FEATURES
81 // CAN’T TELL ME NOTHIN’
YOUNG JEEZY opens up about Keyshia Cole and meeting Republican presidential candidate John McCain. By Benjamin Meadows-Ingram. Photographed by Martin
Schoeller.
88 // BRINGIN’ ’88 BACK
PUBLIC ENEMY, inspiring a nation of mil- lions! Get out your Pony sneakers and start reciting all the TOO $HORT and KRS-ONE lines you know by heart: We’re celebrating 1988, the greatest single year in the history of hip hop. We salute: SLICK RICK, EPMD, ICE-T, BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS, 2 LIVE CREW, GETO BOYS, THE JUICE CREW, RAKIM, N.W.A, BIG DADDY KANE, RUN DMC, MC LYTE, and THE JUNGLE BROTHERS. PLUS: A guide to the events of that tumultuous year.
98 // I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T
Four rappers log on, and the Internet is bent to their will. By Chris Yuscavage.
Photographed by Lionel Deluy.
102 // THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE
Pick who you think deserves the crown— and then log on to VIBE.com to vote!
V FASHION
104 // AMERICAN GLADIATORS
Beijing-bound Olympic hopefuls go for the glory—and the glam. PlUS: What beats are they training to? Photographed by Mark Zibert. Styled by Memsor Kamaraké.
VOLUME
37 // V RAP: BURIED ALIVE
Hip hop is dead, you say? Um, how about not. Check out the 19 reasons it’s actually not
just alive, but kickin’. PLUS: T.I. on his new album, JIM JONSIN on producing smash
hits, and an ode to rapper-turned-actor COMMON’S latest work.
57 // V Mix: MISS RAP SUPREME
Legendary female rappers, then and now.
NEXT: SINCE I GOT FAMOUS...
63 // RICK ROSS
64 // RICH BOY
66 // LIL BOOSIE
68 // LIL MAMA
70 // YUNG BERG
DEPARTMENTS
20 // EDITOR’S LETTER
22 // V PLAYLIST
24 // THE GUEST LIST
28 // INBOX
REVOLUTIONS
73 // Slept-on hip hop albums that should be in your collection. If your collection is all
that. FEATURING: Schoolly D. A.Z. Kurupt. Casual. U.N.L.V. Convicts.
Onyx. Diamond D and the Psychotic Neurotics. Devin The Dude. Kokane. Fiend &
Three 6 Mafia. Busdriver. Class A Felony. Common. Cormega. Bahamadia. Above The Law. Antoinette. Critical Condition. Da Headbussaz. Sticky Fingaz. Federation. The
Krown Rulers. Odd Squad. Dungeon Family.
78 // THE ULTIMATE 90:
Hip hop’s best “Bonnie & Clyde” tracks.
114 // DETAILS
120 // 20 QUESTIONS
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