I’m sure it was the tacky cover of tattooed man-love that
was supposed to create a stir, but it seems as though the back cover of XXL’s 10th Anniversary issue
is getting all the attention. Over at Prohiphop.com and industry trade magazine
Folio they’ve accused Elliot Wilson
of journalistic blasphemy for his appearance in a Roc-a-wear ad.
No one seems to be touching upon the precedent or the
context of it though, which I think plays a big factor.
AD LOADING...
I can’t say that I’ve ever noticed or seen it in non hip hop
publications, but it isn’t out of the ordinary for regular advertisers to have
specific ads dedicated to offering congratulations to magazine for reaching a
milestone. Granted, I’ve never seen an editor in the ad, but the premise is
still pretty much the same.
Personally, the first thing I thought when I saw the ad;
dope! Elliot is holding the first
issue of XXL, which was also Jay-Z’s first magazine cover. Ten years
later both are at the top of their respective mountains so it’s got a nice
“full circle” feel to it. Plus the “I Will Not Lose” statement ads a nice touch
as both won despite some tough competition along the way. Now, I guess you
could make the argument that Elliot
really had nothing to do with that issue in particular as he was years
away from running the show at XXL, but still…he was holding the reigns when XXL stepped over The Source’s rotting carcass.
We’re big on journalistic integrity here, we regularly give
albums low ratings when they’ve paid good money to advertise that album with
us. The two have nothing to do with each other, 5 X’s or 1 X, cash is never
going to change the quality of an album. And shit, I’m the Marketing Director and the Music Editor here, conflicts of
interest are never ending. Believe me, I’ve been asked to change ratings, bump
it up an X or even just a half. Every time it has been from someone who has
advertised that very same album. I know the consequences; we may not get the ad
buy when their next project comes out. In case you didn’t know, advertising is
what pays the bills here. But the money will always come from someone else, it
is never worth cheating the readers and even more so, cheating myself. I’m a
hip hop head to my casket drops and I couldn’t sleep with myself knowing I gave
some wack ass album a good rating to fatten my commission check. I also know
that other hip hop sites out there don’t take these matters quite as seriously
and happily do what the labels ask, but that is just another reason why HipHopDX >>>>>_______.
Back to the topic at hand, I guess I just don’t see what
exactly the violation is here. The idea of an editor in an ad in their magazine
sounds bad, but what is the harm? It’s a clothing company…will they get cheaper
rates because they put him in an ad? Maybe, but that doesn’t matter. If the ad
had him sitting on 50 Cent’s lap with
a matching rhinestone shirt on while Curtis
is being reviewed a few pages away, then I can see a problem. This just comes
off as a harmless tribute to me.
AD LOADING...
Prohiphop made a funny point, referring to the argument for Elliot being “it’s hip hop.” Well,
yeah. We want the respect that everyone else gets but are happy to play by our
own rules when it’s convenient for us. It’s why we remain the sad clown of
music. Granted, putting yourself in an ad is some grade A ego stroking but shit, a) hip hop and ego are synonyms, b) he earned that pat on his own back. Do XXL and Elliot have a greater responsibility to keep the advertising and editorial divide after The Source made them one in the same?
You people are the ones who buy the magazines and visit the
websites, does the ad above strike you as inappropriate? Is he crossing the
line? You tell us. I just can’t help but find this to be in far worse taste.
