A Pound of dope
Tim Durkin

If you read music magazines you know that for the most part they are pretty weak - style over substance. Magazines that were supposed to change the way we think and how we view cutlure, Rollingston, Vibe, have become bloated mockeries of themselves. The really cool magazines today, Mojo (from the UK) or Giant Robot (Asia) tend to be pricey.
Fear not though there are lots of magazines out there that still keep their pulse on the cultures of our time. For example, Exclaim! (Canadian) is a wicked magazine distributed free.
Pound magazine is a brand new Hip Hop magazine out of Toronto. Started just at teh end of last year, the editors at Pound truely know their stuff, featuring all four elelments of Hip Hop in every magazine. In fact its indoctrinated in their mission statement.
"Pound Magazine will serve as the vangaurd in journalism for the hip hop community. We intend to do this by focusing on the four elements of hip hop turntabilism, breakin' emceeing and graffitti).
'In addition we will present a diverse publication that reflects the identities and interests of the purveyors and adherence of hip hop culture.
'Finally, Pound will assume a leadersjhip role that stresses proggressive and responsible journalism in order to insure that Hip Hop culture continues to grow and flourish for eternity."
Regular features of this fan zine include news (no hype, just truth), opinions, the portriat of a so called groupie, future perfect, book reviews, pound for pound (in this case a fictional battle between the Ol' Dirty Bastard and Big Baby Jesus) the emcee page, b-boys and girls, the new stylus (scratching), reviews (CD's).
The November double-feautre included interviews with Ghetto Concept, (GC), and Jayo Felony. GC is an act from Toronto that rose fast with two singles ("Certified" and "Easy on the motion), both o fwhich were Juno winners and quickly fadeded from the limelight. Although, for my tates, the interview was all too short it was nonetheless excellent - perhaps the best interview I've ever read.
There are some technical points of Pound that can be forgiven due to their infancy. For example, the magazine, like ever 'zine I've ever seen, is black and white. The problem arises though with their use of grey type font on a black or gey background - you can imagine that it makes it tough to read in some cases. With some more experience in the production room the editors should cure this ill.
On the other hand the freedom of an independent publication means that thney can do soem pretty cool things too.
The lay out of the magazine is extremely good - artistic when it can be and concrete when need be.
I personally look foreward to future copies which could feature any from Canibus (pictured) to, the comeback kid, Maestro (Fresh Wes).
The absolute best part of the magazine, in my opinion was its positive messages. There was not a single negative note in the entire lenght of the magazine. "Notes form a so-called groupie," is told form a female hip hop fans point of view. Although it does wimp out in taking a femenist stance it does rebut the submissiv erole otraditionally held by women in rap.
The time has come for a magazine like this. Too often we get magaziens promoting the commercialized edge of hip hop. It's a shame too because it often tends to be the worste parts. Hip Hop needs a magazine to rermain underground to be the outcast and keep its finger on th epulse of its culture.
Pound will be found in all HMV stores in the near future.