• Nicki Minaj covers The Fader (along with Yeasayer, who are fucking awesome). She reportedly and smartly skipped the XXL Freshman 10 trap, and after a Pitchfork cosign  and Letterman appearance is officially a star. Good for her. ATG retracts its initial, painfully puritan reaction.
• Drake told GQ he thinks Kanye West's new album will be, "one of the best hip-hop albums in the last 10 years."
• Lil Wayne had a staggering eight root canals in one day in preparation for jail.
• Mystery man Jay Electronica does an interview with MTV about the success of "Exhibit C."
  
• Asher Roth is hanging out with Pharrell in a studio. I'd guess music is in the works.
• I'm still elated about landing T. Mac's expiring contract; the Knicks can now sign two max guys with all that beautiful caproom during the summer 2010 NBA free agency feeding frenzy. I'll take D. Wade and Avatar breakout star, Chris Bosh.
  

Aziz Ansari's character from "Funny People," the foul-mouthed shock comic Randy, has been recording a mixtape with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek. Like most classic hip-hop works, it's now been delayed and won't drop this month as initially reported.

The writing is on the wall for XXL's Freshman Class of 2010 and we're happy report this year's crop in the wake of this hilarious post from one of XXL's former staffers. Before we drop names, it should be noted that three of 2010's bigger break out acts -- Drake, Jay Electronica, Nicki Minaj -- all reportedly declined participating; as Andrew Noz observed in the above, hyperlinked piece, this marks the first XXL Freshman cluster of rappers without a token New York City representative.

As of today, your Freshman 10 will be, in specific order of tolerability:

1. Freddie Gibbs, the rapid-fire gangster out of Gary, Indiana who raps like a way better Young Buck
   
2. J. Cole, Jay-Z's golden boy who pissed off hip-hop when he got to rap on the Blueprint motherfucking III, though truthfully he's hardkworking and nice with the skills despite fact he's one of thousands of rappers with a mixtape called The Come Up
   
3. Pill, clearly a fill-in
   
4. Jay Rock, a West Coast gangster with snarling delivery and talent
   
5. Nipsey Hu$$le, a former Crip
   
6. Big Sean, Kanye West signed the Detroit emcee in heartwarming fashion (Sean reportedly rapped passionately to 'Ye at a radio station), has since been protected by G.O.O.D. umbrella
   
7. Fashawn, the indie conscious guy who will never be famous
   
8. Donnis, what Atlantic came up with when label bosses ordered a Drake
   
9. Wiz Khalifa, the hipster
   
10. OJ Da Juiceman, southern caricature who inspired General Larry Platt's "Pants On the Ground"
    

To commemorate what is still a significant hip-hop happening, we've decided to introduce you to the unfamiliar names (it's pronounced Ka-LEE-Fa) in mixtape fashion wherein each dude gets two songs to creep into your rotation. Why Social Justice Committee? If you went to UT, that was the freshman orientation branch in charge of programming well-intentioned, heavy-handed skits about campus issues like binge drinking and date rape. It was adorable. 

Tracklist + link after the jump.

All photos by Victoria Ramirez for ATG.

ATG made a brief pilgrimage to the happiest city in the U.S. over the weekend for Bacchus, Mardi Gras, Drew Brees in proper regalia, cajun food, to revel in the glow of unconditional love for the Saints. Basically a vacay.

However, ATG was struck to discover the ubiquity and popularity and enthusiasm for...the Ying Yang Twins.

Indeed, the Atlanta-based duo remixed their 2003 hit, "Halftime," (itself an NFL stadium mainstay) specifically for the Saints. It took maybe 10 minutes of work (just sprinkle in the "Who Dat?" chant, assorted flows) and I heard it maybe 500 times in 24 hours. We're talking old men in tuxedos chanting along to a song that hasn't surfaced since Playstation 2's "NFL Street." Check the remix after the jump.

Wait til you see my pics.

Absolutely pumped for March 30 and not because it's my 25th birthday.

Blu and Mainframe have a new production company, a new free EP, and just premiered new visuals all under a new moniker, Johnson & Jonson.

"IN CELEBRATION OF THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW COMPANY WE PRESENT OUR FIRST MUSIC VIDEO FOR BLU & MAINFRAME'S "DISCO D.Y.N.A.M.I.T.E." DIRECTED BY A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. - N.W.C."