http://www.sohh.com/2009/...ne_fo.html

SOHH has learned urban lifestyle publication King Magazine will be shutting its doors and will be releasing its final issue as a result of the current economic crisis.

The popular men's magazine is known for featuring a variety of urban entertainers and video vixens mixed with in-depth coverage of serious issues.

KING is a bimonthly magazine of pure adrenaline that brings you the best of everything that is your lifestyle. We hit you with sexy women, fast cars, sports, real money and mad music. We bring you gadgets and games the hottest styles to wear and take you to exotic places worthy of a KING's presence. (Magazine Agent)

Rumors of the publication's end began to spread earlier this week.

We don't often post rumors, despite the number of them that cross our desks daily (many of which end up being true). I felt like posting this one though. We just got word that KING Magazine (aka Butts and Rims) is closing shop, not even releasing it's next issue. In this strained economy, the already dying print format is suffering big time. It is upsetting to hear of people losing jobs, but can this be considered a victory for women (in particular black women) who struggle against objectification at every turn? I have to admit, I enjoy the images, but I know it can't really be good for raising the standards of our society. What do you think? (Okay Player)

The magazine's Editor-in-Chief Jermaine Hall, who took the helm after from founding EIC Datwon Thomas, previously spoke with SOHH about the first issue he signed off on.

After four years as Executive Editor of KING Magazine, St. Lucia-born, Queens-bred journalist Jermaine Hall has taken the reins as Editor-in-Chief of the Men's magazine Hugh Hefner dubbed "the Black Playboy". In this week's 24 Hour Grind Jermaine weighs in with his favorite KING moments, what direction the magazine is going in and things every EIC should know to turn out an eye-catching publication. Jermaine Hall's KING Hall of Fame: "My first issue as Editor-In-Chief was the Ciara issue. It was a pink backdrop with Ciara sucking on a lollipop, LL Cool J style." (SOHH)

Hall has defended the publication's portrayal of women, who are often shot provocatively, by pointing to the magazine's rounded editorial coverage.

"I want them to portray themselves in a sexy, classy way," Hall recently said. "Some want to go further and that's fine too. Do it to your level. I would say to the Essence-reading jury pool: please open the magazine and see what else we have to offer. We will go to Denver and report on what really happened with Kobe's rape case. We will do a story on someone like Lloyd Avery. We have meat and potatoes. No dis to other magazines. But we are not Black Men and Smooth. They serve a different audience. And I ask that we be looked at differently... That's all I can say." (Aliya S. King)


someone console phunkdaddy and Muthafunka.....

We may have to put them on suicide watch.

SCNDLS said:

and Joe Budden's girlfriend's pictures didn't get to be published

and NO MO TOCARRA!!!!!

ShullBit!!

bboy87 said:

Awwwww, po baby bboy

SCNDLS said:

Stop makin' fun of T-Mac.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

He know he was wrong for that shit!

Damn. I had always said I was gonna subscribe to them, too. That's fucked up. I wish they'd bring CODE back though. That was best mag EVER.

MuthaFunka said:

wait, you didn't have a subscription?!

Remembering the good times


















Joe Budden's girl recentlyy posed for the mag, but the pics come out yet...

bboy87 said:

Nope. Damn shame.

I was about to say..I don't know..some sort of exclamation of joy. Just to be a jackass.
Then I saw bboy...mutha...wuh-wuh-well...what I mean to say...What I mean to say...is that I saw the HUMAN side of this shit.
Ya'll will be in my prayers.

ToraToraDreams said:

SCNDLS said:

That may be THE BEST gif EVER!!!

MuthaFunka said:

I remember Code magazine, thought I was the onliest one They had some FINE ASS PICS on the cover - I remember Lenny & Maxwell... I think Prince had a cover but I don't remember it being great. Dat shit was CLASSY! Went under quick from what I remember...

CalhounSq said:

I still treasure the few issues I have... Prince, Halle, Lenny, Ed Bradley (RIP). Finally a magazine with decent pics AND editorials with more than liquor and sneaker ads. Shame. Guess it was too classy.
[Edited 4/1/09 6:58am]

Wow, no more asses galore???

CalhounSq said:

I have an old issue with Prince on the cover.

MuthaFunka said:

The best magazine I ever read - other than the usual sports rags - was SPY. They coined the term "short-fingered vulgarian" to describe Donald Trump.

OUCH.

ironic how a magazine dedicated to decadence goes bankrupt.

CalhounSq said:

I have ALL of my issues still! CODE - The Black man's GQ. Larry Flynt put it out. I loved that mag. Yeah, it went under after about 3 years. They actually brought it back in 2005 but all I saw was a website saying it came back, and it's under a new publisher.

JackieBlue said:

Damn shame, ain't it?

RodeoSchro said:

Aw dayum!

They're gonna have Joe Budden's girl Tahiri on the last cover

ToraToraDreams said:

Best post ever.

Vendetta1 said:

No it's not


I hold that honor too

look at the link in my sig

bboy87 said:

How did I miss that?

Vendetta1 said:

We were only getting started....then people had to come in and bring LOGIC into the muthafucka

Oh noes. Whatever will all the video hoe covergirls do now???