On The News Stands

There once was a time when magazines used to go monthly. Couple of days before the first of the month, you could expect to see your favorite fresh new magazine on the news stands, right on the corner. With the Internet now, they've found a way to constantly keep you updated, to the point that a monthly publication won't do your thirst for knowledge any justice. Well, I'm here to hopefully keep you updated on what all of the publications are doing. If I miss your favorite magazine, hit me up and I'll get you next time. Now, to get us started, here's what's On News Stands for October and November of 2006.

Over at URB, they had a "town hall meeting" of sorts with some of LA's hip-hop luminaries, artists by the name of Aceyalone of Project Blowed and Peanut Butter Wolf of Stones Throw records, discussing their influences and the emergence of technology versus radio, as part of URB's 15th Year Anniversary: 15 Years & Runnin'. The magazine will feature the interview and is featuring video from the event online. In addition, they will feature the great MC Paul Barman, interviewing the very talented and underrated Count Bass D, to discuss his new album, Act Your Waist Size. Also, in their cooking section they talk to the Visionaries about making a podcast, and they also feature ATL's Sleepy Brown and one of the south's own son's, Project Pat. In their ongoing coverage of Katrina a year later, they will cover protest rap and what happened to New Orleans music after the levees broke.

If the song, 'My Neck, My Back', was your anthem a few years ago, then get the Source magazine this month and check out their interview with Khia, discussing her earlier years, her troubles as a teen, her infamous Smoking Gun mugshot and the industry and she made it in, 'independently, without any backing" as she says. Also, read their interview with the "He-Man" of Rap, Ludacris to find out the story behind his battles with O'Reilly, Ms. Winfrey and the courts alongside Kanye over the song, "Stand Up". He'll also discuss how Chris Bridges emerged as an actor in 'Crash' & 'Hustle & Flow'. Also, they'll cover Chi-Town's new star, Lupe Fiasco and all the leaked material leading up the actual album, meeting Rakim Allah and how his own 1st and 15th Record label stopped him from joining the ROC family. Still, Jay-Z would produce his album as Chicago has yet another artist to be proud of. Also, check in for stories on Fiend, Agallah and the unlikely duo of Ali and Big Gipp.

In XXL Mags November Issue, the Game graces the cover to sit down and talk about his sophomore album, the Doctors Advocate, strangely enough, sans the good Doctor himself. As they put it, he's fought with friends, family and business partners and changed labels, the artist is on tap to have an interesting year to say the least. XXL also covers Miami's own, Ricky Ross and his rise to the top. They'll talk with Foxy Brown and Khia, Gillie Da Kid most definitely about Weezy and Baby kissing, Beanie Siegal and Charlie Murphy too.

This month, Vibe magazine will cover all the songs from the summer that you missed. They basically summed up the year and said, TI came out and killed it, Ross falls short, Pharrell flopped and everyone in Canada is bumping Lil Wayne anyway, so the two hits of the summer "Shoulder Lean" and "We Fly High", affectionately known as "Baaaaaallin" to the world now. So, while you and I wait on that Clipse album to make the leak rounds, go check out what they think you missed.

Synthesis magazine sits down with Cut Chemist and gets a nice interview with him and also features, the poli-social views of one Boots Riley of the Coup. Synthesis and Elemental go all digital this month, so you can check them out online. Fader celebrates their 40th issue with 40 of their favorite artists and they also have a podcast waiting to soothe your ears. Mass Appeal celebrates their 10th anniversary with their 41st issue. Spine magazine is on top of their music nowadays, might want to pay them a daily visit to make sure you get what you need. XLR8R spends a month covering Germany's you and the music movement over there.

The best issue of the month has to go to Elemental Magazine, which by the way is FREE, for you to cop online. Cover story? Boot Camp. Features inside? 7L and Esoteric, Lake , Lord Jamar, Defari, Pack FM & The Molemen. Also, they feature J.R Writer, the Bay's Heiroglyphics crew and DJ Green Lantern. They'll cover the hip-hop clothing and accessories brand, Team Scifen as well.

So, that's it for hip-hop this month in the magazines. I wish I could tell you what HipHop Weekly has in store, but they're keeping it all under raps. We'll see later next week. Honestly, with all the magazines starting to go for five bucks and up, the free Elemental just blew everyone else out of the water, that's my pick of the month.