Two men, a Boy and a Shawty

Shawty Lo, Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy and OJ the Juiceman on this month's cover of XXL Magazine

Funny, there's not one talented rapper in this picture... but each of these fellas is interesting as hell, which makes them pretty relevant in music today. The success of these four artists shows that in this day and age, mainstream success is not at all contingent on skills or ability, its based on selling an image and marketing yourself well.

I don't wanna sound like a angry 30 year old, bitching and moaning about how hip-hop is lost, for two reasons: first, if you read this blog, you know I'm a huge Gucci Mane fan (and a closet Soulja Boy fan); and two, i can't hate on XXL for picking up on the fact that these four are pretty much the biggest names in southern rap now that T.I. is going to jail, and lil Wayne is trying to be the next Steven Tyler.

Either way, check out the Hood to Hood issue of XXL, on newstands on June 2nd.

AYE!!!