The Source unveiled their long-awaited new website this past week with little hype but lots and lots of content. It’s pretty clear the new direction that TheSource.com is trying to take as they focus more as a urban lifestyle destination vs. the hardcore hip-hop news we are so used to from the past. This includes plenty of ancillary hip-hop lifestyle sections on sneakers, fashion, culture and politics. Thing is though, some die-hard Source followers are insisting the new site looks and feels too much like current urban lifestyle web-king Complex.com.
Comparing the two sites, yea there definitely are some similarities with the layout and the overall themes but that doesn’t mean they can’t both exist together and be successful. I mean look at the Lakers and Clippers right? Wait a sec…bad example. Camby for Travis Outlaw? Are you KIDDING?
Ok anyways back to the subject. So what do you think? Smart for The Source to go the Complex route or should have they stayed true to their hardcore roots?
R u guys really surprised – The Source and thesource.com are and have been OVER for a LONG time. If they wanted to “come back” they would have had to done something (anything) unique – which they didn’t — just another failed attempt by unoriginal, vision-less business men that is destined to be an also-ran (read: vibe and vibe.com).
Yea I gotta agree with you on that. Once they turned new management and changed their whole positioning it really threw them off their original game.
I totally looks that way. Although, if you are going to choose a site design to rip off, Complex is a pretty poor choice. It wouldn’t be so bad if they wouldn’t do those obnoxious list item post that are 1000 miles long with all of the stupid yellow highlighting. For a site that comments on aesthetics, they are certainly lacking.
The Source and the word “professional” should never go hand in hand. At least Complex has good stories, good writers and good people. The Source is as shady as can get. At least back in the days when they were “hard core” they embraced it. Now they just are sell out as can get.
Complex>Source
Are there actual fans of The Source still out there? I used to read it in the late 80s when it was underground and real. Now looking atthis site I have no idea what their identity is. But then again neither does hiphop.