The History of The Source Hip-Hop Magazine: 25 Years of Front Cover Features and Best-Selling Issues – By Theo The Philosopher
The History of The Source Hip-Hop Magazine: 25 Years of Front Cover Features and Best-Selling Issues – By Theo The Philosopher
The Source Hip-Hop Magazine is one of the most popular and well-known publications in the world of rap music. Originally launched in 1988, it has become a staple in the hip-hop industry, providing a platform for rappers and producers to share their music, stories, and experiences. It has also been the go-to source for fans to learn about the latest trends in hip-hop culture.
The magazine was founded by Harvard-educated lawyer David Mays and publisher Jon Shecter. Mays and Shecter were both passionate about hip-hop and wanted to make sure that the music and its culture were represented in a positive light. To do this, they recruited writers, photographers, and editors who were all knowledgeable in hip-hop and the culture surrounding it. Its iconic front cover features, best-selling issues, and ability to stay current have made it one of the most popular and respected publications in hip-hop culture.
The Source's first issue was released in August 1988, and featured a cover story on N.W.A. Its success was immediate, as the magazine quickly rose to become one of the most popular hip-hop publications in the world. The magazine went on to become the go-to source for anyone looking to keep up with the latest news and trends in hip-hop.
Throughout the years, The Source has featured numerous front cover stories and best-selling issues. In the early 1990s, the magazine featured a number of exclusive interviews and stories on some of the most popular rappers of the time, including Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, and Dr. Dre. They also covered the rise of East Coast hip-hop, and highlighted some of the biggest stars in the genre, such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Mobb Deep.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, The Source focused on the growth of rap in the South, featuring exclusive interviews and stories with some of the biggest names in the genre, including Outkast, Lil Wayne, and T.I. They also covered the emergence of alternative hip-hop artists like Mos Def, Common, and A Tribe Called Quest.
In the mid-2000s, The Source featured a number of stories on the emergence of the digital music industry, as well as the rise of the hip-hop video game genre. They also covered the controversial feud between 50 Cent and The Game, and provided in-depth coverage of the underground hip-hop scene.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, The Source continued to be a leader in hip-hop coverage, featuring exclusive interviews with some of the biggest rappers of the time, such as Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Drake. They also covered the emergence of trap music, and highlighted some of the biggest stars in the genre, such as Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, and Future.
Today, The Source remains one of the most popular and respected hip-hop magazines in the world. They continue to provide exclusive interviews, stories, and coverage of the latest trends in hip-hop culture, making them the go-to source for anyone looking to stay up to date on the latest happenings in the genre.
The Source album ratings
The Source magazine has become one of the most influential hip-hop publications since it first appeared in 1988. The magazine has been credited for giving artists their first major platform and for helping to bring hip-hop to a wider audience. While the magazine has evolved over the years, one thing that has remained consistent is its album ratings system.
The Source assigns albums a rating between one and five mics, with five mics being the highest possible rating. While the ratings system has changed since the magazine’s inception, the five-mic rating is still the most coveted. When an album receives the coveted five mics, it is a sign of respect and approval from the editors and the hip-hop community at large. The five-mic rating is not given out lightly.
The magazine has a panel of music critics who review each album and assign a rating. To receive a five-mic rating, an album must be truly exceptional. It must have a strong lyrical content, as well as a unique sound and message. It must be an album that is timeless and will stand the test of time. The Source also assigns a rating of four mics to albums that are above average but not quite five-mic worthy. These albums may have some standout tracks, but typically the overall quality doesn’t reach the five-mic level. Three mics are given to albums that have some good moments but are overall considered mediocre. Two mics are typically given to albums that are subpar and lack a strong lyrical or musical content. Lastly, one mic is given to albums that are deemed to be of extremely poor quality, often with little to no redeeming qualities.
The Source has often been credited for helping to launch the careers of many successful hip-hop artists. Albums that receive a five-mic rating often go on to gain a great deal of success and recognition. The five-mic rating has become a symbol of achievement and respect within hip-hop culture and the wider music industry. In recent years, The Source has expanded its ratings system to include online reviews and ratings from readers. This allows readers to give their own opinion about an album, and for their opinion to be taken into account when assigning a rating.
Overall, The Source magazine’s album ratings system has played a major role in the development of hip-hop as a genre. It has helped to bring hip-hop to a wider audience and has given a platform to many of the genre’s most successful artists. The five-mic rating has become a symbol of success and respect, and albums that receive it are seen as having produced something truly special.
10 Albums to receive 5 mics
- Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995)
- OutKast - Aquemini (1998)
- The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death (1997)
- Nas - Illmatic (1994)
- Mobb Deep - The Infamous (1995)
- Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
- Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
- Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt (1996)
- Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele (2000)
- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
Theo The Philosopher