The Source (magazine)

The Source is a U.S., monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture. The magazine was founded as a newsletter in 1988 by David Mays, and is co-owned by Mays and hip-hop artist Benzino. Since its beginnings, The Source has grown into one of the largest and most influential music publications in the United States. Its main rival is XXL magazine.

Benzino's Resignation

Benzino still continues to feud with Eminem and many others associated to him. Internet bloggers had rallied a petition for the removal of Benzino and Dave Mays. Under pressure, Benzino decided to step down from his post at The Source. On April 8, 2005, Benzino formally announced that he's resigning as chief operations officer and co-owner of The Source. Benzino cited that his battle with Eminem and the magazine's publishers were hurting the revenue of The Source. Within a few mere days Benzino announced that he returned to The Source as co-owner and currently works with The Source. Industry insiders believed that The Source staged a fake event in order to encourage advertisers to invest in the controversial magazine. The rapper refuted his claims about saving The Source, instead decided to blame Interscope's chairman Jimmy Iovine. Benzino believe that Iovine was pressuring to fire rap mogul L.A. Reid if he didn't have Def Jam advertising removed from The Source. The reason why Benzino stepped down was to save Reid's position as president of Island Def Jam or so he said. Last year, Benzino had been on radio basically denouncing Def Jam's founder Russell Simmons for not participating in his smear campaign to expose Eminem as a racist. He had used racial comments about Simmons in the past forcing Def Jam to pull a vast majority of their ads from The Source. As of today, Interscope, Def Jam, Tommy Boy, Virgin, Motown and Universal have pulled advertising from The Source. It is noted that Benzino was signed to each of these labels before the massive decrease in general advertising.

Related Topics:
April 8 - 2005 - Jimmy Iovine - L.A. Reid - Def Jam - Russell Simmons - Tommy Boy - Virgin - Motown - Universal

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The magazine has experienced their recent lawsuit from former editor-in-chief, Kim Osorio. Osorio alongside former marketing executive, Michelle Joyce both filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the magazine over gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Osorio claimed that Benzino and his friends from Boston would get special treatment while the female staffers were to abide by the rules. Also numerous complaints about harassments to female staffers were turned down by Benzino and Mays.

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More controversy seems to follow the magazine as two of The Source's top music executives from Boston were accused of a nightclub shooting in New York. Leroy Peebles and Alvin Chiles both were accused of the shooting that landing three people in the hospital.

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Lastly, the current editor-in-chief Joshua "Fahyim" Ratcliffe, has recently left the magazine. Ratcliffe stated that a conflict of interest between the rating of highly acclaimed The Minstrel Show from rap group Little Brother was being changed after threats made upon him from Benzino. Ratcliffe believes that Benzino's jealousy of the group deserving a five star rating is too much at The Source. Ratcliffe resigned after being forced to change the rating of the album. Lil' Kim who released The Naked Truth received the five mic rating instead. Although critics speculated that Lil' Kim's manager is currently Dave Mays, this is the first time that a female rapper ever received the highest rating in the magazine. The Little Brother album recieved a four-and-a-half mic rating instead of a five.

Related Topics:
Little Brother - Lil' Kim

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