What makes KING the #1 mens magazine?
First off, it's a REAL magazine, and what I mean about that is thatthere is substance every issue. You can get some funny stuff about amodel who fights in the club then turn the page and get some informative content about speed dating or being a wingman, then turn the page and have an insightful take on the Virginia Tech campus 100 days after the tragic events earlier in the year. KING is the epitome of the lifestyle of the urban male. That's why we dub ourselves "The Illest Men's Magazine Ever." It's not so different from how Playboy is structured. We just don't have nudity. If all I cared about was seeing tits and ass, I'd pick up the other "magazines" out there. But I don't even call them mags, I call them picture books.
There are magazines popping up everywhere, is this good for the industry or bad for it?
I was talking to my boy about this the other day. All these mags takeway from the art of journalism. Despite what many might think, I doconsider myself a journalist as well as an editor. And not for nothing, everyone has a magazine out like everyone has a label or is a rapper. It's funny to me, because these aren't magazines to me. When all you have is a pic of some model with some 50 word blurb of who they are, that's not journalism. That's barely anything. On the other hand, it's good to see African-Americans work and have something of their own. But in the realm of men's magazines? It's way too much, it's over saturation. Just like every girl can't be a model, every man or woman can't come out with a magazine.
You run the column "webgirl" and basically made it a KING fixture.I am sure you have gotten a lot of models requesting to be in thatsection. What advice would you give to models before they ask to be in your section?
Well, that's not the only section that I do. But I do get a lot of requests from those who want to be a Web Girl when they don't even have a website. I honestly can't give advice for what these girls have to do. The only requirement needed is to have a working site. I've put girls in that has crappy sites, but they're hot. And I've put girls in who have top notch designing but their look is okay. Basically, if you have asite and I like what I see, you're in. Oh, and shout-outs to The Sourceand Hip-Hop Weekly and any other mag that has a Web-whatever orNet-whatever section in their publication. Imitaion is the highestform of flattery, so I must be doing something right.
How have you seen the industry change since you been working at KING? The modeling game?
Man...I remember before I even took writing seriously when Black Men's was the only game in town. And they had the baddest models. I still have the issue when Melyssa Ford was introduced to the world. You don't see that as often anymore cause every girl thinks they can model. Chances are some dude gassed their head so they can fuck. It's definitely not the same. On top of that, these models are passed around like 40s on the stoop. I understand some of them want to be seen all over, but they fail to realize they killed their own career before it even started. Quality of quanity is my motto. But the game is oversaturated with girls with big asses. I don't know about you, but I've passed my Ki Toy and Buffie stage, and those were good times. But beauty doesn't just lie in a girl ass. Cause there are girls out there with the hugest ones but they couldn't take a decent pic to save their life.
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What advice would you give young or old writers out there who would dream to be in your position.
In my position? [Laughs] Think with your head and I mean your brain. Mymentor and big brother Datwon Thomas broke it down to me when I firststarted and got caught up by a flirtatious model who promised to fuckme everyday and twice on sunday if I got her in the mag (my first andlast mistake). He told me that these girls get hit on everyday, so for me to hit on them, I wouldn't stand out. But if you come at them on somereal shit, some regular shit, not trying to fuck shit, they'll rock
with you much harder than anyone else trying to bone. So what I've learned after five years at KING and in this biz is your rep is all you have.You tarnish that, what the hell do you have? Other than that, if allyou want to do is write and could care less about the modeling, just keep that book with you at all times and write whatever pops up in yourmind. And never edit yourself. You'd be surprised at what you jot down.
You mentioned REAL magazines, why is it with some of the other
magazines we see the same girls rotated in each magazine, is the
industry lacking hot models?
The game isn't lacking models. As I always say, "every day a girlturns 18." It's a lot of factors. One, being accessibility (sp?). Themajor mags are really located in New York, so if you can get out there
without a problem in comparison to a hot chick in West Bubblefuck,Montana who'll find it hard, you have one up. But another reason I'mstarting to see is these editors show a lot of favortism and cram
these chicks down reader's throats. I'm guilty of it at times too. Butwhen you have editors also playing "model manager" you're gonna seetheir clients all over cause that editor/manager needs his bottom towork the track and get his paper. I always say this game is adifferent type of prostitution. Not to scare anyone away that wants todo this, but peep my logic. All of us mags, from KING to Playboy hasour own corner or block. And each block has their type of chicks topander to a public that's in need of having his fantasy come true.Now, our jobs as overseers of our respective blocks (we sound likepimps, right?) is to get the best girls to walk that stroll. Causepeople will come back if that block is poppin. Now when some girls onone block starts walking on other people's block trying to get thatexposure, the consumers recognize it. They pay no mind but theyrealize you was pumping on the other block last week. After a whilethose chicks aren't going to be sought after cause they've been passedaround. And if your block is notorious for having the same chicks allthe time, they'll crusie to a better block. One of our goals is tohave the best models, or untapped talent. So, I feel there will alwaysbe hot models available. But some mags wanna run with a sure thing, I guess.
Okay here is your chance to stand on your soapbox, any last words?
Damn, I thought I was already on that damn box [laughs]. Um...lookoutfor my blog tenatively titled "KINGDOME COME: The Life & Times of S.Malcolm". Check out HYPERLINK "http://king-mag.com/"king-mag.com and the KING TV channel. Andbasically, thank you to all that pick up KING Magazine. Whether youlove it or hate it, you're keeping the lights on by spending your hard
earned $4.95. And giving me a chance to talk my shit again. Oh(shamless plug) hit me up at HYPERLINK "http://myspace.com/king_me1"myspace.com/king_me1. Uh...thank you toKISS Magazine, TKM and Treagan and Sean Rush, definitely the realest cats I've dealt with in this biz. My tiwn, Candice Jai for being therewhen shit was fucked up to when shit was going good (and our ride
isn't over yet!)
-photography by Treagen Kier |
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