The Source is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the magazine's co-founder. In 1999 The Los Angeles Times reported that, based on data from Alliance for Audited Media, formerly known as Audit Bureau of Circulations (North America), the print edition of The Source was "the No. 1-selling music magazine on newsstands in America." By 2009, they were among those losing readership and advertising income. History The magazine's website began in 1998. At that point the monthly print magazine was celebrating its 100th issue. Others who were involved as co-owners/editors include Raymond 'Ray Benzino' Leon Scott. Between 2005 and 2010 the magazine didn't award any of its '5 mic' awards. The Sources Five-Mic albums The Record Report is a section in the publication in which the magazine's staff rates hip-hop albums. Ratings range from one to five mics, paralleling a typical five-star rating scale. An album that is rated at four-and-a-half or five mics is considered by The Source to be a superior hip hop album. Over the first ten years or so, the heralded five-mic rating only applied to albums that were universally lauded hip hop albums. A total of 45 albums have been awarded five mics; a complete, chronological list is below. Albums that originally received five mics: People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm – A Tribe Called Quest AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted – Ice Cube Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em – Eric B. & Rakim One for All – Brand Nubian De La Soul Is Dead – De La Soul The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest Illmatic – Nas Life After Death – The Notorious B.I.G. Aquemini – Outkast The Blueprint – Jay-Z Stillmatic – Nas The Fix – Scarface The Naked Truth – Lil' Kim Trill OG – Bun B My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West Albums that were not rated upon their releases, but were later rated five mics in 2002: Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C. Radio – LL Cool J Licensed to Ill – Beastie Boys Raising Hell – Run-D.M.C. Criminal Minded – Boogie Down Productions Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim By All Means Necessary – Boogie Down Productions It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back