Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Migos Among Stars Featured on XXL 20th Anniversary Special Edition Covers

XXL is celebrating 20 years delivering in-depth coverage of hip-hop music and culture. The No. 1 hip-hop news source debuted in the ultra-jiggy era of 1997 and has seen the rap game go through 20 years of twists and turns. XXL is commemorating the milestone with 20 special edition covers featuring luminaries like Diddy, Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, E-40, The LOX, and others.

Frequent XXL photographer Travis Shinn took the pics, which run the gamut of icons from the past two decades. With so much interest and commitment to making this a special celebration for the magazine, XXL labored over the process.

"Choosing which artists to feature on the 20 covers was no easy feat, but looking at the rappers who’ve climbed to the top of their game, built a strong relationship with XXL over the years and/or maybe never had a solo cover before helped. Celebrating 20 years wouldn’t be complete without these artists: 50 Cent, the cover king with 15 total XXL covers and a career we’ve been documenting from the start; Nicki Minaj, a queen in hip-hop building her own pinkprint in the game; Diddy, the man who not only reinvented the remix but paved the way for rap moguls; Wiz Khalifa, the cool, calm and collected superstar; Cam’ron, Harlem’s swag connoisseur; Lil Uzi Vert; the face of hip-hop’s new generation; Migos, three rappers who helped redefine the culture; Snoop Dogg, the Doggfather of the game; Pusha T, a success story as a group member, solo artist and record executive; Future, a trendsetting trap god; T.I., rap’s gangsta and gentleman; Fabolous, a highly respected New York MC; Rae Sremmurd, the real crowd-pleasers; Birdman, a No. 1 stunna with a revered empire; Run The Jewels, partners in rhyme and reason; Yo Gotti, a testament to tenacity; Gucci Mane, the true comeback kid; Tech N9ne; an independent icon; E-40; hip-hop’s in-the-know uncle; and The LOX, a trinity representing for the streets."