Life After Death: The Complete History of Dead Rap Magazines
So many hip-hop magazines have folded in recent years that it’s hardly a surprise when we hear another one has closed up shop. But when urban powerhouse VIBE shut down operations last month, the news was too big to ignore. Since most of us here at Complex Media got our respective starts at various rap publications, we got to reminiscing about the good ol’ days when you could walk into a newsstand and be greeted by shelf after shelf of hip-hop magazines. Though each presented its own unique perspective, the constant was that they were all created out of a shared passion for the culture. Sounds cheesy, but some of you have no idea about the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making a print magazine. Truly a labor of love.
Thus inspired, we dug—and we mean dug—deep into the archives to unearth, document, and rate every dead rap magazine ever created. Yeah, we had to rate them, but in the end, everybody associated with these publications deserves an “A” for effort. Yep, even you, Benzino…
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT COMPLEX’S HISTORY OF DEAD RAP MAGAZINES!
Lucas Lu Kayne July 23, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I wonder wut it is that stop the progress of these companys… vibe I really dont understand hoe they failed
Keylo July 23, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Even you Benzino.
Word up!
ithinkiloveher July 23, 2009 at 4:16 pm
this is godly
MannyWallace July 23, 2009 at 4:24 pm
RIP to all the dead rap mags indeed..I wonder who’s next.
Game July 23, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Didnt SOHH do this same thing?
Dr. Dre July 23, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Yea, but I don’t think they did it with as much contents. This list is crazy, with original covers, and inside articles…
donjohnson July 23, 2009 at 8:43 pm
wowwwww
Yema July 23, 2009 at 11:55 pm
where’s Blaze magazine at?
Herbs July 24, 2009 at 2:47 am
Read, son.
Wow July 24, 2009 at 2:48 am
Yea, don’t just see the pictures…http://www.complex.com/ENTERTAINMENT/FEATURES/Dead-Rap-Magazines/Blaze
DrizzlePops! July 27, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I guess we wont be hearing anymore comments about VIBE being the The Fader’s big brother…
goon musik July 30, 2009 at 9:29 pm
damn son vibe is dead. fuck son