The Source November 1994 issue featuring Redman

The November 1994 issue was the beginning of the end for The Source as a credible voice in hip-hop.  After years of building a solid reputation as a magazine with integrity, the magazine’s founder folded under pressure and inevitably lost his magazine because of it.  The original Source staff left while compiling this issue due to the Dave Mays/Benzino craziness going on at the time.  That short article on the Almighty R.S.O., inserted by Dave Mays without telling the editors, broke the camel’s back.

If you haven’t read the whole story yet, then read it here:

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.406/title.part-1-the-greatest-story-never-told/p.all

 

You can also clearly see that the magazine was not completed due to their “staffing” problems.  The Record Record cuts off abruptly in the middle of Da Youngstas review leaving the reader in limbo but they make up for the missing reviews in the January 1995 issue, I think.

 

Anyway, as you can see, the ‘funkadelic’ Redman graced the cover (there were actually two cover versions).  Redman was high on my list of great artists at the time but his album (Dare is a Darkside) and attitude were big letdowns for me.  I thought he had really gone crazy back then and come to find out later on that he was on acid or some other hallucinogenic drug(s) in ’94.  Sure, he had lyrics but what the eff was he talking about?  I really want to hear from the people who like this album.  Why do you think it’s good?  I don’t get it.

 

Also, please be sure to check out Travis’ ‘This or That’ debate here http://www.wydublog.com/2008/08/this-or-thatwhut-thee-album-vs-dare-iz.html

discussing which album is Redman’s best amongst his first three albums (Whut Thee Album vs. Dare is a Darkside vs. Muddy Waters).

 

Some other highlights from this issue:

– The Tupac article from the September ’94 issue generates a mass response including letters from a few notables including filmmaker Albert Hughes, Joe Clair (past host of BET’s Rap City), and our very own opinionated T.C. (perhaps?)

– Dr. Dre goes to prison for drunk driving

– Poohman is in prison for armed robbery

– Method Man with the hip-hop quotable for “The What”

– PMD returns solo

– The hip-hop scene in Atlanta is profiled – …and there’s a nice little article featuring one of the best production groups anywhere; Organized Noize.  Would Outkast and/or Goodie Mob have been successful without Organized behind the boards?

– Microphone Check with King Tee, Mad Lion, Kidd Money and Goodie Mob

– Young, homeless boys in South Africa struggle to survive

 

Record Report:

– The Roots – Do You Want More?!!!??! (4 mics)

– The Coup – Genocide and Juice (3.5 mics)

– O.C. – Word…Life (3.5 mics)

– Thug Life – Volume 1 (3 mics)

– Da Youngstas – No Mercy (3 mics)

 

November 1994 issue part 1

http://www.zshare.net/download/17658741232263a6/

 

November 1994 issue part 2

http://www.zshare.net/download/176587434cc39186/

 

~Vincent~