Hip Hop Connection


Hip Hop Connection was the longest running monthly periodical devoted entirely to hip hop culture. It was described by rapper Chuck D as "the best magazine in the world".

History

Under the editorship of Chris Hunt, the magazine published its first issue in July 1988, six months before The Source began in newsletter form. Prior to the first issue, the magazine's parent company had run a premium rate 0898 telephone information line using the same name, presented by Radio 1 DJ Dave Pearce. It invited MCs to call and record their own rhyme after listening to the best rhyme of the previous week.
HHC's early issues were its biggest selling and saw Hunt bringing together a talented group of writers and photographers, including Ekow Eshun, Malu Halasa and Vie Marshall. Future television presenter and celebrity Normski was given his own section to showcase his rap photography.
Hunt had two stints as editor before leaving for a final time in 1993. His longtime deputy Andy Cowan took over the title in November 1993. HHC changed owners several times. HHC and Popular Publications were owned by Music Maker Publications throughout the early 1990s until Music Maker was acquired by Future Publishing. Future sold the title to Ministry Of Sound in 2000. The first Ministry issue featured Mariah Carey on the front cover. Ministry tried to continue with a 'female artists only' cover policy, which had proved successful for their dance magazine but – after Kelis and Lauryn Hill – it became apparent that they were running out of suitable candidates. Ministry sold the title after one year and Andy Cowan continued to run and publish the magazine. In April 2006, Hip Hop Connection published its 200th edition, rerunning many classic interviews from its eighteen-year history.
In 2009 the magazine published its final and 232nd issue.

Readers' greatest album

2009: Roots Manuva - Slime & Reason •
2008: Panacea - Scenic Route •
2007: unknown •
2006: unknown •
2005: unknown •
2004: unknown •
2003: unknown •
2002: Jay-Z - The Blueprint •
2001: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP •
2000: The Roots - Things Fall Apart •
1999: Gang Starr - Moment of Truth •
1998: Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus •
1997: Rass Kass - Soul On Ice •
1996: Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... •
1995: The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die •
1994: Cypress Hill - Black Sunday •
1993: unknown •
1992: unknown •
1991: OG Original Gangsta - Ice-T•
1990: Silver Bullet •
1989: N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton

Readers Best Single Of The Year

2009: unknown •
2008: unknown •
2007: unknown •
2006: unknown •
2005: Klashnekoff - It's Murda •
2004: unknown •
2003: unknown •
2002: Pharoahe Monch - Fuck You •
2001: M.O.P. - Ante Up •
2000: Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says •
1999: Canibus - Second Round K.O. •
1998: Gang Starr - You Know My Steez •
1997: Jeru The Damaja - Ya Playin Yaself •
1996: Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II •
1995: Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear •
1994: Onyx - Slam •
1993: unknown •
1992: unknown •
1991: unknown •
1990: unknown •
1989: Public Enemy - Fight The Power

Readers' Best Group Of The Year

2009: unknown
2008: unknown
2007: unknown
2006: unknown
2005: unknown
2004: unknown
2003: unknown
2002: unknown
2001: Dilated Peoples
2000: The Roots
1999: Gang Starr
1998: Company Flow
1997: unknown
1996: unknown
1995: unknown
1994: Wu-Tang Clan
1993: unknown
1992: unknown
1991: unknown
1990: unknown
1989: N.W.A.

Readers' best of the 80s

Best Album: Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back •
Best Single: Public Enemy - Rebel Without A Pause •
Best Group: Public Enemy •
Best Rapper: Chuck D •
Best DJ: Cash Money •
Best British Artist: MC Duke •
Best Record Label: Def Jam •
Best Non Hiphop: Michael Jackson •
Most Important Human Being: Nelson Mandela

100 Best Albums Ever

Hip Hop Connection published its readers' favourite albums in its March 2000 issue. The result, wrote compiler Mansel Fletcher, was "the essential hip-hop list that beats all others straight into a bloody pulp".
100. No I.D., Accept Your Own and Be Yourself
99. Public Enemy, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black
97. Westside Connection, Bow Down
96. Blak Twang, 19 Longtime
95. House of Pain, House of Pain
94. Lootpack, '
93. Fugees, Blunted on Reality
92. Mountain Brothers, Self Vol 1
91. Beastie Boys, Ill Communication
90. Cocoa Brovaz, The Rude Awakening
89. First Down, World Service
88. Das EFX, Dead Serious
87. The Goats, Tricks of the Shade
86. KRS-One, Return of the Boom Bap
85. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
84. MC Shan, Down by Law
83. Method Man, Tical
82. The Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death
81. Organized Konfusion, '
80. Redman, Whut? Thee Album
79. Styles of Beyond, 2000 Fold
78. The X-Ecutioners, X-Pressions
77. 2Pac, All Eyez on Me
76. Gang Starr, Hard to Earn
75. OutKast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
74. Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang Forever
73. Tha Alkaholiks, 21 & Over)
72. Brand Nubian, One for All
71. De La Soul, Stakes Is High
70. Jeru the Damaja, The Sun Rises in the East
69. Pete Rock & CL Smooth, The Main Ingredient
68. Xzibit, At the Speed of Life
67. Common Sense, Resurrection
66. DMX, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
65. KRS-One, KRS-One
64. The Roots, Do You Want More?!!!??!
63. Black Moon, Enta da Stage
62. Da Lench Mob, Guerillas in tha Mist
61. Ice Cube, The Predator
60. Main Source, Breaking Atoms
59. Redman, Muddy Waters
58. The Roots, Things Fall Apart
57. Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Mecca and the Soul Brother
56. Gravediggaz, Niggamortis
55. Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill
54. Black Star, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
53. Cypress Hill, Black Sunday
52. Gunshot, Patriot Games
51. Jeru the Damaja, Wrath of the Math
50. Wild Style Original Soundtrack
49. Gang Starr, Daily Operation
48. Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
47. Onyx, Bacdafucup
46. StreetSounds Electro 1-10
45. Dianond D & the Psychotic Neurotics, Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop
44. EPMD, Strictly Business
43. A Tribe Called Quest, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
42. Big Daddy Kane, Long Live the Kane
41. Soundbombing II
40. Smif-N-Wessun, Dah Shinin
39. Boogie Down Productions, By All Means Necessary
38. Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique
37. The Roots, Illadelph Halflife
36. The Beatnuts, '
35. Jurassic 5, Jurassic 5
34. Souls of Mischief, 93 'til Infinity
33. Dr. Octagon, Dr Octagon
32. De La Soul, De La Soul Is Dead
31. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
30. Eric B. & Rakim, Follow the Leader
29. Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show
28. Run-DMC, Raising Hell
27. Eminem, The Slim Shady LP
26. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
25. Gang Starr, Step in the Arena
24. GZA, Liquid Swords
23. Mobb Deep, The Infamous
22. Showbiz and A.G., Runaway Slave
21. Slick Rick, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
20. Ice-T, O.G. Original Gangster
19. Cypress Hill, Cypress Hill
18. Canibus, Can-I-Bus
17. Company Flow, Funcrusher Plus
16. Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet
15. Gang Starr, Moment of Truth
14. Gang Starr,
13. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die
12. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle
11. Dr. Dre, The Chronic
10. A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory
9. Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded
8. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders
7. Ultramagnetic MCs, Critical Beatdown
6. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising
5. N.W.A, Straight Outta Compton
4. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full
3. Nas, Illmatic
2. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang
1. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back'' "