The Source: March/April 1991

Here’s another T.R.O.Y. blog exclusive for everyone. And I definitely kicked myself for not buying and reading this back in ’91. I remember the main article’s topic was heavily debated, on a daily basis, when I was back in college. I had friends that were members of the Five Percent Nation, Nation of Islam, Orthodox Islam, Christianity, and a few atheists and agnostics as well. And when you mix hip-hop, women, weed and alcohol at midnight with guys trying to debate religious ideologies, it’s not a pretty sight. Let’s suffice it to say that I was present for quite a few heated arguments and fights regarding this. That’s why I’m upset that I never had this issue to bring to the table. It’s not only an informative article (that should have been printed in its entirety) but it puts hip-hop into a broader perspective. What I’ve always loved about the music is that everyone has a chance to be exactly who they are and present themselves to the world regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, etc. And The Source never missed a beat in its earlier days and was always on the cutting edge of discussing hip-hop in politics, society and religion.

On another note, I truly missed another gem in this magazine; the Large Professor article. Back in ’90, I accidentally found a couple of Main Source vinyl singles at Funk-O Mart and it was on from there. But I didn’t find out until later that he was producing for Kool G Rap’s Wanted: Dead or Alive and Eric B and Rakim’s Let the Rhythm Hit Em albums and that he wasn’t being properly credited for his work.

Also, you can watch a recent interview with Large Pro here:

http://vimeo.com/10621706

To see him with all that gray hair is really getting to me since we’re the same age and I have gray hairs popping up all over my head as well!

Source March/April 1991 issue

If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.

And don’t forget, the pw = thimk.

~Vincent Lopez~

The Source: March 1993 issue featuring Naughty By Nature

Life has been hectic lately but I’m back with another issue for everyone. (Side note – I have a couple of never before posted magazines that will hit this site very soon). Now, who didn’t love Naughty By Nature? While Kay Gee and Vinnie played the background perfectly, I had always likened Treach to Busta Rhymes in that he seemed to have that natural charisma and appeared to be friendly with almost any other rapper at the time. Combine that with Naughty’s penchant for crafting catchy hip-hop jingles and they just couldn’t lose. And to top it off, they had Spike Lee directing the video for the lead song from their second album, ‘Hip-Hop Hooray’, with no less than a hundred guest appearances from the hip-hop world at the video shoot. How could they lose?

Well, they didn’t. I’m sure they went gold and platinum with their singles and albums (check here: http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH) and they didn’t have to give up an ounce of credibility. I think it’s safe to say that they peaked in 1993, too. But here’s a question for you, should Treach have gone solo for an album or two? I think so. And why isn’t Treach ever brought up in a discussion of the best rappers of that era and of all time? Is it because he’s from New Jersey and not New York? Does his voice wear on you? What is it?

Source March 1993 issue

If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.

And don’t forget, the pw = thimk.

~Vincent Lopez~

The Source: February 1993 issue featuring Run-DMC

Way back in ‘82/’83, there was a time when I believed hip-hop could get no better than Melle Mel. My uncle had every Sugarhill Record ever released but when he came home with “The Message” record, it blew my little kid ears away. Later, when he bought “White Lines” and “Beat Street”, it solidified that thought in my mind. Melle Mel was the king of hip-hop to me and no one would ever replace him. Funny how hip-hop had a way of evolving though. I don’t know where or when I first heard “Sucker MC’s” but my mind immediately began a tug of war with Run vs. Melle Mel. I was so enamored with the seemingly hungrier Run that I remember saving my lunch money as a little boy to buy Run-DMC's very first tape, which I still have to this day. I couldn’t wait for my uncle to buy the album this time. I needed my own copy. And as bears love honey, you could not separate me from that tape until their second album dropped. So please understand me when I say that I was very leery of a Run-DMC’ return in ’93. They were and still are the greatest group in hip-hop to me but the 1990 album, Back from Hell, left a very bad sound in my ears. The group as I had known them had ceased to exist. But once again, it’s funny how hip-hop had evolved once more and their career was briefly resurrected and saved by the one and only Pete Rock. They were older, more mature, focused and displaying an outwardly Christian image. It still bothers me that younger hip-hop fans really haven’t heard their albums. And many people don’t realize how their success in hip-hop (world tours, gold/platinum albums, endorsement contracts, movies, etc.) has carried forward exponentially to many other artists to this day. Long live the Kings from Queens and R.I.P. Jam Master Jay.

And let’s not forget, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic received 4.5 mics in this issue? Do you think it should have been rated 5 mics? 4 mics?

Source February 1993 issue

If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.

And don’t forget, the pw = thimk.

~Vincent Lopez~

The Source: February 1991 issue featuring EPMD

This issue is another T.R.O.Y. blog exclusive and is courtesy of philaflava forum member Pradadon from NYC. Please send him a ‘Thank You’ in the comment section.

Imagine. The year is 1990. Pre-breakup EPMD is still together. They have two hit albums under their belt and now they’re signed to Def Jam when Def Jam is still Def Jam. LL had just dropped a classic album (Mama Said Knock You Out) and he wanted to appear on EPMD's Def Jam debut (correct me if I’m wrong). And to top it off, some new artist named Redman, comes through and completely steals the show. I think Verge said it first but next to Big L’s debut on Lord Finesse’s ‘Yes You May’ remix, Redman’s debut on that album is probably the best new artist debut that I’ve ever heard. So it’s safe to say, I was amped when I bought that Business As Usual tape and it stands as one of my all time best ‘pump up the volume while I play video games’ albums. Something about that album has an upgraded, more polished but still funky and grimy sound that the first two albums lacked and it has hit after hit with ‘Manslaughter’, ‘Mr. Bozack’ and ‘Hardcore’ being my favorites. Anyway, I never got the chance to read this issue until Pradadon sent it to my house. Way back in ’91, I was too young, too broke, and too stressed the hell out in my freshman year of college to try and buy every Source issue at the record store. So this one and the issue in the pic below are the two that escaped my grasp at the time. If anyone has the issue March/April 1991 issue below, then please contact me ASAP.

Source February 1991 issue

If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.

And don’t forget, the pw = thimk.

~Vincent Lopez~

The Source: May 1992 issue featuring X-Clan

Whoa, could this ever happen today? A ‘radical’ pro-Black musical group on the cover of a mainstream magazine? This issue was obviously popular back in ’92 because someone stole it from my dorm room. I had to purchase another copy from EBay last spring to post this but once again, I never got around to it until now. So this issue is a T.R.O.Y. blog exclusive. After re-reading it, I can see that it was probably stolen because of the Das Efx and Pete Rock & CL Smooth album reviews. If you weren’t aware, those groups were on fire in ’92 and the radio kept “They Want Efx” and “They Reminisce Over You” on constant rotation. Looking back, did both of their albums deserve 4 mics, though? I also forgot that this issue had a small article discussing the death of Kid Hood from Tribe's “Scenario” remix. I remember being pretty upset after first reading that back then. One verse and his career was over. If only that could have happened to Lil Wayne instead…

Source May 1992 issue

If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.

~Vincent Lopez~

The Source: January 1993 Issue

After many re-up requests at THIMK over the past year and an invite from Mr. Philaflava himself, I’ve decided to post some old Source magazines right here on the T.R.O.Y. blog. We’ve decided to kick this off with the January 1993 issue, which is the 1992 year in review. I’m not sure about many of you but mid 1991 to late 1992 was a very significant time for me while a sophomore/junior in college and music played a huge part in that. From what I read, to how I dressed, to my socio-political views, my religious beliefs, and even how I ate; I can tie them all back to a particular, artist, album or lyric from that time period. Does music still have that kind of impact today? I almost killed myself trying to find a way to get home from college every other weekend just so I could visit Sound of Market and/or Funk-O-Mart to purchase the latest album The Source had advertised or reviewed and also get their latest issue. This was back when their rating system actually meant something and when my friends I literally fought over the ratings. Just take a look at that list of the supposed best albums of that time period below:

My personal top six albums (in no order) from ’92 would be:

Redman – Whut? Thee Album (4.5 mics, November ’92 issue)

Gangstarr – A Daily Operation (3.5 mics, June ’92 issue)

Boogie Down Productions – Sex and Violence (4.5 mics, March ’92 issue)

Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Mecca & The Soul Brother (4 mics, May ’92 issue)

Diamond - Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop (4 mics, November ’92 issue)

Showbiz & A.G. – Runaway Slave (4 mics, November ’92 issue)

Enjoy the issue if you haven’t read it already. You can also read the gibberish I previously wrote about this issue here, so click that before you download it.

pw=thimk

Source January 1993 issue

-- Vincent Lopez