Rap Pages

Last updated
Rap Pages
Rap Pages April 1997 cover.jpg
The cover of the April 1997 issue, featuring the King of New York portrait of the Notorious B.I.G.
Categories Music magazine
Total circulation
(1991)		100,000 [1]
Founder Larry Flynt
First issueOctober 1991;32 years ago (1991-10)
Final issuec. 2000
Company
CountryUnited States
Based inLos Angeles, California
LanguageEnglish
ISSN 1063-1283

Rap Pages was an American music magazine, one of the first publications dedicated to hip hop. The first issue was released in October 1991. Originally published by Larry Flynt Publications, the magazine was closed in October 1999. It was sold to Timaj Publications in May 2000, who released several more issues, but by the end of 2000 stopped publication. Rap Pages set itself apart from other contemporary music magazines, particularly The Source , with its comprehensive coverage of West Coast hip hop artists, something they believed other publications lacked.

Contents

History

Rap Pages was founded by the publisher Larry Flynt. According to Sheena Lester, a later editor-in-chief, one of Flynt's bodyguards came up with the idea for the magazine. [2] Rap Pages was one of the first magazines dedicated to hip hop. [3] The first issue was released in October 1991. It featured a pick-up shot of the rapper Ice Cube on the cover, as the magazine wasn't shooting its own covers at the time. [2] The magazine was based in Los Angeles, California. [3]

At the time, the West Coast artists believed that The Source , which was the leading hip hop magazine, didn't represent their scene adequately. Rap Pages was launched with the editor-in-chief Dane Webb announcing a goal to shift the focus to West Coast, citing the perceived East Coast bias of The Source as the reason. [4] Another goal Webb proclaimed was to improve Black communities, with him encouraging people to "[s]pend less time drinkin' them damn 40s, spend less time on the corner and more time in them books". [5] Rap Pages started as a bimonthly magazine, eventually switching to one issue every six weeks, and then switching to a monthly format in October 1995. [6] According to the writer Jeff Weiss, Rap Pages was the only magazine that offered a full-time coverage of West Coast hip hop. [7]

In October 1999, Larry Flynt Publications halted publication of Rap Pages and put the magazine up for sale. They received multiple bids, [8] and sold it to Timaj Publications in May 2000. Under the new management and with the original editor-in-chief Dane Webb the magazine was relaunched, with plans of launching a separate Spanish-language version. [3] However, after releasing several more issues, Rap Pages once again ceased publication by the end of 2000. [9] The Jersey Journal reported in January 2002 that Rap Pages was a defunct magazine. [10] In 2014, a website Rap Pages TV was launched. [9] [11]

Covers

Despite using a leftover portrait from another photo shoot as the cover of its first issue, later on Rap Pages started producing their own photos for the covers. [2] The magazine hired the photographer Brian Cross, [12] who was its photo editor from 1993 to 1998. [13] Describing his time in Rap Pages, Cross said: "We had a team of A-list editors who all went on to do important things in hip-hop, and we would just sit around and have these loose, funny conversations, which is how we came up with a lot of shoot concepts." [14] In his book Totally Wired, the writer Paul Gorman praised Rap Pages as a magazine that "showcased inventive layouts and striking front covers", noting that it occurred during Sheena Lester's tenure as editor-in-chief. [5] Complex magazine also commended Rap Pages, saying that "in its prime Rap Pages ... [boasted] high-quality reporting, niche hip-hop coverage, and some very original covers". The publication placed several Rap Pages covers in its list of the 50 greatest hip hop magazine covers; some of the covers included are an Ol' Dirty Bastard's parody of Janet Jackson's Rolling Stone cover, which shows him standing behind a topless fan, covering her breasts with his hands, a cover depicting Lauryn Hill as a four-armed goddess, and a cover depicting the group Pharcyde wrapped in a recording tape. [15]

Another Rap Pages cover, which Rolling Stone magazine called "iconic", was the portrait of the Notorious B.I.G. wearing a crown. [16] The photograph, titled King of New York, was taken by Barron Claiborne, three days prior to the rapper being assassinated on March 9, 1997. [17] It was the last photoshoot of the Notorious B.I.G. [18] The portrait quickly became one of the most well-known photos of the rapper. [19] In 2020, the plastic crown used in the photo, originally purchased by Claiborne for $6, was sold through an auction for $594,750. [16] [20]

Related Research Articles

Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture and values typical of urban gangs, reality of the world and street hustlers. Emerging in the late 1980s, gangsta rap's pioneers include Schoolly D of Philadelphia and Ice-T of Los Angeles, later expanding in California with artists such as N.W.A and Tupac Shakur. In 1992, via record producer and rapper Dr. Dre, rapper Snoop Dogg, and their G-funk sound, gangster rap broadened to mainstream popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Notorious B.I.G.</span> American rapper (1972–1997)

Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known by his stage names The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta rap, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace became known for his distinctive laid-back lyrical delivery, offsetting the lyrics' often grim content.

East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in The Bronx, New York City.

<i>Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)</i> 1993 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).

<i>Life After Death</i> 1997 studio album by the Notorious B.I.G.

Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released on March 25, 1997, on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. A double album, it was released sixteen days after his murder. It features collaborations with guest artists such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C., R. Kelly, the Lox, and Puff Daddy. Life After Death exhibits the Notorious B.I.G. further delving into the mafioso rap subgenre. The album is a sequel to his first album, Ready to Die, and picks up where the last song, "Suicidal Thoughts", ends.

<i>The Source</i> American hip hop magazine

The Source is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or semiannually. It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by David Mays.

<i>Vibe</i> (magazine) American music and entertainment magazine

Vibe is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down production in the summer of 2009, it was purchased by the private equity investment fund InterMedia Partners, then issued bi-monthly with double covers and a larger online presence. The magazine's target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip hop culture. In 2014, the magazine discontinued its print version.

<i>XXL</i> (magazine) American hip hop magazine

XXL is an American hip hop magazine, published by Townsquare Media, founded in 1997.

<i>The Notorious K.I.M.</i> 2000 studio album by Lil Kim

The Notorious K.I.M. is the second studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim. It was released on June 27, 2000, by Atlantic Records and was her first album on her new label Queen Bee Entertainment. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 235,000 copies in its first week, achieving Lil' Kim's highest peak and biggest first-week sales, and reached the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. A commercial success, The Notorious K.I.M. was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 2, 2000. It was the best-selling female rap album in 2000 with sales of over 1.5 million copies in the United States. To date, The Notorious K.I.M. has sold 4 million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry</span> 1990s dispute between hip hop artists and fans in the US

The East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry was a dispute between artists and fans of the East Coast hip hop and West Coast hip hop scenes in the United States, especially from the mid-1990s. A focal point of the rivalry was the feud between East Coast–based rapper the Notorious B.I.G. signed by Puff Daddy and their New York City–based label, Bad Boy Records, and West Coast–based rapper Tupac Shakur signed by Suge Knight and their Los Angeles–based label, Death Row Records. Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. were murdered in drive-by shootings within six months of each other, after which the feud soon ended with a "peace" summit in 1997 at the behest of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York, New York (Tha Dogg Pound song)</span> 1995 single by Tha Dogg Pound featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg

"New York, New York" is a song from the American West Coast hip hop duo Tha Dogg Pound featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg. The song was released as a promotional single and is the lead single from their debut album, Dogg Food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party and Bullshit</span> 1993 single by The Notorious B.I.G.

"Party and Bullshit" is a song by the American hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., credited as BIG. Released on June 29, 1993, as the fourth single from the soundtrack to the film Who's the Man? (1993), "Party and Bullshit" was the rapper's debut single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janette Beckman</span> British documentary photographer

Janette Beckman is a British documentary photographer who has worked in London, New York and Los Angeles. Beckman describes herself as a documentary photographer. While she produces a lot of work on location, she is also a studio portrait photographer. Her work has appeared on records for the major labels, and in magazines including Esquire,Rolling Stone,Glamour,Italian Vogue,The Times,Newsweek,Jalouse,Mojo and others.

<i>Rap-Up</i> American music magazine

Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and predominantly features interviews with artists, actors and other entertainers. Issued quarterly, the magazine's target audience was the 14 to 28 demographic, although the demographic has become older over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of the Notorious B.I.G.</span> 1997 murder of an American musician

The American rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G., was murdered in a drive-by shooting in the early hours of March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles, California. He was 24 years old. Prior to the event, Wallace promoted his second studio album Life After Death, and attended an after-party in Los Angeles instead of traveling to London.

<i>Ready to Die</i> Debut album by the Notorious B.I.G.

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. The album features productions by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. It was recorded from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper's experiences as a young criminal, and was the only studio album released during his lifetime, as he was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album Life After Death in 1997. The album features a sole guest appearance from Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man.

Brian Cross, better known as B+, is an Irish photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He is a co-founder of Mochilla, a film and music production company. He predominantly photographed the Los Angeles' hip hop scene in the 1990s as well as helped create album art for a number of artists including Q-Tip, Eazy-E, Damian Marley, DJ Shadow, and J Dilla.

Vikki Tobak is a culture journalist, author, independent curator, and producer born in Soviet-era Kazakhstan who was raised in the United States. She reports about and creates content regarding politics, arts, social justice and music photography.

<i>Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop</i> 2018 book by Vikki Tobak

Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop is a 2018 photography book created and written by Vikki Tobak and ongoing exhibition series. The volume features contact prints from analog photography sessions of hip hop artists during roughly forty-years, from the beginnings of the genre in the late 1970s until the late 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barron Claiborne</span> American photographer and cinematographer

Barron Claiborne is an American photographer and cinematographer who grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He began taking photographs at the age of ten. After moving to New York in 1989 he began assisting established photographers such as; Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Saint Claire Born, and Richard Numeroff. His photographic mentor, was Gordon Parks.

References

  1. ↑ Jensen, Kris (August 31, 1993). "Vibe magazine tunes up to be the voice of urban music, culture". Orlando Sentinel . p. E-4. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Mixon, Imani; Cuevas, Jaz; Kenner, Rob (October 8, 2013). "The Stories Behind The First Covers of Famous Rap Magazines". Complex . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Odiaga, L.V.R. (May 23, 2000). "'Rap Pages' Resumes Publication". MTV . Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ McLeod 2002, p. 158.
  5. 1 2 Gorman 2022, p. 326.
  6. ↑ McLeod 2002, p. 159.
  7. ↑ Weiss, Jeff (August 10, 2023). "How LA proved hip-hop could go global — by staying thoroughly local". NPR. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ Baker, Soren (December 22, 1999). "Magazine Leads Hip-Hop Into Mainstream". Los Angeles Times . p. C5. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Ducker, Jesse (August 31, 2019). "ALBUMISM SELECTS: 20 Music Magazines That Inspire Us". Albumism. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ Tilove, Jonathan (January 26, 2002). "Two West Coast MLKs face life on the edge of change". The Jersey Journal . p. A4. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Rap Pages TV". Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ Bell, Max (January 19, 2018). "No One Sees Rap Like Photographer Brian Cross". Vice . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Oversized silver gelatin print of Ol' Dirty Bastard, shot for the cover of Rap Pages, ca. 1995". Sotheby's. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ Tobak 2018, p. 141.
  15. ↑ "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Magazine Covers". Complex . December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Kreps, Daniel (September 16, 2020). "Notorious B.I.G.'s Plastic Crown Sells for $595,000 at Auction". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  17. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (September 16, 2020). "Notorious B.I.G.'s 'King of New York' Crown Goes For Nearly $600,000 in Hip-Hop Auction". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Crown from Notorious B.I.G.'s last photo shoot sells for almost $600,000 at hip hop auction". CBS News. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  19. ↑ D'Souza, Shaad (September 15, 2020). "Plastic crown worn by Biggie sells for $594,000 at auction". The Fader . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (September 16, 2020). "Notorious BIG's $6 crown sells for almost $600,000 at auction". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.