Media Chin-Check

I think what led to it's downfall was the blatant self-promotion of Benzino. Mind you, Benzino has ALWAYS promoted his rap groups from day one in The Source - you just did not know it. It wasn't until Benzino started getting nominated for Source Awards, quotes of the month, sure shot singles and appearing on the cover when he really started stepping well over the lines of EDITORIAL vs. PUBLISHER.

People can complain about the mic ratings but that comes with advertising. That happens in ALL publications when it comes to reviews. It's a vicious cycle. The label will sometimes pay to get thier artist on the cover of a magazine around the time of his project. Natuarally this comes with a 3 - 5 page story on the artist in the same issue. Fair enough. But now comes review time. This same artist will usually run 3 full-page color ads within a 3 month span. I believe The Source is about $30,000 - $40,000 per full page. No magazine is going to "bite the hand that feeds them" and give an album a bad review after $90,000+ the cover has been paid to them. Sometimes the review will read bad but the rating will look good.

I think what made The Source credible in the beginning is that it was the only game in town, it had a crop of good writers and the publishers did not interfere 'as much' with editorial. Once the publishers crossed the line which would be double Redman cover from 1992 or so, that's when The Source went downhill for me.

When Vibe came out The Source still strived, based on it's credibility vs everyone else. I believe Benzino and his thugs were allowed and accepted in the mag because that's the same situation at some hip-hop labels (think Death Row, Murder Inc, Rap-a-Lot).

Based on what I've heard some former writers say Benzino provided PROTECTION form irate gangsta rappers who weren't used to critique in a magazine. Ain't that crazy? The usual story is Benzino's presence made The Source dishonest. But perhaps his presence also allowed them to be as honest as possible, within the crazy codes of hiphop.

I WISH I WORKED AT THE SOURCE... I'D HARASS KIM OSORIO ALL DAY AND PROBABLY GET FIRED TOO... PUSSY LOOKS WORTH IT!!!!!

JUST KIDDING... WHAT THE HELL IS NEW, I HATE THE SOURCE I DON'T BUY THAT BULLSHIT ANY MORE... BENZINO IS SOMETHING LIKE A HIP-HOP VERSION OF MICHAEL JACKSON... MINUS THE RECORD SALES AND TALENT!!!! ALL SCANDAL BABY... ALL SCANDAL...

I agree with the other posted that cited Benzino's known exploitation of the magazine for his own purposes. There is a clear conflict of interest and now the magazine is in a quagmire (damn, Star and I must be the only two people on earth who use that word in everyday conversation).
He single handedly destroyed which was probably the most influential monthly publication in the history of hip hop. And to top it all off, these idiots are running a business like it's the effin Player's Club. Sometimes you have to learn when to leave the streets in the streets and you can't hire people to work for you just because they're your friends, if they don't have the tools to do the job. They'll throw a monkey wrench in ya ish every time.

LMAO @ BENZINO... AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON... FUCKIN WHACK ASS NIGGA!!!

Ray is trash even with all that free promotion at the sauce he can't go gold. (or even bronze (snicker)) I can't tell you how much i wish he would see me in trenton and try to strong arm me. em already let us no what you are, a little bich. damn what a failyer you are. you had incriminating evidece on em and still he floats. nobody got shit on you and still you drown. you even got hot beats and still manage to fuck that up. so maybee you and the hang men should go and hang yer selves if for no other reason but to spare what is left of the rap republic the embarrasment of watching you beating a dead dog. stop it already. PLEASE!!! oh yeah fuck green lantern. he been copying dj juice shit for mad years and still got the nerves to call other dj's copycats. DAMN!!! hip hop is realy fuct up right now. i wish the law would let me clean it up. until then peace