Don’t be surprised to see the likes of Ozone and XXL in CHUD Media Reports going forward. We’re gradually going to expand the scope of our magazine reviews to hit a variety of areas besides film. We love the newsstand, and this site’s magazine coverage is going to reflect that.

http://chud.com/nextraimages/EWmedia.jpg1. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY #918-919

Sure, their film reviews are hated by geeks. Yes, they follow trends incessantly. And yes, music coverage is generally an afterthought. But it’s surely the most fun weekly read out there, and they have television on lock. Plus, they’ll surprise with every now and then with a great piece on overlooked entertainment industry plebs like personal assistants and bodyguards. When it’s on, it’s an incredible value. When it’s not…wait a week.


This issue’s strong points:

  • Short, but nice pieces upfront on Sundance and Norah Jones. With this being a "double" issue, they’d have been better off balancing Oscar coverage with a lot of small drops of goodness.
  • Their feature review of Smoking Aces gets the film while acknowledging its flaws. Definitely a step up from the usual.
  • Overall, the reviews section hits a nice variety of material and does it justice.
  • A lengthy Rick Baker article amidst all of this glam and glitz? Well done.
  • Back page on the Grey’s Anatomy backstage fracas is a nice, impolite take on the situation.

This issue’s weak points:

  • The Oscar coverage is painful in its mediocrity. A two-page article on the announcement day? The 10 best nods of royal characters? A look back at the 1982 (!) awards? Why?! It’s like Billy Bush guest-edited this issue from the red carpet.
  • A "double" issue? How can I put this….FUCK NO. It’s 60+ pages of Oscar filler padding out an otherwise decent issue.
  • Men in Trees is their TV pick this week? I guess they went to the According to Jim well too many times, eh?
  • If there’s not another issue next week due to this being a "double" issue, this score should drop another 2 points.

Overall: 5.0 out of 10


http://chud.com/nextraimages/ozonemagazinefeb2007.jpg2. OZONE – JANUARY/FEBRUARY 07

Right now, the South is running hip-hop and "realness" is in full swing. No magazine gives you both in greater quantities than this essential read. Every interview is raw Q&A with no questions off limits and no PC/diplomatic answers allowed. Plus, there’s great stuff on how the independent music industry works from touring to merch, and the "Confessions" section, which covers everything from infinitely entertaining groupie stories to street survivors.


This issue’s strong points:

  • Great feature article on UGK that actually benefits from doing separate Q&A with Bun B and Pimp C.
  • Love the Year-End Awards where they unload with both barrels on the likes of Rick Ross, Young Dro, and Karrine "Superhead" Steffans (even though they’ve covered these same folks in earlier issues).
  • Getting producers like Polow and Nitti to go on record about what they charge and how they feel about who they work with is a feat.
  • A lengthy feature Q&A on nigh-forgotten former Outkast protege Killer Mike is just glorious. Disgruntled dudes like this give the best interviews.
  • Overall, a great issue for people who dig this scene.

This issue’s weak points:

  • As usual, their reviews section is kinda pointless and blah. Just not this magazine’s strong point, and thankfully, they don’t spend a lot of pages on it.
  • As far as the "Confessions" sections go, this month’s interview of a woman who survived the deadly highway shootout between anonymous thugs and TI’s entourage in Cincinnati is just grim and meandering.
  • Although I realize that the low-tech layout was part of this magazine’s charm, it’s big and notable enough now to deserve a professional-looking redesign.

Overall: 8.5 out of 10


http://chud.com/nextraimages/XXLFebCHUD.jpg3. XXL – MARCH 2007

After the swift descent of The Source, XXL has ascended to the throne as the king of hip-hop journalism, both in print and online. Sure, they favor the big sellers with their feature stories, but they cover it all from producers to indie dudes to older guys not in the limelight as much any more.


This issue’s strong points:

  • An article about Bow Wow that actually made me care somewhat is a rare and lofty accomplishment.
  • A Sean Price/Ruck article? Nice!

  • Any ink dedicated to Damon Dash’s delusional ass is guaranteed to be funny. You left the music biz because fashion was more profitable? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
  • While the reviews were a little formulaic this month, the fact that they didn’t fellate Young Jeezy with an "XL" or "XXL" rating was a pleasant surprise.

This issue’s weak points:

  • The cover story on TI and his Grand Hustle crew is a ripoff, plain and simple. Skimpy barely-a-page interviews with each guy is not worth a cover.
  • Lil’ Scrappy is as dull as it gets, and his sales reflect that. Nobody cares, XXL.
  • Given how most hip-hop albums these days don’t really take shape until a month or so before release, a look at the 10 albums to watch in 2007 is pointless. If some of these aren’t pushed back to 2008, it’s almost a guarantee that the tracklistings will be completely different, along with the lineup of featured artists and producers.
  • Not one of their better issues.

Overall: 6.0 out of 10