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Life After Death: The Complete History of Dead Rap Magazines

donniek — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:43:59 +0000

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!

Nike’s Most Questionable Air Force 1 Concepts

Bradley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:55:47 +0000

Long Island stand up! To acknowledge this coming weekend’s Fourth of July holiday, and celebrate the mass exodus of New Yorkers to the beach, Nike created the the AIr Force 1 Premium “Jones Beach” Birch/Sail-Stone-Soft Blu SMU (Special Make Up). The sneaker goes on sale this coming Friday for $120 at Extra Butter NY, and looks dope, but come on guys. A Jones Beach Air Force 1? Seems like a bit of a stretch. There’s no relevant artist, no sneaker head, this is just a beach/music venue where you go to drink beer in the parking lot and listen to Steve Miller.

Nike AF1 special versions are usually tied to two things: artists who design the sneakers or athletes who are on Nike and are deserving of recognition. When Nike tries to spread the hype sauce beyond these ideas, they get a little WTF. In addition to the Jones Beach AF1, hit the jump to see our list of Air Force 1s that feature Questionable Marketing/Design Conceits…

SNEAKER: Nike Playstation Air Force
RELEASE: 2006 (didn’t actually come out, only VIPS)
• The (sneaker) and (video game) nerds went nuts over these, but video games + cool sneakers only mix if you’re 18 like Soulja Boy.

SNEAKER: Nike 1World Air Force 1 Ladainian Tomlinson
RELEASE: 2008
• We know LT was busy with the football season, but his half-assed effort on these was very apparent. “Yo, just color the swoosh light blue.” Done.

SNEAKER: Nike x VIBE Magazine Air Force 1
RELEASE: 2003
• It took more than a Air Force One to kill their Vibe, but this mash-up between the late great magazine and sneaker was a bit of a reacchhhh. Rappers not named Benzino probably loved it, though.

SNEAKER: Nike Air Force 1 “40/40 Club”
RELEASE: 2005
• Hov may be the greatest, but for the events you’d want to go to the 40/40 club for, you’re usually not allowed to wear sneakers. Perhaps a collabo with Body Tap would’ve made more sense.

SNEAKER: Nike Air Force 1 “Jones Beach”
RELEASE: 2009
• If the 40/40 and VIBE AF1s were a play to the hip-hop dem, this one is a play to the Long Island muscle heads. They’re dope, and we rep LI, but you have to admit. It’s kind of funny, right?

Megan Fox Brings On Friday

Joe — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:21:08 +0000

Yeah right, like we weren’t going to lead with this picture today. [Bastardly]

Find out what Manny Ramirez was doodling during his steroid press conference.

More Manny: 50 better ways Manny could’ve blown 7.7 million.

Yeah, the Vibe list was a joke, but at least they got #1 right.

Nice Kicks takes a look at “The Shot” 20 years later.

Your afternoon pick me up Jennifer Korbin.

Levi Maestro is auctioning off his Yeezy’s for a great cause. CLICK HERE.

Kiefer is the truth. [PopCrunch]

Lil Wayne’s A Milli Magazine Covers

donniek — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:46:14 +0000

Boy, were we surprised to see ~~the black MTV award~~ Lil Wayne on the cover of the October issue of XXL. Riiiight. Weezy magazine covers are like his guest verses these days'fucking inescapable. Granted, homey’s had a big year and merits the attention, but goddamn! Jigga in his prime wasn’t this much of a newsstand whore.

Of course, we’re not without blame (*cough* but who was the first to use a crazy-as-fuck Wayne quote as a coverline? *cough*). So we felt it our duty to tally up Weezy’s big year as everyone’s favorite coverboy.

Click Here To See Lil Wayne’s Year In Magazines…