30 Years of Brotherhood: The LOX and the Art of Staying True to Hip-Hop’s Elements

Photographer: Shotti

Stylist: Danie Creativ and Jackie Leak

Asst by: Nasir Williams

Fashion Editor: Chris Sandford

Grooming: Kaye Makeup

Stepping into The LOX's studio in Yonkers, N.Y., feels like entering a sacred hip-hop space where brotherhood, loyalty, and unity are paramount. The walls are adorned with plaques and artwork of the group, while the space is illuminated with laughter and conversation as Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch kick back with their longtime friends.

As they trade stories and jokes, the bond The LOX shares is so tight that blood couldn't make them any closer. They demonstrate their camaraderie by effortlessly caring for each other, with Kiss handing P an ashtray for his joint and Sheek presenting a bottle of Macallan whisky for the "Knock Yourself Out" rapper to enjoy during our chat. Even during their photo shoot for our cover story, which took place at the Aliya Cocktail Den and Continent Brooklyn—both located inside Hotel Indigo in Williamsburg—their support for one another ensures The LOX remains a strong and impenetrable force.

The Yonkers trio will seize every opportunity to remind others they're outpacing rappers their age or younger—and they've earned that right. As they celebrate 30 years in the music industry, their influence is stronger than ever, and their unity is driving them to reach even greater heights together, a feat achieved by only a handful of rap groups.

"I feel like, collectively, we're on top of our game, looking and feeling good," says Sheek about the group crossing the 30-year mark together. "The fans still love us, and no one's telling us to get out. So that's a blessing, and our skills are still razor sharp and getting even crazier."

"Everything still feels vibrant," adds Kiss. "It still feels like we got a lot left in the tank. We have much more to say, and we take care of ourselves. We looking a lot better than a lot of younger artists that look fucking 75. That comes from the genuineness and sincerity of our brotherhood."

Kiss, P, and Louch have been rapping together since high school, and the years spent together have made them key figures in hip-hop culture. In the early '90s, the group made a pact to stay true to the game and promised never to let anything come between them as they pursued their hip-hop dreams. That commitment propelled The LOX into the spotlight, where they initially dominated the local hip-hop scene before breaking into the mainstream with Bad Boy Records.

The LOX found immense success under the Bad Boy imprint, and they became trailblazers by becoming the first rap group to successfully run a guerilla campaign against Sean "Diddy" Combs to release them from their recording contract due to creative differences. They eventually found their rightful home with Ruff Ryders Entertainment in the late '90s before embarking on incredible solo careers that resulted in multiple hits and Billboard 200 Top 5 albums.

The group’s extensive history with two of hip-hop’s most legendary rappers, the late DMX and the Notorious B.I.G., helped them become true students of the game as well. Biggie welcomed Kiss, P, and Louch with open arms, and they admired how he was truly a fan of their work. He treated them like family and stuck up for them whenever things went awry. With X, The LOX saw his come-up first hand, as they’re all from Yonkers, and his trajectory showed the guys that they could make it in this business.

“X, we were sharing something with someone from the same place as us. He was a star here before being one around the world. Nobody from Yonkers made it before, so it was like ‘Oh, shit,’ seeing that,” says P. “BIG was a different story because he embraced us as brothers, and we were from Yonkers. Nobody knew about Yonkers. There was no rappers from Yonkers; there was nothing. They heard us rap, and he was like ‘Y'all fucking nice’ and embraced us like brothers from that point on. We built our connection with Big in the studio while our connection with X is rooted back home.”

A stacked catalog and working with legends while becoming that in their own right would make anyone say The LOX have made it, but they are just getting started. The group remains as relevant today as they were in their prime, continuously releasing new music and engaging with the culture through podcasting and entrepreneurship. Their legacy is firmly established in this ever-changing hip-hop landscape, but their love and passion for the culture keep them hungry for more.

"What we did is going to stand the test of time long after we're no longer here," says Kiss. "That's always a blessing when people can see that. We did some serious shit for artists today and in the future, but I feel it's still underplayed and underestimated. You know what I mean? So we got to keep going."

P emphasizes the group’s dedication and respect for the craft, keeping them in conversations even among younger hip-hop fans who may overlook older artists. The LOX are constantly honing their rap skills, which people saw during the epic demolishing of Dipset in a Verzuz battle in 2021, where they showcased incredible breath control while rapping without backing vocals. Most rappers rarely do that these days.

"I think the biggest contribution we made to this game is our craftsmanship and loyalty because you haven't seen it at this level," says P. "We perform and rhyme at a higher level when it comes to craftsmanship, and not only that, we kept our brotherhood before the industry. My two brothers mean more to me than the game, and they feel the same way about me."

He continues, "I mean it when I say the craft ain't in the game no more, bro, and I think that's why all age groups fuck with us. They know we're true to the craft, and you can see that in us. That resonates with people, no matter how old you are. It's like the guy who goes to practice a lot. His game is polished and feels and looks complete because he practices. That's what we always bring to the table."

According to Kiss, The LOX is shattering the notion that older rap veterans can't keep up with the younger crowd: "Whoever fucking said that this is a young man's sport don't know what the fuck they were talking about. We all love this culture and the sport of it, so it's all about keeping that heart beating and our spirits alive. They like to send us a lot of curve balls and distractions to try and diminish hip-hop culture as a whole, but when you get rid of all of the little fucking umbrellas that they create in it and just protect it as a whole for the culture and the passion of it, everything will be fine."

The members of The LOX have truly showcased their incredible talents beyond just rap, branching out into exciting areas like the coffee industry, health and wellness, and even real estate. Yet, no matter where their journeys take them, they always come back to the music that first united them. This year, fans can look forward to a fantastic new collection of tunes from The LOX in the form of an EP, where they sound sharper than ever. Plus, each member will also be releasing a solo album—a true testament to the love and dedication they pour into their craft.

This exciting EP is a wonderful gift for both longtime fans and newcomers who truly appreciate the group. It features music that brings the essence of “The LOX Files” to life, delivering that authentic street vibe while showcasing the artists' reflections as they navigate new stages in their lives.

"This EP is fucking fire. It could be more than an EP. We have enough to do an album, but I think we should do an EP with the attention span of these muthafuckers," says P. "It's LOX shit, but it's more mature. It's like we're not on the corner anymore; we're in our establishments."

Louch shares that the rapping on this EP should have their fellow "OGs" heading back into the studio to "get busy." While the group continues to deliver amazing music, it's worth mentioning that creating a project aimed at the new generation has been quite a journey.

"You have to rap like that these days, like showing some kind of growth because they'll tell you that in the comments," says Sheek. "They'll get at you for being 50 years old and still rapping about the same thing. Not that we give a fuck, but they are talking."

P chimes in, "That's what I'm saying! How does somebody like me, you know, I want to John Wick all my verses [laughs]. These kids have the shortest attention span, so your project has to be under 35 minutes to have an impact, and I love songs with three verses, so that's what we're figuring out now."

"The clubs close by the time the DJ gets to the third verse, and you'll be lucky to get a whole verse and hook these days. They're giving you a snippet," says Kiss. "Hip-hop culture is getting away from the element of all this. People are putting on their Doc Martens and sprinting away from the elements."

It's noticeable that fans and artists often seem to be distancing themselves from certain aspects of hip-hop, especially highlighted in the recent rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The LOX, well-versed in rap rivalry through their past feuds with Roc-A-Fella Records and G-Unit, find themselves puzzled about what really happened between these two hip-hop legends.

"Kendrick won with a slap; the other shits might've been harder and more potentially digging in, but it was the one that was slapping like a party shit that won the battle," says P. "The other shit was more impressive as an MC. Even Drake's shit before that point; then 'Not Like Us' came."

"Drake said the shit about the plane from Malaysia; that was crazy, and n***as didn't even pay attention to that shit. They gave it nothing, but that shit was crazy," says Kiss about "The Heart Part 6" track. "They kicked me out of that battle [laughs]. I don't understand it anymore. It lost me and got out of my hands. Like it's a bunch of false intel, suing is involved, and then you got the Super Bowl. It got out of my pay grade. I thought it was just hooking up the beat and saying some shit. It went way past that. What about the elements of rap beats and rhymes?"

Thankfully, hip-hop culture still has these three men living up to what made us fans in the first place. If new music weren't enough, The LOX just completed a documentary chronicling their personal lives and careers for the first time, which the media company Mass Appeal is handling. Fans will get an intimate look at the triumphs, struggles, and brotherhood that fueled The LOX's legacy while also getting a crash course lesson on staying true to the elements of the culture. The LOX aren't just looking back—they're continuing to build, proving that real hip-hop doesn't fade; it only grows stronger.

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