The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Magazine Covers
By Complex Magazine | Dec 14, 2011 | 12:39 pm | Permalink
Before the blog boom, the magazine was the principle information source for hip-hop heads. In those days the publication world was merely a reflection of the hip-hop industry and a driving force within it. Frequently their most memorable component was the gift wrap on every issue—the cover.
Cover images burned forever into the hip-hop consciousness. They were pasted to lockers and bedroom walls, as well as autographed at shows. They broke stories and told stories. They fueled beefs, squashed beefs, and then mourned the consequences of those left unresolved. They bolstered identities and sometimes even created them.
In celebration of the form, we took a look back at 50 of the greatest magazine covers that hip-hop ever produced. And yes, we included a few of our own, although we did our best to be as objective as possible.
Bobby Wommack March 4th, 2011 at 01:10 PM
This list is terrible on so many levels. So the XXL Freshmen cover is better than the classic Biggie Source cover? Really? Alot of politics going on in this list.
@N_C_B March 4th, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Actually, no politics, just personal taste. Can't wait to see your list.
dockevoc March 4th, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Asher Roth and every other person on that cover knows that that XXL Freshman cover isn't one of the top 50 covers...never mind the fact that it contained the least talented group of mc's ever to be photographed at one time
Suckitmarshall March 4th, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Why would Complex put an xxl cover on the list if they didn't like it? That's their competition, its in their favor NOT to give xxl any props.
dockevoc March 4th, 2011 at 11:17 PM
I don't know. I just know that I have 50 better covers than 10 below average rappers posing like a bunch of fucking retards sitting in my bathroom.
blade March 4th, 2011 at 04:03 PM
I would have put the wu tang source cover in this list, the one with all the helicopters http://www.thesource.com/articles/4304/2001/224/Archive---Covers
arqitekt March 4th, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Eminems Rolling Stone cover should've been on this.
Youregay March 4th, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Dude he was wearing lip gloss on that cover.
foh March 4th, 2011 at 04:33 PM
the kanye complex cover was beyond whack. even kanye didnt like the way it came out. yall biased as fuck. the em cover was legit as fuck though
Funny March 4th, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Funny how you know what Kanye thinks.
MannyWallace March 4th, 2011 at 04:52 PM
Interesting list. It's impossible to compile something like this and please everyone. I may have placed the Dre cover at #1 instead of #2, but that's just my preference.
Combat Jack March 5th, 2011 at 06:34 PM
Co-sign. But very good list.
ummm March 4th, 2011 at 05:08 PM
umm charles hamilton isn't an embarrassment, he issues. do any of you at complex even know the life he has lived? like stfu and go suck cudi's dick some more
edWIN March 6th, 2011 at 07:23 PM
like your sucking charles' dick? C. Hamilton wasted a good chance, punched by a girl, dissed by serius jones EMBARRASSING
The Mechanic March 6th, 2011 at 07:57 PM
The chick who punched him did everyone a favor, by ending his career.
Young Yung March 6th, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Bitch shut tha fuck up. Even with everything Charles has been through in his life I can guarantee he's alot more talented than your favorite rapper.
frances March 12th, 2011 at 05:35 PM
^^ Garuntee this prick never TRIED to understand Charles Hamilton so he just hates on him like a little bitch. Go fuck yourself bro for real, Ignorant fuck.
girlzluvme March 4th, 2011 at 05:08 PM
damn..busta got no luv for his vibe cover? i would have sworn that would have beat out at least on of those covers. i dont really care about the order they were all classics to me
David HussleSoft March 4th, 2011 at 06:44 PM
None of the complex covers should have been on there perod none of them were classic they all could have been replaced easily No snoop and dre on the cover of rollingstone no run-dmc on the cover of rollingstone 50 cent solo on the cover of rolling stone em as the punisher on xxl Complex should stop trying to document history with terrible biased and inaccurate lists
EjayM March 4th, 2011 at 07:10 PM
i have Jay-Z 1st XXL magazine for sale. Holla at me if your interested, Mint Condition mrbentent@aol.com
josh March 4th, 2011 at 07:11 PM
"embarrassments like charles hamilton" haha fuck you whoever wrote that. idiot. other than blu he's the sickest emcee on that cover.