Sowmya Krishnamurthy is a freelance writer with XXL. Visit the official XXL staff contact page here to see all current employees.
Sowmya Krishnamurthy
![Lakeyah Aims to Be the Biggest Artist in the World as Quality Control Music’s Next Up](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2021/05/lakeyah.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Lakeyah Aims to Be the Biggest Artist in the World as Quality Control Music’s Next Up
Read the exclusive interview.
![A Look Back at Hip-Hop’s Role in This Presidential Election – No More Politics as Usual](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2021/01/lil-pump-donald-trump-kanye-west.jpg?w=980&q=75)
A Look Back at Hip-Hop’s Role in This Presidential Election – No More Politics as Usual
Hip-hop played a major role in the 2020 presidential election. As Joe Biden takes office as President, XXL looks back at the wild ride to get here.
![How the Coronavirus Changed Hip-Hop](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2021/01/coronavirus-changed-hip-hop1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
How the Coronavirus Changed Hip-Hop
From touring coming to a halt to rappers thinking creatively on how to interact with their fans, this is how the coronavirus changed hip-hop.
![Hip-Hop’s Race to Get a No. 1 on the Billboard Charts Continues Amid a Complex System](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2020/09/gunna-roddy-ricch-6ix9ine-nicki-minaj.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Hip-Hop’s Race to Get a No. 1 on the Billboard Charts Continues Amid a Complex System
Hip-hop's obsession with sitting on top of the Billboard singles chart.