Peace to Elliot Wilson. I’d say he held it down pretty well. Look forward to seeing what direction XXL takes in 2008. Link

Harris Publications’ XXL Magazine has fired longtime editor-in-chief Elliott Wilson, AllHipHop.com has learned.

While details are sketchy, sources have confirmed that Wilson was relieved of his duties today (January 7).

“One of the reasons is that Harris Publications wants the magazine to go in a different direction in terms of expanding its scope,” a source at XXL Magazine told AllHipHop.com.

Vanessa Satten has been named interim editor-in-chief of the magazine, which was founded in 1997 by former Source staffers James Bernard, Robert Marriott and Reginald Dennis.



  1. Trent (Reply) on Jan 7, 2008

    What the Fuck?!?!?!?

    What the hell is goin on over at XXL?

    I have to say, that Nas cover is not going to move anything on the newsstands.
    The Source might win this round with their Pimp C Rememberance issue.

    But this is crazy.

    Elliott Wilson did a great job at XXL.

  2. G (Reply) on Jan 9, 2008

    This is hilarious. via

    Mays and Benzino spoke exclusively to Mahogany Girl about the firing.

    DAVE MAYS:

    “It’s no coincidence that Elliot’s firing
    comes just a few weeks before the impending
    launch of MONSTA magazine, which will introduce
    the world to a new blueprint for the monthly magazine,
    a more advanced format that delivers exciting, relevant
    and informative content to the new generation of hip hop
    fans. Elliot’s firing signals the end to an old-fashioned way
    of publishing magazines that is no longer viable, which explains
    why all of the current monthly mags—from XXL to The Source
    to Vibe—are struggling in continuing to try to operate in a
    way that doesn’t work in the new age of media and of hip hop.
    Benzino and I are pioneering a new approach to hip hop
    magazine publishing which—given the impact of Hip Hop Weekly
    in just its first year—is already proving itself; we are extremely
    excited to show the world our new vision when MONSTA
    magazine debuts on newsstands at the
    beginning of next month!”

    BENZINO:

    “Karma is a muthafucka!!!…
    The little bitch should have been let go years
    ago if you ask me… When I heard about this I thought it
    was beautiful…He (Elliot Wilson) doesn’t represent Hip Hop or
    the culture anyway. XXL and all the editors over there are just
    a copy cat of The Source and now them, Source and Vibe are
    feeling the fucking pinch….Now Yellow Nigga can go get a job
    sucking fucking Jimmy Iovine since that’s what he was
    doing anyway…G Unit is over and so is Elliot. If I see
    him in the streets I’ma put a foot in his ass..
    I’ma do that for Hip Hop…”