As I wrote before The Source magazine (“The bible of Hip Hop music, culture and politics”) has put out a “green” issue that’s on stands now. I set out to find out what was so green about it. That involved me getting my hands dirty and actually buying the magazine.

That’s right I bought it and I think this was the first time in my life I ever did that. People always gave me their Source’s for free which was unintentionally eco conscious I guess. This green issue was of particular interest for me so here’s what I learned.

The Source Is Still In Print

Hey, maybe you knew that but I didn’t. Like many in my age group or those who share similar interests I haven’t read words on paper in a long time.

I’ve missed you paper, sort of, but I couldn’t help but to feel like what it might feel like for my grandkids to hold a bucket of fossil fuel. Or maybe what it would be like to hold a brontosaurus’ leg bone in my hands now. It almost felt like it was disappearing in my hands as I read it.

It’s thin. Gone are the ads for phat gold chains in the back. Oh yeah, it’s also not printed on recycled paper…and that’s a fail.

Meth, Ghost and Rae Are Not a Supergroup

I guess they can’t say that enough although I never expected them to. Every article seemed pretty brief, and maybe that’s good. Also this non supergroup apparently still has a lot of pull.

The alternate cover features new generation rapper J. Cole, whom I still haven’t gotten into yet. His cover was the only one left where I went and I admit I was kind of salty about that. If I’m going to keep my Source for posterity, since it is solid matter and all, I wanted the Wu cover. No disrespect to J. Cole. Peace to Raekwon.

The Source Is Taking Money From Some Different Folks Now

At least in this issue. As soon as you open this issue the first thing you see is a 2 page spread from environmental group Greenpeace.

Further in, an ad from PETA featuring Kid Sister. I thought the latter was an obtuse choice and both were not the best attempts at getting Black people or the Hip Hop community involved. They’re going to have to come harder than that.

What’s So Green About This Issue?

Finally something “green”. A one page something on the organization The Hip Hop Caucus. They’re responsible for the Vote Or Die campaign. Check out their mission at hiphopcaucus.org

A single page devoted to Majora Carter, greener of the ghetto and the person who tipped me off to the green issue of The Source. I’ve written about her HERE.

An article about Jayme Montgomery Baker and Marica Lee, two journalists who protested in Copenhagen and reported on the summit. I thought that was important but the summit was in December of last year. While it’s still important we are already in April of the next year now.

An article about No Child Left behind was thrown in, a buy me page with iPad accessories (which isn’t all that green) and an article on this last thing I learned…

Marijuana Is Green

I already knew that but this article brings together rapper Wiz Khalifa, veteran stoner culture promoters Cheech and Chong and others to discuss weed. This article got more room than anything else green in this issue.

The green issue of The Source magazine is still on stands if you want to buy one. I won’t tell you what to do either way and I think I’ve held out enough info for you to still be interested in reading it.

I did like the Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa piece though.

And I will say this, the color scheme on the cover is green. The color green is also dispersed throughout this issue. Yeah, that’s really all I got.

Have I been too hard on The Source or not hard enough? Are you interested in buying this issue? If you have read The Source when was the last time you read it? What’s the biggest Win and the biggest Fail here for you?

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