As we approach our 2nd Annual Source360 Festival and Conference, that time of the year has come once again: Power 30 season. For the 18th consecutive year, the Mindsquad here at The Source has put together our annual Power 30 issue, in which we countdown the most powerful players in Hip-Hop, from artists and record labels, to radio DJs and websites.
On our cover, we show off this year’s Top 5 (in no particular order, grab your copy to see where they landed), Puff Daddy, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Jay Z, and Floyd Mayweather. Together, they’re worth approximately $2.5 billion, but their continued presence in Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop culture is just as impressive as their bank statements. From Puff’s revamped involvement in the digital space and Jay’s venture into sports and boxing, to Kanye West’s recent fashion breakthroughs and Floyd Mayweather’s utter dominance (yes, sports is very much a part of Hip-Hop culture). Not to mention, of course, Dr. Dre, over 25 years since he first hit store shelves, making history at every turn.
Power 30 couldn’t come at a more important time this year. The 2nd Annual Source360 kicks off next week, and we’re very excited about who we have joining us in Brooklyn, from performers and artists like Waka Flocka Flame–who will kick things off Thursday night–to Scarface, and some of our very special younger artists, like Casey Veggies and OG Maco. Also, a very special performance from Faith Evans, to panel speakers–Genius, Comic Con and more will be present. Furthermore, we will be having a Power 30 party featuring some of the members of our elite lists, and make sure you check back with The Source for more information on that in the coming days. You can check out the full list (and press release) by clicking here.
Also in this issue, we dug deep into our archives to find our original coverage of N.W.A.–not the film, the actual rise and of guys like Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube, we were there. Articles written by current power players like Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and author/filmmaker dream hampton take an insightful look into what it was like experiencing the drama and fanfare surrounding N.W.A. in the early 90’s, and what it means to the landscape of music today. We also take a closer look at the three major streaming services looking to change the way we consume music, Apple Music, Spotify and TIDAL, and what could soon be this nation’s favorite international destination, the island of Cuba. Plus, Back to School Fashion, Reviews of some big late-summer albums (Dr. Dre, Travis Scott, Future), NFL Preview and some need-to-know information from Her Source.
Grab your copy of our 18th Annual Power 30 issue, on newsstands Thursday.
