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.

[sally]

hashim: yes, but, you are not answering direct questions that myself and jay have put out there. i am not going to push the point, because it's obvious you are avoiding answering in any real way. All you did in the above comment was restate in a softer way what (I think) was one the main points of the post-- that elliott is dissing bloggers even though he hires them. it seems now, though, in light of the comments above that it was not in fact your main point, but merely a vehicle to post something dissing other bloggers/journalists. i don't know, man, you seem to want to be taken seriously as a "hip hop blogger," but you seem hesitant to try holding your own intellectually, even in those beefs or discussions you start yourself.

example: when i questioned you pointedly about having kris ex's blogspot redirected to this blog you half denied it, half threw a different light on the whole thing (that beef was squashed, or the use of kris ex's homophobic language-- which he, in a very forthcoming and sincere way took full responsibility for and flat out apologized for, by the way), when you actually had in fact re-directed his URL to your own site.

you are making a concerted effort to make "hip hop blogging" and "hip hop journalism" something people think and talk about, but you don't seem very willing to be forthcoming and honest about it yourself. bummer, man.

[Brown]

1) elliot wilson is not the editor-n-chief of xxl, interscope/jimmy iovine/g-unit/etc,etc is. his opinion of bloggers is as worthless as the rating system that xxl uses. anyone who greenlights a 'xl' rating for tony yayo's album NEEDS to be talked about.

2) bloggers have no higher personnal to report to, thus making blog cites that much more real than published magazines, because opinions are free to flow without fear of career suicide. so maybe we should be questioning why some bloggers choose to work for places where their ideas and opinions won't be free to flow. feel me? yes? no? maybe so? let me know.

[Will]

Hashim, you know better than this.

Do better.

[mr.kamoji]

"You’d be doing naked cartwheels if I ever gave you a byline." - I find that line interesting because that is the exact name of his wifes blog.

http://nakedcartwheels.blogspot.com/

[Hashim]

Sally, I think you have a misconception of me. It's hard to respond to everything you said in the comments, but here's my try:

1. Jay's question was irrelevent, so I didn't answer, thinking the convo would get hijacked. And here we go...it's hijacked!

2. You think this is "merely a vehicle to post something dissing other bloggers/journalists"? Reread what I wrote.

3. Which beefs did I start myself? I avoid beef. It's not healthy. Journalists are extra sensitive when it comes to their own writing, and many feel that if someone doesn't like their article or blog, then there's a personal problem.

4. I revealed that Kris Ex was salty about my review of his book, something he hid when he wrote about me and denied when i put it out there. Who's not forthcoming?

5. You feel Kris Ex was sincere when he said he was "speaking metaphorically" when he called me a "faggot"? That's a "Weasel Apology", if I ever saw one.

6. There's more, but I don't know how to get into it

[Mya ta da]

I'm losing faith in some hip hop bloggers man, I really am.

It kind of mirrors hip hop music: Started out humble and representative but not without bravado, morphing into revolutionary and thought provoking, only to become a basiton of egos (verbal bling) and beef. It's regression.

Yall are off my RSS feed.

[exo]

For those who are actually vested in learning and growth, the proper conversation continues here:

http://loquent.blogspot.com/2005/08/allow-me-to-retort.html

Hashim, feel free to continue in your attemtps to . . . well, whatever it is that you're doing, please, feel free to keep it up. You're still not worthy.

[Jay Smooth]

Hashim, this is really incredibly weak.

If you think you get to pick and choose which questions are "relevant", you do not understand what the word "accountability" means.

Your swordfighting with Elliott is fine. There are valid points to be made, and he's made it clear it's a game he loves to play.

Your beef with Exo is on the table, such as it is, and I don't know what understanding you may have with Sean.

But I know you don't know Jon Caramanica or Andrea Duncan-Mao from adam, and I know they've never done anything to disrespect you.

I also know that when Andrea made her goodbye post, you were the first one in there saying "sorry to see you go."

So now you've got some answering to do.

If Duncan-Mao and Caramanica are "irrelevent" [sic], then you shouldn't have brought their names into it. But you did, and now you need to either back up what you said or back down from it.

Say what you want about Bol, he has picked out a role for himself and he sticks to it. He doesn't come out with a bunch of rah-rah, then turn all cute and coy and start putting up wink emoticons when he gets called on it.

I'm sure Jon and Andrea could care less about you pecking at their ankles, but I'm saying this to you because I respect you: You need to think seriously about what path you are on. You can either choose to take yourself seriously, or choose to be a prankster. You can't do both.

[sally]

hashim, you itemized your response to me, but said nothing of substance.

you either don't understand being "forthcoming" or you are not interested in it, so i'm leaving this alone.

side note, because it's worth saying: not only do i think kris ex's apology was sincere, i commend him for having the cojones to directly address criticisms made of him/his words and respond to each point made, head-on, admitting when he was wrong. i may not love his writing style or agree with everything he says, but he clearly respects his medium and readers by being honest.

[Donnell]

Damn,

I feel like I've been missing something!! Is it always like this here? Maybe we should call DJ P Cutta to make the next volume of "Street Wars" lol. Yo, I'm new to this blogging thang, but I feel you're on to something here. How often do you all post articles? I'll make sure I keep tuned in!

[Hashim]

"But I know you don't know Jon Caramanica or Andrea Duncan-Mao from adam, and I know they've never done anything to disrespect you."

Jay, you're assuming a lot and have no idea what you're talking about. Read my LHIOB post and fill in the blanks. You have my info - you could have hit me up and asked, since obviously I'm not going to spill it here.

That's sad, because I haven't exposed your secret agendas. Like, how come you attacked the Hot 97 morning show but spared Miss Info? Or why are you really so against The Source, and Dave Mays in particular? Who are your friends and who are your enemies? That’s important to know before you start writing “real histories", or co-sign someone else’s

You pretend your moral stands are not personal, when really it's a mix. Come clean.

With my post, Elliott understands. Jon understands. Sean understands. Andrea understands (maybe), and if she doesn't then Elliott can call it. I don't want to explain it to you in public or Sally at all. There's other subliminals that are in my post that only certain intended readers will get. And that's the way it's supposed to be.

Maybe I should call for a "blogger geek burial" like Elliott, or call someone a “fag” like Kris Ex, then "sincerely apologize." Ahh, then you'll take me seriously and I won't be a prankster! Then I’ll have a career in this shady, fraternity-like music business!

I'm cracking jokes on these dudes, and they love it. Some hate it, cuz they’re not used to being on the other side of the page. It is what it is.

Be easy, Jay. Sit down, Sally.

[hip hop beats mp3]

Ya.. real talk!

[sally]

is it worth reiterating that you still have not addressed any question directed at you?

dude-- you've resorted to taking potshots at Jay and hinting at some mythical improprieties. that's some low shit. now you're telling me to sit down?

i'm glad that jon, andrea and sean "understand." i don't. however, it's clear what you say here isn't meant for me to get; it's meant to impress or engage people you look up to or are jealous of.

i'm throwing in the intelligent conversation towel.

peace.

ps. you should expect to be asked to "explain in public" what you say since you...post...publically. huh.

[Hashim]

Sally, you said you respect and admire Kris Ex's weak sauce apology! You tossed in the "intelligent conversation towel" a minute ago

[i'm the skwidawd]

aha ha ha ha...

oh man, this has got me laughing all the way to the comment button. i have no business posting here. no one has dissed me or bigged me up (at least on the non-subliminal level).

oh but i love this Hashim-as-reckless-blogger-savant completely blowing caution to the side of monitor.

the lesson in all this is that your reputation and your ego and success and friends and your respectability are all expendable, needless attachments. senseless honesty and spontaneity are the true calling of the fearless blogger. even bol gets kinda tired with his formula.

truly when i read hashim i can see the bare knuckles progression posing as laidback character assassin. hashim has been flying by the seat of his pants for quite awhile now, and people all of a sudden act like it's the Kofi Annan UN oil-for-food scandal.

I think it is beautiful when someone is willing to throw all respect in the trash, for no other reason than to amuse himself and/or speak his particular version of the truth.

Because there is no truth but your own. And even that is somewhat questionable.

[Jay Smooth]

Haha, is that your idea of "busting" me? Resorting to this tactic is sad, and the execution is even sadder.

Miss Info is a friend of mine. Dave Mays and I had a confrontation over the phone back in the days, after I interviewed the other Source editors in 1994. All these things are a part of the public record, I have discussed them on the blog and on the radio many times. You've got secret agendas like Colin Powell had WMDs.

You've told me in the past that you don't mind taking a harsh critique in public, so I took you at your word on that. And because your comments about these other people was a part of the public record, it was only fair for the explanation to there as well. If your answer could only be made in private, YOU had ample opportunity to drop me a note or a call and say so, but instead you chose to string me along and play games with it.

But from here on out if you'd rather continue this discussion offline, so be it, I'll say nothing more here.

[Hashim]

Jay, I sent an email with all the sordid background info on this.

Now, back to Elliott...

[Fresh]

This whole situation is being played out like a chapter in "Trapped in the Closet." Bravo.

[IB]

It looks like he's talking about jimi izrael. I don't see anything that looks like it refers to you.

[reel talk]

Hashim,
Sorry for continuing to talk about an issue somewhat to the side of the main point of your post. I must admit I am confused about something, after following your beef with Kris Ex from the start.
You posted about Kris' (as far as I know) untrue, unfair and homophobic bashing. Admirably, he apologized to LBT people for this, admitted responsibility and pledged to continue working on his issues. But presumably, since he did not apologize to you, this was "weak sauce."

OK, fine, you rightfully called him on this. In the course of the give-and-take, you aligned with "Byron Crawford," arguably the hip-hop related blog filled with the most homophobia, misogyny and hatred of Black people out there. Despite whatever competence Bol has at what he does, have you considered demanding an apology from him, for his entire body of work? How can you be outraged by homophobia from the one, but not from the other?

[Hashim]

Hey, Reel Talk. I'm not aligned with Byron Crawford. I talked about that in my previous posts...what he did with Kris Ex is separate from me.

I asked Kris to clarify that to his readers, but he won't. So even weeks later I get love/hate mail and comments about me setting up a crazy page about him, which I didn't do.

The apology wasn't weak because I was omitted. It's a Weasel Apology, if I ever saw one. He's sorry that he got caught. He's sorry that the tide turned against him. He begrudgingly said sorry after hiding the rant didn't work, and his colleagues started to get at him publically and privately.

My little neice does the same thing.

[Bol]

I'm sorry to all of my friends in the LBT community, especially sally and eric.

[ElliotBites]

I'm onto these clowns like Elliott Wilson, Kris Ex, Caramanica, Jazzbo, Chairman Mao and the rest of the XXL bunch. They're all trying to do their best Ronin Ro impersonation. We all know they use money's words, semi-colons, em-dashes, insults and everything else but try to pretend he didn't start everything they're doing. Same goes for the ducks at Source, Vibe and more. Elliott and the other clowns need to stop killing trees with wack books and stop riding Ro's nuts and get their own styles before they try to bring it to cats blogging online.

[dayna]

I have to say I'm a bit offended at the comment about bloggers being wannabe writers. I blog, therefore I write. The new blog era has folks upset because it's an unedited form of expression...unedited means uncensored and we have a following. Makes folks nervous about there positions. I never felt the urge to become a nagging ass journalist who lives to talk junk about other people's personal lives...a neccessary evil..but not something I'm in to. It's not hard....anyone who wants to go write articles on assignment can. I blog to express myself....share my voice. And it's fun. It's not about some hustle or feeding people a bunch of bullshit so they can think I'm cool.

[ssds]

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