Roots was decent. My problem with it was for their "articles" they just reprinted bio's and press releases. I like original writing.
The golden years as B-12 said is right. The Bay was bangin' music-wise as everyone knows. Magazine-wise we had 4080 standing head and shoulders above everybody including The Source and Rap Pages, we had Murder Dog doing the grimey shit, Roots, Loop, Payin' Duez (Duke and Crooked's magazine), Booty Crack, and of course No Joke/Strivin' while it lasted.
Can't forget David Paul and The Bomb mag outta SF.