The other day I got word that VIBE Magazine is going under. This news took my by surprise because for my generation, the magazine that covers hip-hop culture has been a staple for recognizing who’s hot in the rap industry. VIBE has notably had the crème de la crème of politics (Obama), pop (Michael Jackson), R&B (Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Ciara), and of course rap (Tupac, Biggie, Jay Z, Kanye West, T.I., Lil Wayne) grace the cover. If you claim to be an influential person relevant to the generation of under 25-ers you probably had to get in between the sheets of VIBE to get there.

It’s an interesting conjecture in my opinion, how the failure of VIBE relates to the hip-hop industry where many artists are criticized for glorifying riches, wealth, and power that is often very different from their reality. I know that in this recession a lot of print journalism has gone under, but I thought that VIBE was stable. If one of the major platforms for hip-hop can fold today, what does it say about the state of the industry? How stable are the other cornerstones of the culture? Last week it was MJ, this week it’s VIBE, maybe if we’re lucky maybe BET will follow suit and cease and desist with any further contamination of our minds.
—Jazmyne Young