The Internet Got Elliott Wilson Goin’ Nuts

Elliott Wilson, the editor of XXL Magazine, has lost it. I thought marriage was making him soft, but it seems like something else is making him paranoid. For the last few months Elliott, who usually uses his rambling editorials to attack his rivals at Vibe and The Source, has been aiming his poison pen at hip-hop bloggers.

Yes. Hip-hop bloggers. And I may be ego trippin, but I think he’s been spitting subliminals directly at me! With Kris Ex dropping homophobic slurs on my name last week, August has been a crazy month for me. I thought blogging about music would be bliss, but right now it feels more like wrestling.

Here’s Elliott’s latest:

"This one’s dedicated to you inferior fucks and jealous bitches who envy me. To the anonymous assholes hunched over your keyboards writing erroneous shit to get a rise out of YN: You’re beneath me. You wanna know why I ain’t gotta answer niggas? ’Cause I truly understand these niggas—sneak dissin’ haters who want to get put on. You just want my autograph on your copy of ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists or, better yet, on a XXL contract. You’d be doing naked cartwheels if I ever gave you a byline. You don’t stand for shit, so sit. Just wait for your moms to go to sleep so you can get back on that computer. I’m ready for a blogger geek burial." 

See? I told you he’s p-noid. Elliott has probably been reading too much Media Bistro and thinks bloggers are going to take his job away!

But about his rant - first off, who are these “anonymous a-holes” that Elliot is referring to? My name is Hashim Warren, from Harlem. This is Michael Miraflor, from Cali. He’s Ian from the UK, and he’s Byron Crawford from Missouri. Anonymous, who?

That’s just a weak charge Elliott is lobbing at his blogging critics in order to discredit them/us. But who’s more anonymous – me or Elliott’s senior writer, “Chairman Mao”? And who writes that “Step Your Rap Game Up”column in XXL, anyway? It’s the most gully thing Elliott prints in his mag, yet no name(s) are attached to it. Anonymous, fo’ sho’. 

Elliott goes on, painting hip-hop bloggers as nerds who still live with their mom, stuck on the computer. It’s funny, because this is the same type of insult Benzino makes towards most hip-hop journalists and Elliott specifically. Zino is known for taunting Elliott and friends, calling them “weirdos” who aren’t connected with the streets. After taking such jabs himself, why would Elliott try to Hemingway me?

But I can’t disagree with Benzino. Elliott did compile a whole book of rap lists, possibly the geekiest thing ever done in hip-hop. I don’t mean to get personal, but I bet he’s one of those annoying dudes who’s always sharing fun facts about hip-hop, and turns every phrase into a rap song. Can’t say I would want to hang with him, let alone work for homie. I’ll pass - but I highly recommend Sean Fennessey, who’s excellent at the type of groupie journalism XXL requires.

In a strange twist, Elliott already scribbles checks for half blogger/ half journalist hybrids. This includes Jon Caramanica, Andréa Duncan-Mao, Oliver Wang, Kris Ex, Maurice Garland, and probably more (yes, most of their blogs sucked, and half of them got discouraged and quit posting. I noticed that too).

I’m willing to bet cash money that Elliott keeps a secret blog himself. C'mon - he definitely fits the description. At the very least, I’m sure he’s posted many anonymous comments on blogs, and probably has plus 100 subscriptions in his feed reader. I’m tempted to find out what i.p. comes out of the XXL office and match it to my commenter records. But, nah. I’ll let homeboy live.

---
One last night note – some advice for Elliott: you should’ve given Chingy the cover for his first album, which went 3 times platinum. Instead the shine went to lame ducks Foxy Brown and Ja Rule, who you hoped would talk greasy about your boy 50 Cent. You tried to play catch up, awarding Chingy a cover for his second disc, which flopped. You lost twice, homie. Hang up on Jimmy and start reading more blogs. We’ll keep you fresh.

Comments

[i'm the skwidawd]

much as i respect the guy's now ancient work, ever since he took over XXL he seems crazy bitter and not the least bit comfortable with position atop XXL.

sometimes getting what you want is not really the best thing for you. sometimes there is more satisfaction in struggling from the bottom.

[sally]

hashim, im not on the inside of this stuff, so i dont really know, but first you started a war with kris ex, and now you're starting one with the XXL guy and even picking a little on sean hardlyart? what could your beef with him possibly be? as an observer it seems like you're trying to pick fights with your colleagues. you're attacking the xxl dude pretty fierce for not even being sure he's talking about you. and you're talking smack about Jon Caramanica, Andréa Duncan-Mao, Oliver Wang, Kris Ex, Maurice Garland and their blogs? whoa. what's the deal partner? are you just trying to engage them? or what?

[Ian]

Real talk.

[Hashim]

Hey Sally. I don't pick fights, but I'm obviously not shy about finishing the conversation.

Most of my time and material on this blog has been spent on bigging up things and people that i like. Lately it's been weird where I find people trying to get personal with me. But it's all good.

Oliver and Maurice are excellent bloggers. And journalists. I was trying to show how silly it is for Elliott to diss bloggers.

[i'm the skwidawd]

I am happy to dis Elliot Wilson.

Who wants to see bitterness, resentment, egomania as the guiding principle of hip hop journalism? The dude has been whining, complaining, and bitching about unnamed other people in the industry since the day he became editor of XXL. I read his first editorial and I was like "Dude is clearly not happy to be in this position."

The reason why the Source is still in business is that XXL is on the same basic "We are so right. We told you so. Nobody can fuck with us." head trip.

XXL = The Source + Interscope

[Joey]

FIRE. I'd agree that, in general, the hip-hop-journalism establishment is regularly infuriating and generally disappointing.

I also gotta call out Wilson for writing that bloggers are just wannabe writers. From what I've seen on these internets, if people wanted to be writing, they could be. Fuck, I read blogs all the time because the writing is engaging and original and far more compelling than anything I get in a hip-hop magazine.

But blogging is generally about community. Bloggers share their lives and opinions, and intentionally or otherwise, this fosters social connections and builds a community of which all participants can claim partial ownership. It's great reading things on Sexy-Results because those words fuel the thoughts of people at Every Day Should Be Saturday and Byron Crawford. Similarly, reading a site like this fuels my mind, and I then compose something that I hope can contribute to a larger, nebulous, persistent dialogue.

Wilson got it wrong. Bloggers don't want to be journalists. Bloggers are aspiring politicians, erecting and regulating cyber communities engineered around shared interests and multilateral appreciation for external inputs.

[Jay Smooth]

So you are saying that Andrea Duncan-Mao and Jon Caramanica "sucked"?

[SOHH SoulMan]

Go off Hashim.

[Catalyst]

I just read elliots whole article about why suge is on the cover.

my only question is: how did a man that writes like a second-grader get to be editor in chief?

It seems like he mentions his wife out of some personal insecurity issue dealing with self-worth.

Regardless, suge is shady. why haven't rappers learned not to associate themselves with this man. He's got many..many red dots pointed at him.

e.i. - vma after party

[Hashim]

"Wilson got it wrong. Bloggers don't want to be journalists."

I think you're right. As I told someone else, most bloggers have no interest being in the music industry machine or writing professionally.

And journalists used to be fascinated by blogs. Now that curious interest is turning to disdain.

[dame, a lowly blogger turd]

Hashim,

Great piece.. But if I ever see you spelling definitely wrong again, I'll just politely correct you again.

It's one of the most misspelled words ever, but people like to cite your misspelling as as a sign of deeper ignorance, which I know doesn't describe you. (intellectual no homo?)

-dame,ATL

[Spider Goodlegs]

>You just want my autograph on your copy of ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists or, better yet, on a XXL contract.

Hold up. They PAY guys to write that shit? I seriously thought they printed that rag up like the school newspaper at Kinko's. Next you're gonna tell me they pay dudes to write "Jet Magazine" and "Black Hairstyles"

[reyshizz]

dat guy is a hater... they should leave all us hip-hop bloggers alone...

[Jay Smooth]

So you are saying that Andrea Duncan-Mao and Jon Caramanica "sucked"?

[sally]

hashim,
are you going to answer jay's question? i'm interested in your clarification of the comments in the body of the post as well...

[Hashim]

good look, Dame.

[SOHH Irreverent]

"In a strange twist, Elliott already scribbles checks for half blogger/ half journalist hybrids. This includes Jon Caramanica, Andréa Duncan-Mao, Oliver Wang, Kris Ex, Maurice Garland, and probably more (yes, most of their blogs sucked, and half of them got discouraged and quit posting. I noticed that too)."

I think what Hashim is saying is that half the writers that Elliott has been hiring have blogs. It's not a good thing or a bad thing. However, those same people weren't cut out to be bloggers.

I don't think Hashim is picking fights because Elliott doesn't have to acknowledge him. I think Elliott talks about bloggers because it makes him feel superior to those who aren't in the industry and can't get free CDs.

[G Off]

I'm confused. I like XXL and I enjoy this blog, along with others. What is the reasoning behind the hate that is going back and forth? Is it because Wilson used his rants against The Source to gain popularity, and now that XXL has taken the crown Wilson has to find a new target? If so, sounds similar to 50 going at Ja at first and then getting at anybody once he hit the top.

[Robbie]

Is this the blog version of Pac's "Hit 'Em Up" or something?

I see your point Hash but if you can't acknowledge the Ego Trip crew as some of the best to ever do it in the writing game then you've got it twisted. The Rap Lists book was dope, and Mao's single reviews column in Ego Trip was miles ahead of these other rap sapped suckers.

XXL is good for what it is - a mainstream rap mag. There are enough good articles and columns in it to make it worthwhile, despite having to wade through 5 page features on Bow Wow to get to the good stuff.

"I think Elliott talks about bloggers because it makes him feel superior to those who aren't in the industry and can't get free CDs"

Trust me, Bloggers get free CDs.

[Mya ta da]

Hashim- You dish out more beef than a summertime BBQ homie. Stop this beef shit, please. To an extent we're all tired of the back and forth no matter how entertaining it is in the beginning. Write about something substantial for God's sake. Like music.

[Jay Smooth]

So, Hashim, are you saying that Andrea Duncan-Mao and Jon Caramanica "sucked"?

[Tego]

Makes me wanna start postinf properly again!

Thanks for the inspiration Elliott!

[Hashim]

Jay, it is what it is ;)

[sally]

hashim. dude. you come out really super ultra mega strong in your post. but you back off when called to the plate. this is reminiscent of the kris ex thing. it's kind of disingenuous. i'm not trying to hate here, but this is exactly what becomes aggravating about the blogging medium-- no accountability. you come out hard and have an opinion, but are not willing and/or able to follow through and clarify or expand on your points when questioned. all it does is make your initial points flimsy. if you're going to say people "suck," you best be prepared to die on that. say what you will about oliver wang, andrea duncan-mao or caramanica-- if you ever called them on anything they'd come back with a reasoned argument defending their opinion. i'm just saying.

[Hashim]

Sally, "no accountability"? I have open comments, which I never delete. I'm accountable to every person who has an opinion on what I say.

I'm staying focused, that's all. Elliott is dissing bloggers, but he hires people who blog - even those who are not very good at blogging.

See the contradiction? That's my main point.