XXL Magazine Nov 2009 Meth Red Ross Scarface Ghost
Pretty nice two page foldout cover including some of Def Jams former stars. No matter what your feelings are about Def Jam, you have to give them props for some of the most iconic groups, artists, and albums. 3 page list of all of Def Jams albums. Here is a sample of some of my favorite:
- Public Enemy – Yo! Bum Rush The Show
- EPMD – Business As Usual
- Jay-Z – Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life
- Redman – Whut? Thee Album
- South Central Cartel – ‘N Gatz We Truss
- Warren G – Regulate… G Funk Era
- Jayo Felony – Take A Ride
- Richie Rich – Seasoned Veteran
- DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
- Ja Rule – Venni Vetti Vecci
- DMX – And The There Was X
- Ludacris – Word of Mouf
- Kanye West – College Dropout
Rating: 8/10
Vibe Magazine Feb 2001 Destiny’s Child
Do we still need to say Destiny’s Child is on the cover? Or can we just say Beyonce is on the cover? So here’s a interesting comment in the reader’s opinion section talking about last months issue. Caren Rubin-Brown (Grundy, VA) writes: I’d like to voice my opinion on a statment in the article on Shyne: “He is caramel-colored, nothing like the big black nasty-looking motherfucker you expect him to be.” What the hell is wrong with this picture? I’ll tell you. Black people are constantly subjected to bullshit comments that associate words like “nasty,” “sorrow,” “death,” “evil,” and ‘diabolical” with “black.” Let me remind you that black is beautiful. Also let me remind you that Shyne is black. So what in God’s name is that statement supposed to mean? Come on! White people give us enough of this shit, and we have made it this far, but to hear it from your own people really pisses me off. Remember, Lola Ogunnaike, attitudes that keep us divided along color lines are just as detrimental to black unity as white racism.
Marshall Faulk was on the cover of Playstation 2′s NFL Gameday, was there a Gameday curse? Someone look into that.
Rating: 7.5/10
Vibe Magazine August 2001 Aaliyah
This could have been one of the most iconic and sought after Vibe issues if they would have just put some thought into the cover. Instead they go with another illustration. This issue came out the same month she left us and if they would have used the picture of her from inside, it would have been perfect. Article on Pastor Troy is inside (underrated). Foxy Brown interview (when she was hot). Black Eyed Peas add (before the white girl). Funny Ad: T-Boz for Lawry’s Seasoned Salt?? Headline “T-Boz Confesses to late night run for favorite seasoning”
Rating: 4/10
Vibe Magazine Nov 2001 Wyclef Diddy
Pretty good looking cover, better than the last Vibe I covered. There is a FUBU ad with Daymond John in it, looks completely different that the Daymond you see on Shark Tank. Missy and Timbaland take out a one page ad to tell Aaliyah they miss her. Also looking back at a young Trick Daddy, didn’t realize how much he looks like the Grizzlies Tony Allen. Good little article on whether the hard economic times will sway the bling era into a more gritty musical direction. Not sure if that happened or not, but one thing you can always count on in the rap game is B!&#@’s, From B’s ain’t Sh!t but Hoes and Tricks… to I love bad B’s, that’s my f#$%%’n problem…. Bitches be economic proof! Jay-Z’s Blueprint gets 5 Star Rating in this issue.
Rating: 7.5/10
Vibe Magazine Aug 2002 Nelly
Man, this is one ugly cover. It’s bad enough you put Nelly on the cover, but then you don’t even have the decency to put a real photo. Just plain ugly. I shouldn’t have to go through and read 87 pages just to find anything interesting, anyhow Next artist was a bust with Truth Hurts, Jarvis Church,Lamya, and Ledisi. Article on the X-ecutioners is the only thing worth reading in this mag. What the hell is wrong with Vibe?
Rating: 2/10
Vibe Magazine June 2002 Mystikal Master P Ludacris
Southern Exposure cover with three artists that went three ways. Vibe editors come up with the top 10 albums of all time. They actually came closer than I expected. It takes a nation of millions to hold us back, Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, and Illmatic hit the top five. I think The Chronic and Reasonable Doubt should have been higher up. De La Soul is Dead and Aquemini shouldn’t have been on the list. Dang! Ali of the St. Lunatics got a 1 rating for his album Heavy Starch.
Rating: 5.5/10
Vibe Magazine Sept 2005 Jaime Foxx
Two page ad inside of 50 cent and Vitamin Water, kind of weird, one photo has fifty and his dog wearing a platinum/silver cross chain? next photo has him reading The Wall Street Journal while some bikini wearing girls wait in the background. Next artist included: Yummy Bingham (Miss), Rihanna (Hit), Ray Cash (Miss), and Noah (Miss) but I liked his flow. The rest of the issue is straight garbage, to top off the garbage is a Wendy Williams gossip page.
Rating: 3.5 / 10
Chicago Rocks Magazine Vol.2 No.1 1995
Chicago Rocks tried to cover all aspects of hip-hop. They had a Graffiti section that was pretty nice, B-Boy section of some snapshots like “DJ Pacman coming to stop from a backspin”. My favorite section is the Check Da Rhymes section were they had some grainy pictures from a Chicago show featuring photos from it that included: Taigo, Lyrical Tribe, Jaquan Styler, Cashus-D, DJ CJ, Sinista Mob, Self, and Top Authority.
Rating: 8.0/10
The Liberator Newspaper: Mos Def #4.4
This newspaper is the Liberator:art.culture.education.politics.truth…. it is all that but it is also a black published newspaper also. Article on Mos Def did not turn out the way I thought it would. Writer Kamille Whittaker goes in on Mos Def and his stupid Katrina Klap song. She used a lot of big words, but from what I could decipher, she didn’t like it! There is also a full movie review of Beat Street.
Rating: 7.0/10
No Doubt Magazine March 1996 Smif-N-Wessun
Check out this classic with Smif N Wessun on the cover. Jobim Rose starts out the mag with a rant about everything that’s wrong in hip-hop right now… The Glitter, Mainstream, Gossip, Other Mags, Wendy Williams and such. Don’t see much room for complaining, 1996 was a great year in hip-hop. This is surely a East Coast magazine, counted the word “son” 46 times. There is a great section where they pit two mc’s against each other, throw some lyrics down and have fans send letters in to the editor for voting of who won the imaginary battle. Wow, the days before the internet. This battle displayed GZA vs Nas pitting GZA rhymes from Livin’ in the World Today against Nas’ Eye for an Eye.
8.5/10
SFTL Straight From The Lip Magazine Dec 1993 Domino Cover
The paper stock on this magazine is a bit thicker than most magazines. Pretty cool cover of Domino who had the hit “Ghetto Jam” back in the early 90′s. B&W ad for the Wu-Tangs debut album Enter The Wu-Tang. Original Flavor was interviewed and here’s the opening: Q: The group’s changed, explain that. Ski: We cut that bitch ass nigga off, his name is Suave, cause he was wack and couldn’t rhyme. Put that in your magazine.
Rating: 7.5/10
Fish ‘N’ Grist Magazine #4 Fat Joe Cover
Ok, so a porn magazine with Fat Joe in it? Let’s all take a deep breath before I open this…. ok well it’s funny, Fat Joe is in a hotel room with a naked Lacey and he has this weird smirk on his face. DJ Quik is interviewed and talks about being a freak. My final thought is Porn plus Fat Joe do not mix.
Rating: 3.0/10
Thick Magazine #68 Ghostface Killah
I love the cover along with the layout. Has a small interview section with Witchdoctor. There is also a Q&A with Chip Fu of the Fu-Schnickens. That’s kind of out of left field but the article was interesting. Great idea to put the X-mas Gift Guide Items right next to the models breasts in all the photos.
Rating: 8.5/10
The Urban Network Magazine – 2Pac Cover
This is one of my favorite covers, simple, peaceful, 2pac. Not much inside as expected for this magazine except for a photo of A Tribe Called Quest in the studio finishing up Beats, Rhymes, and Life.
Rating: 9.0/10
Vibe (XVibe) Magazine Sept 2008 : Jay-Z Cover
Special Juice Issue with a double cover of Jay-Z, don’t like the cake picture but like the I Am Legend one. 51 albums that changed the game 1978-1993.
Rating: 7.5/10
Scratch Magazine #11 : The Roots Cover
R.I.P. to J Dilla. Excellent section called 25 Greatest Remixes, going to pause this post and listen to them all…. *AFK*…. I’m back, I hate to say it but it’s about 60/40 in favor of the originals, I think some of the remixes are just thought to be better off the names, like Pete Rock’s House of Pain Jump Around Remix, which I don’t like, and Erick Sermon’s How High remix for Meth and Red. Anyhow, number one was Public Enemy – Shut Em Down Remix by Pete Rock.
Rating: 7.0/10
Ego Trip Magazine #4 : Eazy-E Cover
Eazy-E is featured on my second favorite cover of him, I like his Source issue with the bullet proof vest #1. Early Mobb Deep photo inside. Eazy-E is featured.
Rating: 9.0/10
Notorious Magazine #5?
I can’t figure out the issues so the numbers might be wrong for this magazine. I think when Puffy took over, he just reset the timer. Anyhow, not much Hip-Hop but an interesting Jay-Z ad for All City Phat Farm clothing.
Rating: 2.5/10
Scratch Magazine #8 : Jermaine Dupri Cover 1 of 2
Jermaine Dupri and Swizz Beatz are on the two covers. Got to give props to Daragh McDonagh for his photo of 9th Wonder. Funny section on when Biggie slapped the shit out of RA da Rugged Man.
Rating: 5.0/10 (J.D. Cover)
Tha Yay Magazine #1 : Mac Dre Cover
This is probably Mac Dre’s best magazine cover and one of the hardest to get. Article inside of the life and times of Mac Dre. Top Unsigned Talent was: Kingston, D-Dubb, Big Rel, Young Squeeze, and MSC.
Rating: 9.0/10
Tha Yay Magazine #3 : Keith McGowan Cover
Ugly ass cover but you gotta love the underground feel of this magazine. Best part of the mag is when D.J. Flirt calls out NorcalUnderground promotions for scamming and misrepresenting a show with Too Short and 2 Live Crew. Neither acts showed up and D.J. Flirt said the following “Who are these hoes and what were they getting paid for this show? I hope NorcalUnderground didn’t pay a lot for those mufflers” What’s a Muffler? Sounds funny. “I got out of there, and actually found a better show at a Karaoke bar! (no lie)”.
Rating: 4.5/10
Xplosive Magazine #12 : Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz Cover
Cover is more of a collage, does have Mac Dre and The Jacka on it. Interesting ad for 50 Cents Valentine’s Day Massacre album I had never seen. Ciara looks hot inside. Jadakiss and The Jacka articles inside. An interview that was done 5 weeks before the death of Mac Dre also inside.
Rating: 7.0/10
XXL Magazine #43 : Jay-Z Cover
Nice clean cover of Jay-Z. DMX’s advertisement is for his 5 album It’s Not A Game, which I believe got changed to Grand Champ, or maybe I’m mixed up. 50 Cent is covered right before he blew up. Once again, Pastor Troy is in a great photo shoot.
Rating: 8.0/10
Vibe Magazine May 2005 : Tupac Biggie Jam Master J Cover
Not sure what I think of this cover. It is a remake of a 1968 Esquire cover. I am trying to figure out if they purposely recreated the edges to really look like bad technology from the 60′s or just bad photoshopping. How come every high end clothing ad has to feature a white chick posing like she just took a shot of heroine? Top 4 Dynasties at the time: Bad Boy, G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath, Roc-A-Fella, Ruff Ryders. Section on the deaths of our fallen stars. Convincing arguments on Orlando Anderson being the shooter of Pac.
Rating: 7.5/10
Murder Dog Magazine Vol.15 No.1 : Rick Ross Cover
Nice clean cover of Rick Ross. Eva Mendes naked for a PETA advertisement. Large section on the passing of Pimp C. Article on B.O.B. before he blew up, noticed he changed his whole style, this photo has him mean muggin’ with a bat, on another photo from the past he’s mean muggin’ with a blunt in his mouth.
Rating: 7.5/10
Mandatory Business Magazine #1 : JT The Bigga Figga Snoop Dogg Cover
What doesn’t this dude do? JT is one of my personal favorites, not just for Game Recognize Game, but for his hustle. There are some up and coming artists along with an interview with Battlecat. Plenty of sections on how to get your game right. JT smiles once in 23 photos.
Rating: 8.5/10
Supreme Magazine #1 : Rah Digga Cover
Talks of adding Eminem in place of Snoop in the N.W.A. reunion, talks of a super group with Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and DMX. Black Rob’s Life Story is featured, probably not a lot of supporters of this album, but I actually think it was a very good album.
Rating: 7.5/10
4080 Magazine #38 : Mack 10 & Gangstarr Cover 1 of 2
Two cover variations, including a west coast and an east coast cover. Cover is really red! Good article on the arrest of Mac Dre and members of the Crestside Country Club Gang. Advertisement for the Hieroglyphics – Thirdeye vision. Lol, you’re gonna love this cover: google Big Bear – Doin Thangs, it’s the same cover artists (Pen & Pixel) who did Snoops – Da Game and Silkk The Shocker’s Charge It 2 Da Game cover. Of course, then you can see one of my favorite covers, Devin The Dude on a toilet.
Rating: 7.5/10
South West Bound Magazine #3 : Mistah F.A.B. & Turf Talk Cover
Kind of like XXL’s Freshman class, but the next to blow in the bay. Also includes Rick Moss, Smigg Dirtee, A-Wax, and Young Dru. Zion I also interviewed inside.
Rating: 7.0/10
Dope Magazine #6 : E-40 Cover
I think I like the graffiti “Dope” logo. Article on “Selling Out” is intellectually discussed. E-40 in two pages uses the following words: Game-orienfested, Twinkies, Bunions, Marbles, and Fetti.
Rating: 7.5/10
RSK Magazine #1 : Jah Kings Cover
Magazine dubbed “Strictly For The Streets”. The guy that writes the CD reviews is just as bad as I am! Impressed with the interview with Inspectah Deck though.
Rating: 4.0/10
HHC Hip Hop Connection Magazine #4 : De La Soul Cover
Classic cover with De La Soul, Red Alert, and Wee Papa Girls. You know your reading something classic when they have a Hip-Hop Slang section. Chillin’ Out – Relaxing, Biter – Someone who takes ideas from other and is unable to invest in those of his own, Posse – Group of Homeboys or Homegirls. Nice center two page Run DMC poster.
Rating: 8.5/10
HHC Hip Hop Connection Magazine #47 : Ice Cube Cover
Perfect cover because it not only has Cube, but Da Lench Mob in the corner. Funny, Daryll Gates asks Eazy-E on the Howard Stern show “What if we went around making songs saying ‘Kill The Blacks’?” Also article on “Is Gangsta Rap Dead?” *note* Ice Cube is on the cover.
Rating: 8.0/10
The Source Magazine #166 : Ashanti Cover
It’s about time we get some females on this blog. Although I don’t like non rappers on the covers, I can deal with this one. One of the nicest Ecko ads i’ve seen with Bounty Killer and some graph green smoke. Interesting article on another article that said Hip Hop Is Dead! , now I am too lazy to do some research, but was this statement made before Nas said it? It was in a article in The Journal News.
Rating: 6.5/10
Rime Magazine #13 : The Game Cover
This is actually Hip Hop Magazines best kept secret title. Very pleasing to the eyes, in depth interviews, great selection of artists, and interesting subject matter. The eye candy and first round draft sections are mirrors of other magazines, but they hold their own. Labtekwon is the 1st round draft pick and he says his most famous battle was when he out dueled the entire Hieroglyphics crew in a freestyle battle. I need to do some research and see how true that is. Interesting article on how (A Tribe) Ali Shaheed Muhammed’s name has affected his career.
Rating: 8.0/10
Update* So I took to Twitter to find out the real story, and I wish I hadn’t. Nothing resolved. Here’s a sample of some of the Tweets.
Legacy Magazines @LegacyMagazines
2005 Review on my site about @labtekwon stating his freestyle victory over the @SOMHIERO ? Real Talk? @TajaiMassey
@LegacyMagazines @labtekwon @SOMHIERO LMAO. Served him and his crew. Made a guy quit rapping and go to college that night. Ask @CrazyLegsRSC
@TajaiMassey @LegacyMagazines @SOMHIERO i spit a freestyle and you were shook. u sat yo ass down and didnt rhyme again until the end. u lyin
Yo! Magazine #49 : Tupac Cover
This issue is in one of my favorite 2 year span of hip hop. Nothing but great stories and rappers from coast to coast within. Tribute to Eazy-E. Color photos of both rappers mentioned inside. I found the original receipt inside the magazine and I got to say well…. here’s the list of items from North Teutonia Avenue Pick N Save: Fresh-Yo Magazine, Koolaid – Lemonade, Miller Draft 12PK bottles, Diapers, Pork Chops 1/4 Loin. Now that’s a good Sunday afternoon!
Rating: 9.0/10
XXL Magazine #5 : Snoop Dogg Cover 1 of 3
This issue had three covers, including a nicer Canibus cover and a worst cover with R. Kelly on it. They got a section where they went to Roger Pratt on NYC’s Houston St. to predict stuff in hip hop, he came back with Latrell will kill his coach! lol. XXL’s Eye Candy is Jennifer Lopez.
Rating: 7.5/10
Sister 2 Sister Magazine Vol.10 No.9 : Snoop Dogg Cover
Snoop Dogg in his god awful No Limit days on the cover. Interesting note on BET making Pac’s Do For Love video go back and get edited by painting panties on the cartoon chick. Snoop interview talks about Death Row.
Rating: 6.5/10
Sister 2 Sister Magazine Vol.11 No.7 : Puff Daddy Cover
Story of Puffy beating down Nas’ manager after the “Hate Me Now” video came out with the two on the cross. Mase finds god, we all know how that ended up. This magazine has no real articles in depth articles.
Rating: 6.0/10
Rap Pages Magazine Vol.5 No.12 : The Roots Cover
Excellent cover photo of the Roots. This issue is the MC and also the photo issue. One thing you got to love about Rap Pages is that they shine light on independent up and coming magazines.
Rating: 8.5/10
Vibe Magazine June 2003 : Nas Cover
Simple clean cover with Nas on it. Nas article inside but not a lot of Hip-Hop related articles except for the CD reviews.
Rating: 7.0/10
Notorious Magazine #3 : Puff Daddy & Kim Porter Cover
Diddy on the cover of his own magazine? Nothing in this issue hip hop at all.
Rating: 2.5/10
Vibe Magazine July 2002 : Lisa Left Eye Lopes Cover 1 of 2
Tribute cover to Lisa Left Eye Lopes who was gonna turn into N.I.N.A. on Death Row. Includes photos and articles of UrbanAID2 concert with Jay-Z, The Roots, Alicia Keys and more.
Rating: 7.5/10
The Source Magazine #128 : Big Pun Cover
R.I.P. to Big Pun, includes an article on his death along with pictures including when he wasn’t so big. 256 pgs in this issue but not much substance.
Hip Hop Quotable: Common – The 6th Sense
Unsigned Hype: Navada
Rating: 7.0/10
Beat Down Magazine #6 : Erick Sermon & Fat Joe Cover
Love Erick Sermon on the cover, don’t really care for Fat Joe. Great advertisement for The Fab 5 Let The Madness Begin, O.G.C. and Heltah Skeltha. Article on the Pharcyde and Def Jam. RBX tells of his “escape” from Death Row.
Rating; 8.5/10
Rap Pages Magazine Aug 1995 Vol.4 No.7 : Eazy-E Cover
Cool cover remembering Eazy-E. The Hills Boys have a ad for their album What You Wanna Do that is extra ghetto, reminds me of the Section 8 Mob advertisement. Not sure how Lost Boyz / Legal Drug Money got a 6/10 rating. Pretty sad as Rap Pages calls out L.A. talk radio host George Weber the day after Eazy died as he and some callers spoke about being glad Eazy was dead. Side note: George Weber was stabbed to death by his male lover in 2009.
Rating: 8.0/10
XXL Magazine #144 : Dr Dre & Kendrick Lamar Cover
Crazy to remember all the other covers with Dr in the background, such as the Deep Cover Source cover with Snoop, 50 Cent & Eminem XXL cover. Could it be Timbo’s are back in style? NY’s Joey Bada$$ is being deemed the next Nas or Big L. I’ll edit this page next year to see how that turns out. Lot’s of list and issue shows all back issues of XXL. To top off the issue the all-time great Eye Candy is shown, Rose Acosta.
Rating: 8.5/10
XXL Magazine #91 : Young Buck Cover
Young Buck on the cover before he ran out of money and cried on the phone. By the way, his first album was a classic. Funny section on The Game at club Firestone in Florida and challenging a fan to a bottle drink off.
Rating: 6.0/10
XXL Magazine #102 : G-Unit Cover
Another black background cover with 50 Cent, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks. Best part of the magazine is the DMX making of It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot album.
Rating: 7.5/10
Notorious Magazine #4 : Prince Cover
Ugly ass cover. RZA does a Calvin Klein Jeans ad with his yellow “kato” mask on. Not much in hip-hop except for a two page section on Biggies upcoming album Born Again.
Rating: 4.0/10
