“This is the perfect time for African-Americans to make a come-up and take
control of the city, ya know?”—New Orleans native Todd Anthony Hughes
CONTENTS

88 // THE GIF TS & THE CURSE 165 // REVOLUTIONS John Legend. 171 // BOOMSHOTS: Buju Banton. Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking stuffers. Reviewed by RJ Smith. Plus: Fat Joe. Earl By Rob Kenner

Bicycles. Cable-knit sweaters. What women Greyhound. Michael Viner’s Incredible 174 // BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY: want. Digital cameras. How to wrap a gift. Bongo Band. Aterciopelados. Plastic Little. Sylvester. By Tim Lawrence

Winter hot spots. Cell phones. Liquor. Mya. Ron Artest. Dave Hollister. Snoop

Horrible gift giving. And one sick car. Dogg. Ana Moura. Luny Tunes & Tainy.

182 // DE TAILS

Photographs by Asterism Naledge + Double O Are Kidz in the Hall.

184 // 20 QUESTIONS

104 // V Mix: New loves. Old couples. AZ. Don Byron. Omar. Sadat X. This

Out on the town Moment in Black History. Los Tigres del

Norte. Hi- Tek. Robert Randolph & the

NEX T: ARTIS TS ON THE VERGE 115 // DEEMI 116 // YOUNG HOT ROD 118 // G YP TIAN 120 // DARIEN BROCKINGTON

Family Band. Trey Lorenz. Lil Boosie.

Motown in Love: Lyrics From the Golden

Era. Juggaknots. Unk. Good God! A Gospel

Funk Hymnal. Esperanza Spalding. Bad

Brains Live at CBGB 1982. Swishahouse

Presents the Day Hell Broke Loose 3