Peter A. Berry
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Partly clouty with a slight chance of reign. Zach Lowe of the rap posts
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Articles by Peter A. Berry
Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Make $82 Million More by Delaying Contract Extension
Giannis Antetokounmpo on what the Miami Heat needs to work on They say good things come to those who wait. In the case of Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s a chance to add an additional year and $82 million to his next big contract. According to a Tuesday (Oct. 13) Giannis Antetokounmpo contract report from ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Miami Heat superstar has been eligible for a two- or three-year extension worth $135 million and $194 million, respectively, since Oct. 1. So why the hold-up?
Diamond* Reflects on the Songs That Shaped His Career
Define Me: Diamond* Interview: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. In an Atlanta rap scene that has suffered serious losses in recent years, Diamond* has emerged as one of the city’s most exciting new artists.
Swae Lee Gets Candid on AI, Drake’s Three-Album Drop and Why Rap Groups Are No Longer The Norm
Say What's Real Swae Lee gets candid about some of music’s hottest topics, from AI’s impact on creativity to Drake’s recent three-album drop. Words: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. If hip-hop had a Hookman of the Year award, Swae Lee would have at least a few trophies. Since emerging with Rae Sremmurd 12 years ago, the 33-year-old Tupelo, Miss.
Inside Skilla Baby’s The Price of Fame, an Album for the Working Man Original
Truth: Skilla Baby Detroit’s finest Skilla Baby deep-dives into his new album, The Price of Fame, out Aug. 21. As Told To: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. The Price of Fame is an album for the average man. The working man. The struggling man. People that could go through hell and back to provide and protect their family and be successful.
Swae Lee Gets Candid on AI, Drake’s Three-Album Drop and Why Rap Groups Are No Longer The Norm Original
Say What's Real Swae Lee gets candid about some of music’s hottest topics, from AI’s impact on creativity to Drake’s recent three-album drop. Words: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. If hip-hop had a Hookman of the Year award, Swae Lee would have at least a few trophies. Since emerging with Rae Sremmurd 12 years ago, the 33-year-old Tupelo, Miss.
YKNiece - 2026 XXL Freshman Freestyle, Interview and More
See YKNiece's 2026 XXL Freshman freestyle, interview and more. Continue reading...
La Reezy – 2026 XXL Freshman
★ Class of ’26 New Orleans Gov't Name Khayree Salahuddin Age 21 Reppin' New Orleans Notable Releases Songs: "Ya Feel Me" feat. Jboogz and Samara Cyn, "I Look Good," "Hungry Flows," "Hardhead," "Melanate It," "How Did You Love Me" Mixtapes: Thanks for Coming to the Graduation, Reeborn, We All Need Help with Jboogz, Welcome to La Reezyana Vol.
YKNiece – 2026 XXL Freshman
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Ako sa z Drakea stal Netflix hip-hopu
Keď Drake v jeden deň vydal tri nové albumy - Iceman, Maid of Honour a Habibti, niektorí kritici tvrdili, že ide o zúfalý pokus zvýšiť svoj význam a podporiť počty streamov či predaj albumov. Pre náročnejších fanúšikov, ktorí túžili po pätnásťskladbovom albume bez jedinej skladby, ktorú by bolo treba preskakovať, to bol len prejav nenásytného preháňania.
Ako sa z Drakea stal Netflix hip-hopu - Peter a. berry
Ako sa z Drakea stal Netflix hip-hopu Smerovanie kariéry ustupuje ekonomike streamovania. Keď Drake v jeden deň vydal tri nové albumy - Iceman, Maid of Honour a Habibti, niektorí kritici tvrdili, že ide o zúfalý pokus zvýšiť svoj význam a podporiť počty streamov či predaj albumov. Pre náročnejších fanúšikov, ktorí túžili po pätnásťskladbovom albume bez jedinej skladby, ktorú by bolo treba preskakovať, to bol len prejav nenásytného preháňania.
Commentary: Lupita Nyong'o can't play Helen of Troy? That's odd
Elon Musk, steadfast guardian of all things truthful and scientific, has once again criticized director Christopher Nolan. Months after saying Nolan had "lost his integrity" following speculation that the director selected Black actress Lupita Nyong'o to play Helen of Troy in his forthcoming epic, "The Odyssey," Musk returned to the subject on X.
Lupita Nyong’o nemôže hrať Helenu Trójsku? To je zvláštne
Elon Musk, neochvejný ochranca všetkého pravdivého a vedeckého, si opäť zgustol na režisérovi Christopherovi Nolanovi. Niekoľko mesiacov po tom, čo vyhlásil, že Nolan „stratil integritu“ pre špekulácie, že do úlohy Heleny Trójskej vo svojom pripravovanom veľkofilme Odysea obsadil černošskú herečku Lupitu Nyong'o, sa Musk k téme opäť vrátil na sieti X.
This Haitian Couple Wants Rogers Burgers to Be a Flatbush Staple
On a humid March evening, strolling down Rogers Avenue looking for a place to conduct our interview, Haiti-born couple Josue Pierre and Jonathan Pierre-Lafleur greet a gangly pre-teen. Josue recites the boy’s customary order from memory. “Two bacon cheeseburgers, a Burger Créole, and two Sprites,” the 43-year-old says without a moment’s pause. It’s a lot for a little kid, but Josue says the boy orders for himself and his family.
Inside the Songs That Built Jorjiana, From Freestyles to Personal Loss Original
Define Me: Jorjiana The Midwest rapper shares the stories behind some of her biggest songs. Words: Peter A. Berry It’d be easy to label Jorjiana as just another Bhad Bhabie, but she’s a lot more humble. She gives off a quiet humility, largely unimpressed with her own accomplishments, which are considerable. Since unloading tracks like “ILBB2” in 2024, the Indiana native used a subdued flow and Michigan-inflected soundscapes to make her way onto rap's radar.
YFN Lucci Talks New Music, Hitting the Road and Making the Most of His Freedom Original
Believe Me Since coming home from prison last year, YFN Lucci is set on leveling up. New music, a nationwide tour and a clearer look at the endless possibilities freedom allows. Words: Peter A. Berry “I just wanted to hear myself again,” YFN Lucci says on a chilly evening in Atlantic Records’ cozy Manhattan office this past November. He’s referring to the moment he got back in the studio for the first time after his prison release over nine months ago.
In 2026, the Masks Are off for Good
Three years ago, Netflix turned a vanquished enemy into a forgettable TV series. Bluntly titled Blockbuster, the show follows the exploits of employees tasked with keeping the last iconic video rental store in business.
Conway The Machine Opens Up About New Album You Can’t Kill God With Bullets - 'The Lyrics Are Dripping With More Venom' Original
Truth: Conway The Machine Griselda’s Conway the Machine breaks down his new album, You Can’t Kill God With Bullets, out Dec. 12. As Told To: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Fall 2025 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. I took a little more time with the creative process of You Can’t Kill God With Bullets. I wanted it to be special. I put a lot of emphasis on the lyrics, so there’s a lot more maturity. It’s more visceral.
The Wholesome Versatility Of Jim Legxacy’s 'black british music'
taking your side piece to a public concert... that's a cold play
Game for Sale For 15 years, Larry June has done the slow-and-steady race to achieve hip-hop success on his terms. The West Coast rapper is a best-case scenario for the independent rap hustle. Interview: Peter A. Berry Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Winter 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. Larry June isn’t a life coach, but he sounds like one.
How Alyson Greenfield’s Tangents Became Her Career
The singer-songwriter-rapper-a-bunch-of-other-stuff chats with Peter A. Berry (me) about her circular journey through arts and academia. “I’m a person that feels everything,” Alyson Greenfield tells me on an unspectacular Easter afternoon.
Ranking Every Song Drake Has Shared Since the Kendrick Lamar Beef Ended
Prince Williams / WireImage While everyone’s waiting to see how Drake will respond following Kendrick Lamar’s vicious diss track onslaught, the reality is that he already has—it’s just not in the epic way they might have imagined. Beginning a week after Kendrick decisively clinched his victory in their rap battle, Drizzy used his Instagram story to signal that “summer vibes” were on the way.
Your Favorite Hit Record was a Snippet First
Like most breakout musical sensations in 2024, Tommy Richman’s ascent began with an unceremonious TikTok. Beneath the glow of pinkish red lights, the Virginia vocalist and his pals bopped along to his then-unreleased single, “Million Dollar Baby”, for a teaser that mirrored the setup of countless others before it. Had the preview sucked, his fans would have let him know it—either through rude comments or a basic lack of engagement.
Every Celebrity Who Got Dissed on Eminem's ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’
Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images Depending on how you look at it, Eminem’s career has been one gloriously long obscenity. Since releasing his emblematic debut single “Just Don't Give a Fuck” in 1998, Em’s made habit of saying any and everything that crosses his mind, and a lot of that time, those thoughts have been disses toward—well, any and everyone he can think of.
8 Takeaways From Eminem’s ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’ Album
Slim Shady is back—possibly for the last time. Eminem has just released his 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), and it features the legendary rapper trying something new: releasing a fully realized conceptual album. The Death of Slim Shady is about Eminem’s inner battle with his alterago. Longtime fans should know that there is Em and then there’s Slim Shady, the rude, vulgar, confrontational rapper willing to go at anyone.
Denzel Washington’s Aura is the Star of the ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer
The trailer for Ridley Scott’s forthcoming Gladiator II has been released, and as expected, it looks pretty epic. There are elaborate action scenes, shots of grand coliseums, and plenty of theatrical dialog. It’s every bit as grand as you thought it would be. But nothing is more imperial than Denzel Washington’s effortless swagger. Dripped out in fine ancient cloth and plates of gold, the 69-year-old emits quiet, emphatic authority as a bold schemer.
Ice Spice’s ‘Y2K!’ Album Cover Is Good, Actually
Paras Griffin / Getty Images for BET LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Ice Spice performs onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) Ice Spice hasn’t taken a lot of losses, but if you let the internet tell it, the album cover for her debut LP, Y2K!, is one of them.
A Timeline Of 50 Cent’s Complicated Relationship With Diddy
If rap beef were a literal sport, 50 Cent would be in its Hall of Fame. Through 25 or so years in the industry, Fif’s initiated and maintained a multitude of rap conflicts, showcasing a level of sustained ferocity that would’ve made 2Pac proud. Most recently, fif’s aimed his attention at Diddy, the disgraced hip-hop mogul who’s now the subject of several assault and misconduct allegations.
Ranking Vince Staples’ Albums, Mixtapes, and EPs
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Coachella No one does “the gray area” quite like Vince Staples. He doesn’t condone gang violence, but he’s never been completely above it. He’s not extremely online, but he’s one of the funniest rappers on Twitter. He demands privacy, but he made a Netflix show loosely based on his own life. He’s got the hipster appeal of an indie artist, but he’s been signed to a major label for a decade. He’s not exactly a superstar, but he’s had his own Acura commercial.
Kendrick Lamar Has Entered the GOAT Chat
via YouTube/Kendrick Lamar As a concept, GOAT (Greatest of All Time) arguments are simultaneously reductive and definitive, both short-sighted and somehow all-encompassing. In NBA terms, legacy games—contests in which a superstar either plays good or bad in the moment they need to win most—serve as inflection points for the conversation. Fair or not, the outcomes become Google searches for how we should feel about a player.
Kendrick Lamar Beat Drake By Being Drake
It’s hard to define “absolute victory” in something as subjective as a rap battle, but landing a No. 1 single with a diss song has to be pretty close. With his monstrous Drake disses “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” doing historic streaming numbers, Kendrick Lamar will likely add the accomplishment to his accolades when the Billboard Hot 100 chart is updated next week.
How Drake and Kendrick's Rap War Is Manipulating the Rap Media War
“Somebody's lying, I can see the vibes on Ak,” Kendrick Lamar raps on his Drake diss “6:16 in La,” speculating that something funny is afoot in the house of hip-hop media personality DJ Akademiks. “Even he lookin' compromised, let’s peel the layers back.” If you follow Kendrick’s instructions, you’ll see he might have a point. Akademiks isn’t technically Drake’s DJ, but considering his close alignment with the Toronto rapper throughout the Great Rap War of 2024, he might as well be.
Kendrick Lamar Won’t Stop Pressing the Red Button Original
Once upon a time, a dick-measuring contest threatened to destroy the whole world. After J. Robert Oppenheimer helped create the planet’s first atomic bombs, the United States and Russia found themselves in a race to develop as many nukes as possible, just so the other country knew not to fuck with the other.
Grading Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” Drake Diss
Toward the middle of his new Drake diss track, “Euphoria,” Kendrick Lamar describes their conflict as a “friendly fade” that shouldn’t go further than a respectful sparring match. But listening to the whole song, it’s clear Kendrick isn’t interested in being cordial. “Euphoria” is an epic diatribe of a song that’s as scorching as it is lengthy. Over the course of six minutes, Kendrick lays bare virtually every negative thought anyone has ever had about the Toronto rapper.
The Most Disrespectful Bars On Kendrick Lamar’s Drake Diss “Euphoria”: Breakdown
Two weeks after Drake officially released his “Push Ups,” Kendrick Lamar has officially struck back, and it’s full of disrespectful bars.
Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake: Who Had the Best First Shot?
When Drake released “No Friends in the Industry” a few years ago, the hook felt more symbolic than literal, since he was regularly collaborating with all the biggest names in hip-hop at the time.
Meet MaamiNextDoor, the Model on PartyNextDoor's Provocative 'P4' Album Cover
By any measure, the cover art for PartyNextDoor’s new album PartyNextDoor 4 is a lot. The artwork, which features an image of a bare-naked woman in doggystyle position, managed to shock a generation that’s already accustomed to sexually provocative images on their social media timelines. As racy as it is indelible, the cover earned PND exactly the type of exposure that PR teams dream of after he posted it on IG (you can see it here if you haven't yet).
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