XXL 10th Anniversary Covers: Pretend Controversy & XXL's Chief Advertorialist Elliott Wilson

XXL Front Cover Featuring Lil Wayne & Birdman

XXL pretends to court controversy by giving their 10th Anniversary cover to Lil Wayne and Birdman, winners of the BET Viewers Choice award.  So not only does it hook the fans, it gets the homophobes talking.

XXL Back Cover Featuring Advertorialist Elliott Wilson

On the back cover, XXL Advertorialist-in-Chief Elliott Wilson shows us how it looks when one jettisons the divide between advertising and editorial.

Journalistic standards?  Yo, this is hip hop!

Correction, this is XXL!

Oooh, ripped from Nah Right cause it's just G's up in heah!

Update:
I've gotten some strong criticism from an individual I respect regarding my above statements.  Since my own personal feelings about various figures at XXL cloud my judgement, I am in the process of contacting bloggers with journalistic backgrounds  from outside the world of hip hop to share their opinions on whether the back cover image above is or is not an example of crossing the advertising/editorial divide.

Normally I would come back with a post of my own discussing why I feel that this crossing has so obviously occurred but I want to reach some of the people who shut down when I say such things, in particular, hip hop bloggers with journalistic aspirations.  Reaching out in this manner also opens the possibility that I am wrong and I have no trouble admitting that as long as you give me time to get over my default mode of being incapable of error!

I should also note, I did edit the above post to remove a totally inappropriate line and to soften the claim regarding the crossing of said divide.  Beyond that, I think it's a fine snarky post from which I've already derived a great deal of pleasure!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
ProHipHop's Stance on XXL's Adverpictorial Back Cover
Industry Pros Term Elliott Wilson's Back Cover Ad "Offensive" & an "Egregious Violation" of Ethics

Comments

[eskay]

this is what you call a "Mr. Fantastic" post

[Clyde Smith]

Wow, I wish I knew what you meant.

I know the Fantastic Four character [plus a bunch of odd hip hop references] but I guess I haven't been hanging around the right bloggers.

Hope you realize I'm not trying to disrespect you here. Since the Mr. Fantastic comment remains ambiguous, just thought I'd mention that.

I'm going with the positive reading of this comment until notified otherwise, Mr. Eskay.

[Clyde Smith]

Hey, I just noticed they all have their heads tipped at the same angle.

What does that mean?

[Rizoh]

Hey, I just noticed they all have their heads tipped at the same angle.

What does that mean?
------
lmao! I just noticed that too.

Who knows, maybe they're courting controversy because controversy has become synonymous with hip-hop.

[Clyde Smith]

It makes me wish I had Photoshop!

I think those three belong together.

On another note, I think Eskay has exposed my lack of knowledge of Biggie Smalls lyrics.

What can I say, my lyrical recall is shite and it was startling to see him big up me in that way. I haven't dealt with any other underling in New York hip hop media that would do that.

Respect.

[J. Jesus Ruiz]

clyde thats some good insight man... good strategy to aim at Goliath. prohiphop is the future ive said it time and again.

[Clyde Smith]

I remember your saying that before and it remains one of my favorite comments.

Thanks.

[Hashim]

Elliottt Wilson-Smith is the Vince McMahon of hip-hop journalism.

[J. Jesus Ruiz]

haha... true that

[Ibedamned]

I may be slow and out of the loop, but can someone explain what the big deal is about the back cover, i simply don't understand all the controversy.

[J. Jesus Ruiz]

journalists are supposed to remain neutral. the dude on the back cover is the main editor for the magazine. if there were ever any bad new about the brand hes endorsing... do u think he would report it? probably not... some would say its because he's getting paid. Its the same concept as the news channels who do 'special reports' on an illness and then later on a commercial appeaers for that illness... coincidence? maybe not.

[J. Jesus Ruiz]

its all about integrity. not only that but dont u think that if say a rocafella artist got a bad review, roc would still advertise with them? I wouldnt.

[Clyde Smith]

I've been addressing the issue in terms of the journalistic standard of a separation between advertising and editorial. Crossing that boundary can lead to the kind of problems Mr. Ruiz is raising as well as a variety of others.

For my part, I turned it over to high level professionals in the publishing industry:

Industry Pros Term Elliot Wilson's Back Cover Ad "Offensive" & an "Egregious Violation" of Ethics
http://www.prohiphop.com/2007/07/elliot-wilsons-.html

An article for FOLIO is now being researched. Not sure when it will come out but, as the leading trade publication for magazine publishers, their piece will help clarify the issue from a professional journalistic perspective.

If Mr. Wilson clarifies that XXL is not a serious journalistic endeavor, then it's possibly all good, though it may be a serious blow to the professionals on his staff.

[Clyde Smith]

By the way, many of my past arguments related to my perspectives on various issues, including the ineffectiveness of the Cristal boycott, have been rejected by various individuals because of my lack of official expertise in a particular area.

Therefore, when challenged on this post, I decided to turn to unquestionable professionals to shut down the haters, as well as those working in the industry without professional training.

In addition, this move raised the stakes of the game and will possibly lead to a great deal of professional embarassment for Mr. Wilson among New York based publishing industry professionals.

Since this first experiment has already gone so well, I will be employing this tactic on as regular a basis as possible, especially when my analysis is challenged on the basis of perceptions of my expertise rather than on the validity of my argument.

What's really cool is that the professionals were even harsher than I would have been.

[MahoganyGirl]

interesting....

[Ibedamned]

Thank you for explaining it to me, i just didn't know who the guy was or what the big deal was, thanks again.

[Clyde Smith]

It's an interesting situation obviously complicated here by my personal agenda.

And it's also one of those things that isn't always understandable outside of the context of a particular profession.

Thanks for asking.

[fedupwithbs]

I believe it is a violation.

It sets a bad journalistic example for other up and coming (here today/gone tomorrow) urban hip hop magazines. Its not like many other urban trades had a clue of what social responsibility or journalistic integrity meant before.

Now they are really about to go full steam ahead with only doing features from people that pay for advertising. Many media kits I have seen from some of these urban outlets openly advertise that if you want your artist or product featured to buy an ad.

Are there any urban publications that are objective. So readers get an honest view of cd reviews, fashion, etc.

Don Diva Magazine is an example of one such publication. Should you want to design an ad that looks like an actual editorial and submit it, all one has to do is pay the money and you are in.

It's a conflict of interest. It should have never been on the back of XXL. It would be different if rocawear was doing a campaign featuring journalists from all types of publications and placed those ads in non urban magazines. For example Rocawear took out an ad in FOLIO saluting Ruiz and his 10 year reign at XXL.

but who outside of XXL or hip hop gives a fuck about Ruiz?

It was a sad attempt to gain some recognition on his part. It screams.. see me see me..so you'll know what I look like when I come to apply for a job at your company.

Rocawear should know better.

The job posting will look like this:
Seeking magazine editors that can be bought and paid with a few pair of jeans and sneakers. integrity not required.

Don't be surprised if you find Ruiz working at Rocawear in the near future..

[Maxoutkast]

where can i get a picture of XXL's cover of "a great day in hip hop"?!?!?!