, clearly a fan of the track, explained why he was excited to be involved. “‘Ocho Cinco’ is the new s—. You can walk up to an old white lady, and be like ‘what’s up with that ocho cinco’ and she won’t know what you’re talking about,” he explained. “They don’t know what it means yet.” He’s got a good point.

Diddy, in his usual black leather, took a minute to remind fans that Excuse My French is on the way. “Freaks” is the latest single from the album featuring Nicki Minaj, which French debuted last week. “I just felt like she was one of the hottest female artists to come out of New York in a while, and I felt the same about me,” he explained on Wednesday’s episode of “RapFix Live.” ”So I felt it was a record that’s more for the city — [you] see two people that’s doing real good put a record together.”

Excuse My French is currently due May 21.

mtvU Woodie Awards Returning To Austin, Texas

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They do everything bigger in Texas, which is why the mtvU Woodie Awards are returning to the Lone Star State in March for another run in Austin.

The 2013 mtvU Woodie Awards and festival will ride into Austin for a full day of performances on March 14 during the annual South By Southwest Music Festival with an as-yet-unannounced roster of artists.

The annual musical moment of truth honors the artists who are infiltrating the music landscape, and MTV and mtvU will air a half-hour “2013 Woodie Awards” special on Sunday, March 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. mtvU will announce nominees and performers at a later date.

The awards show, which pays homage to the best emerging acts on campus, will include four nominees selected and then profiled on MTV.com. The audience will get to vote for their favorite, with the band or artist with the most votes getting a chance to travel to Austin to kick off a day of incredible performances as they play the opening set at the Woodies Festival. They’ll also get their very own chunk of wood in a new Woodie Awards category.

More details on this new category will be announced soon, but interested college musicians can send their name, contact info and links to their videos to: WOODIES@mtvU.com.

The ninth annual Woodie Awards will kick off on Thursday, March 14, at 2 p.m. CT with a host of live performances by up-and-coming artists during the open-air Woodie Awards Festival. The festival, open to all SXSW badge holders and music fans over 18, will lead up to the awards show, which will start at 8 p.m. CT.

mtvU will air the best moments from the awards show on March 17, at 8 p.m. during the half-hour “2013 mtvU Woodie Awards Special.” A host and celebrity line-up for the special will be announced soon.

Last year’s show included performances from Santigold, Steve Aoki and Mac Miller, as well as wins for Mac, MGK, Best Coast and Calvin Harris.

No matter who is nominated, they will join an illustrious roster of past Woodie winners and performers who’ve gone on to the big time after appearing on the show. Among them: The Killers (Breaking Woodie ’04), Death Cab for Cutie (Best Video Woodie ’05), Muse (Performing Woodie ’07), Gym Class Heroes (Woodie of the Year ’07), Lupe Fiasco (performed at Woodies ’07), Paramore (Woodie of the Year ’08), Wiz Khalifa (Woodie of the Year ’11) and Mac Miller (Woodie of Year and Performing Woodie ’12).

[News] Machine Gun Kelly Talks Possible Eminem Collaboration, Names Favorite Eminem LP

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Machine Gun Kelly says that he would record a “dark” track with Eminem.

Machine Gun Kelly recently sat down with Montreality to discuss the negative portrayal of DMX in the media as well as his worst injury. During the interview, MGK spoke on the possibility of a collaboration with Eminem, stating that he would want to record something that has a “dark” feel and likened it to his track with DMX.

“If an MGK and Eminem song ever comes out, that will be the day that everybody fucks with me. That would be so crazy,” he said. “It’ll be like a darker song. It’ll be like how me and X did. I did the type of song you’d want to hear DMX do. I knew what the fans wanted to hear. They don’t want to hear DMX motivating motherfuckers. They want to hear that motherfucker speak that dark shit. Same with Em. I’d bring the old Eminem out that I like.”

The Bad Boy signee also spoke on his favorite Eminem album and song, naming The Eminem Show and “Till I Collapse” as his choice picks. He pointed at the latter, wondering why Marshall never performs the song live.

“Favorite Eminem album is The Eminem Show. Favorite Eminem song? Probably ‘Till I Collapse.’ So good, dude. Why does he never perform that song? What’s going on with him? Perform that. It’s so good.”

Watch the full interview below.

RELATED: Machine Gun Kelly Launches Video Game “Nun Puncher”