Drake Covers XXL's 16th Anniversary Issue

XXL has been around for 16 years as it celebrates the 150th issue with none other than the current King (debatable, as always) of hip-hop, Drake. The timing is perfect since Nothing Was The Same will be out September 17. Read a few excerpts where he talks about his album and Amanda Bynes below. In addition to Drake, the magazine also looks back at the 150 most important people, places and things in hip-hop’s last 16 years, Kendrick Lamar reflects on Snoop’s Doggystyle and more.

I remember coming into this year thinking, “How am I going to cut through all these people and shine?” I’ve never been part of a year when so many legends are dropping projects. How am I going to be seen? I’m going to be like the kid waving in the background in the photo with all of his tall relatives. And, I guess, those were my initial thoughts, and not to say that I haven’t enjoyed some of the stuff that has come out this year, but it didn’t pan out the way I thought it was going to. I think I am going for it, to really establish what are murmurs or things being said quietly, “Um, I think that Drake might actually…” On September 17th I want people to be like, “Oh, we were right.”

Amanda Bynes:
I don’t even know who that is doing that or what that’s about. If that is her, I guess it’s a little weird and disturbing. It’s obviously a behavioral pattern that is way bigger than me. Whoever is behind it, whether it’s her or somebody else, they know people are paying attention so they keep it going.