New York – October 26, 2024 – Sacha Jenkins, a distinguished figure in the world of hip-hop, has passed away at 54. The loss of the influential journalist, filmmaker, and co-founder of Ego Trip magazine is mourned by the many who appreciated his contributions too the culture. Jenkins’s work, spanning journalism to documentary film, leaves behind a legacy of insightful commentary. His diverse career and Emmy nomination is a testament to his influence and outlook in the realm of hip-hop journalism.
Remembering Sacha Jenkins: A Hip-Hop Visionary
Published: October 26, 2024
A Loss for Hip-Hop Culture
Sacha Jenkins, teh influential hip-hop journalist and documentary filmmaker, has died at the age of 54. his wife, Raquel Cepeda, confirmed that the cause of death was complications from multiple system atrophy.
Early Life and Influences
Born in Philadelphia in 1971, Jenkins’s upbringing was split between Philadelphia and New York City.His father, Horace byrd Jenkins III, an Emmy Award-winning producer for Sesame Street, moved to Harlem, while Jenkins resided in Astoria, Queens, with his mother, Monart, and sister.
Even in high school, Jenkins showed entrepreneurial spirit, borrowing money from his mother to create the graffiti zine Graphic Scenes & X-plicit Language. This early venture foreshadowed his later impact on hip-hop journalism.
Pioneering Hip-Hop Journalism
In 1992, Jenkins and his childhood friend Haji Akhigbade launched Beat-Down, widely regarded as the first hip-hop newspaper. This publication set the stage for his later, more influential work.
Two years later, Jenkins partnered with Elliott wilson, a former music editor and TV producer from Beat-Down, to establish Ego trip. The magazine, with its self-proclaimed arrogant voice of musical truth,
quickly became a seminal voice in hip-hop and skateboarding culture.
The editorial team included Jeff “Chairman” Mao, Brent Rollins, and Gabe Alvarez. Although it only ran for 13 issues, Ego Trip profoundly influenced rap culture throughout the 1990s and 2000s. It spawned books like Ego Trip’s book of Rap Lists and Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism! and several VH1 television shows, including Miss Rap Supreme and Ego Trip’s The (White) Rapper Show.
Beyond ego Trip: A Multifaceted career
Jenkins served as the music editor of Vibe from 1997 to 2000 and contributed to spin and Rolling Stone.He also co-authored Eminem’s autobiography, the Way I Am.
His later career focused on directing films and documentaries, including word Is Bond and Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, as well as the docuseries Rapture and Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men.The latter earned him an Emmy nomination.
Until his death, Jenkins was the creative director of Mass Appeal, a brand he helped relaunch after becoming a partner at Decon in 2012.
Jenkins’s Viewpoint on Hip-Hop
Jenkins viewed his work as a platform for representation and commentary. In 2018, he stated:
Being a person of color working on a platform that a lot of people have access to, it’s significant for me to say something every time I do something. For many of us, hip-hop is an identity, and for others it’s a commodity that has travelled the world. People have made lots of money off it it, and also people have been very inspired by it.
Sacha Jenkins, 2018
