Who knew Little Brother was so controversial?

mannybolonemannybolone Los Angeles, CA 15,025 Posts
edited August 2005 in Strut Central
Allhiphop.comThe Source's Editor-In-Chief Resigns By Aqua BoogieDate: 8/16/2005 8:13 pm Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe resigned his position as Editor-in-Chief of "Hip-Hop Bible" The Source Magazine today (Aug. 16). According to Ratcliffe, the reason for his abrupt departure is a difference of opinion between himself, Chief Brand Executive Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays.Ratcliffe said Little Brother???s album,The Minstrel Show, was to receive a rating of 4 and 1/2 mics in the magazine's October 2005 issue, but Mays and Scott disagreed. "It's a situation were I believed in Little Brother and the rating we attempted to give them," Ratcliffe told AllHipHop.com via phone. "After speaking to Ray and making sure that was okay, I moved forward with that. Then it was decided that they wanted to change [the rating]. I told [Little Brother] that this is what they're getting and for me to go back on that is a challenge to my own personal integrity. Whether they deserve 4 and half mics or not is debatable; though I believe in it, though most of the staff believes it deserves 4 and half mics, as well as the writer. For me to tell someone this is what you're getting and to go back on it after I got confirmation, I just could not stomach that at all."According to Ratcliffe, despite the magazine closing the issue last week, today Mays and Scott expressed their intention on reducing the The Minstrel Show's rating down to 4 mics (the same rating their debut, The Listening, received in The Source's May 2003 issue)."The Source of the past was always about breaking groups. Little Brother got accolades from MTV2 and other outlets based on the 4 mic review [they received] for an independent album. We felt like they and their crew The Justus League, their movement was something similar to what was going on with Native Tongues in the early 90's. Just with the whole creative monotony and rut that Hip-Hop is in right now, they really brought a breath of fresh air."Before landing at the top of the magazine's masthead in the June 2005 issue, Ratcliffe served most recently as its Deputy Editor after joining the magazine as its Culture Editor in February 2003.Despite the abrupt split, Ratcliffe said he harbored no anger towards his former employers. "I still think The Source is a top-notch Hip-Hop publication," says Ratcliffe. "I would say to anybody-be it journalist, rapper or whatever profession-there are certain things you have to stand up for, whether it's popular or not. It was not popular with my employers and that's why I'm not with this company today. It's no personal malice towards Dave Mays or Raymond Scott. I thank God that they gave me the opportunity to be the Editor-in-Chief for my tenure their. I enjoyed it, I learned a lot. Now I'm moving on."Ratcliffe plans to pursue freelance opportunities as well as continue working on a book about character development aimed at high school and college students. "It's something that Hip-Hop is missing, character."Inquiries to The Source for comment were not returned at press time.

  Comments


  • edpowersedpowers 4,437 Posts

    "I still think The Source was[/b] a top-notch Hip-Hop publication 13 years ago[/b] ," says edpowers[/b]


    that Little Brother cd better be because all the praise i've been hearing has been .....can anyone confirm the dopeness?

  • DrWuDrWu 4,021 Posts
    "It's something that our society[/b] is missing, character."



  • d_wordd_word 666 Posts
    There's a mixtape out - and I heard some tracks. So if you liked THE LISTENING:




    I wonder what the album cover is lookin' like? The KMB sambo one that wasn't released for years? Like the BAMBOOZLED movie cover!?!

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Who knew Little Brother was a measley 1/2 mic[/b] could be so controversial?

  • A truly inspiring display of character. BRAVO!

  • PEKPEK 735 Posts

    that Little Brother cd better be because all the praise i've been hearing has been .....can anyone confirm the dopeness?

    EP -

    Here's the official Atlantic Records album sampler - you'll need WinRAR to unpack/unzip the files:

    rapidshare.de/files/4063685/Little_Brother-The_Minstrel_Show__Sampler_-2005-FM.rar.html

    And here's the video (realmedia format - sorry) for the lead single 'Lovin' It' (which cops a Stylistics sample):

    rapidshare.de/files/4063773/Little_Brother_-_Lovin__It.rm.html

  • i refuse to believe that that was his sole purpose for quitting

  • dayday 9,611 Posts
    "Nah man, I ain't buyin' it"



    My guess is, Benzino threatened to push up in his pooper if he didn't give the upcoming RSO album 5 mics.

    Considering the history of that place it wouldn't be too hard to believe.



    Rap is fucking corny these days.



    If in fact it is true, that dude is just looking for some quick publicity before he's "off to bigger and better things" cause that reason is RIDICULOUS to quit a gig of that stature over.



    "Little Brother gets the half a star or I'm walking!"



    How is that?

  • AserAser 2,351 Posts
    listen....can you hear it?



    it's the sound of nobody caring.

  • twoplytwoply Only Built 4 Manzanita Links 2,917 Posts
    listen....can you hear it?

    it's the sound of nobody caring.

    Really. Who knew Little Brother still existed?

  • DocBeezyDocBeezy 1,918 Posts
    "Nah man, I ain't buyin' it"

    My guess is, Benzino threatened to push up in his pooper if he didn't give the upcoming RSO album 5 mics.
    Considering the history of that place it wouldn't be too hard to believe.

    Rap is fucking corny these days.

    If in fact it is true, that dude is just looking for some quick publicity before he's "off to bigger and better things" cause that reason is RIDICULOUS to quit a gig of that stature over.

    "Little Brother gets the half a star or I'm walking!"

    How is that?

    It could be a little bit of publicity. But journalist people tend to have integrity and hold their position over small things. This could be the straw that broke the camels back sort of situation as well.

  • gloomgloom 2,765 Posts
    sounds like some nice, free publicity for The Minstrel Show release... but if it was any rap group/artist more popular i would call it an organized situation in publication...

  • faux_rillzfaux_rillz 14,343 Posts

    Ratcliffe plans to pursue freelance opportunities as well as continue working on a book about character development aimed at high school and college students. "It's something that Hip-Hop is missing, character."

    Hilarious

  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts

    "I still think The Source was[/b] a top-notch Hip-Hop publication 13 years ago[/b] ," says edpowers[/b]


    that Little Brother cd better be because all the praise i've been hearing has been .....can anyone confirm the dopeness?

    Like a lot of people, I've heard the first single as well as a few songs that have leaked out. With the boost from Atlantic, it should be very interesting.

  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts
    Really. Who knew Little Brother still existed?

    Shit, in some circles ( ) it's as if that's the only group in existence.


  • DocBeezyDocBeezy 1,918 Posts
    Really. Who knew Little Brother still existed?

    Shit, in some circles ( ) it's as if that's the only group in existence.


    Like Australia??

  • gloomgloom 2,765 Posts
    Really. Who knew Little Brother still existed?

    Shit, in some circles ( ) it's as if that's the only group in existence.


    Like Australia??

    Like every other hip hop board?

  • bull_oxbull_ox 5,056 Posts
    Really. Who knew Little Brother still existed?

    Shit, in some circles ( ) it's as if that's the only group in existence.

    No joke

    Here (Raleigh NC) seems like half the college kids are on a first-name basis with "Ninth"

  • CLabCLab 76 Posts

    By Aqua Boogie

  • edpowersedpowers 4,437 Posts
    Who knew the source[/b] still existed?

  • gloomgloom 2,765 Posts
    Who knew the source[/b] still existed?

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