| A Hip Hop magazine certainly has a lot of ground to | | | | creating it. This distinction makes Scratch the number |
| cover, including new releases, up and coming artists, | | | | one source for aspiring DJs- and in the rap market, |
| relevant news and rap video reviews, interviews with | | | | that's a huge reader base. If you are looking for a hip |
| rap stars and of course, a weekly dose of urban | | | | hop magazine that offer quality how-to articles, look no |
| fashion. Here's a short review of rap magazines and | | | | further. Its parent, XXL magazine, is itself a |
| which one may be right for you... | | | | powerhouse in the industry, and unlikely to go |
| The Source. Created by David Mays and Jon Shecter, | | | | anywhere any time soon. Add in the fact that Scratch |
| two Harvard graduates turned radio DJs, the Source is | | | | was started by disillusioned Source employees, and |
| the second longest running of any magazine in the | | | | you've got a good thing going... |
| genre. At first, it was also one of the most highly | | | | Vibe. This magazine's distinction lies in its focus: while |
| respected magazines in hip hop, though concerns over | | | | other magazines focused on the music- either as |
| their ratings of various albums- including favorable | | | | entertainment or an occupation- Vibe concentrated on |
| reviews of future co-owner Benzino- have hurt its | | | | the lifestyle. Though only one tenth the size of the |
| credibility. In addition, ongoing issues between Benzino | | | | Source, Vibe still pulls in a readership of roughly |
| and Eminem and 50 Cent have reduced The Source's | | | | 800,000. Many rappers and actors featured their own |
| advertising revenue, eventually leading to its | | | | clothing lines via Vibe, due to its broader focus. |
| bankruptcy. While poor business practice doesn't | | | | For a hip hop magazine, Vibe, The Source and |
| necessarily equate to poor writing and rap coverage, | | | | Scratch are very different animals and it's hard to |
| the Source took a serious blow to its credibility in the | | | | compare the three in any fair way. Still, as an MC and |
| past few years. However, for fans of hip hop, this is | | | | someone who is actively involved in creating rap |
| still a magazine worth checking out. | | | | music, I have to endorse Scratch for its insight and |
| Scratch. Whereas The Source is geared towards the | | | | writing, then the newly deceased Vibe, followed by |
| entertainment aspect of hip hop, Scratch focuses on | | | | The Source. Which hip hop magazine do you prefer? |