Mackenzie James is a writer and editor based in New York City. He is currently the Associate Editor at XXL Magazine.
His work has previously appeared in Complex, Billboard, AltPress, HipHopDX, and The Boston Globe among other publications.
He is originally from Ithaca, New York, and currently resides in Brooklyn with his handsome cat Saul and beautiful wife Saia.
Areas of Expertise
Writing
Editing
SEO Optimization
Clips
Interviews
Mozzy Interview – New Album Apologies in Rap and More - XXL
Benny The Butcher Interview - Everybody Can't Go, Supporting Trump, The State of Hip-Hop - XXL
Soulja Boy Gives His Happiest Interview Ever - XXL
Nik Dean Details How He Made Travis Scott's Song "Skitzo" - XXL
Meghann 'Thee Reporter' Cuniff, the Internet's Most Popular Legal Reporter Right Now, Weighs In on Young Thug's Trial, Diddy's Allegations, Tory Lanez Insults and More – XXL
Consequence Reveals How He Got YNW Melly On His New Album – XXL
How Hannibal Buress Is Handling His New Life As Rapper Eshu Tune – HipHopDX
Statik Selektah & Kota The Friend Break Down Their New Album ‘To See a Sunset’ – HipHopDX
Conway The Machine is Out of the Darkness on ‘WON'T HE DO IT’ – OkayPlayer
Flor’s ‘Future Shine’ Proves That True Growth Happens In The Dark – Alternative Press Magazine
Ab-Soul Is Trying to Live in The Present, With a Little Help From His Friends – Billboard
Armani Caesar Is Proving Herself as the First Lady of Griselda – Billboard
$uicideboy$ Are Healing Together Through Family & Music – Billboard
How Westside Boogie Flipped The Script For His Second Album “More Black Superheroes” – Billboard
Kota The Friend Is Focused On Moving Forward – HipHopDX
The Importance Of Gestures With David Duchovny – Alternative Press Magazine
Jungle On Reinventing Themselves on Sophomore Album – Billboard
Legendary Musicians Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto Reflect On Using Philip Johnson’s Glass House As An Instrument – Metropolis Magazine
Rootsy prodigy EmiSunshine shows her pluck in Somerville – The Boston Globe
Features
Yes, Hip-Hop Will Survive Without TikTok - XXL
Rappers Calling Out Names In Diss Tracks is Dead, Or Is it? - XXL
12 New Hip-Hop Duos and Groups to Look Out For in 2024 – XXL
Every Song In Drake's Timestamp Series Ranked – XXL
Travis Scott’s ‘Utopia’: All 19 Songs Ranked – Billboard
Are The 2000s Back? How Avril Lavigne, Chris Carraba Are Uniting Gen Z and Millenials – Alternative Press Magazine
Reviews
Gucci Mane 1017 Day Concert Review – XXL
Sideshow's '2MM DON’T JUST STAND THERE!' Is a Cathartic Rumination On Perspective – HipHopDX
Post Malone “Twelve Carat Toothache” Review – HipHopDX
Tems “If Orange Were A Place” Review – HipHopDX
Juice WRLD “Fighting Demons” Review – HipHopDX
Benny The Butcher “The Plugs I Met 2” Review – HotNewHipHop