Resurrecting the Source

The Source, which was in financial trouble last year, is relaunching with a 20th-anniversary issue and a new focus -- a direction that its co-publisher says will restore the magazine, once known as hip-hop’s bible, to prominence.

“It’s a very seminal period, an opportunity to both celebrate 20 years of content and the fact that the Source was a leader in chronicling the culture of hip-hop,” said L. Londell McMillan, a media and entertainment lawyer who, along with investment banker Jeffery Scott, purchased the Source this year.

The new issue, which hits newsstands next week, features four separate covers of hip-hop pioneers LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah and Nas, photographed by director Spike Lee.