RIP Vibe

Just saw an article on the New York Times Web site about the demise of Vibe Magazine.  The news of a magazine going under in the current economic climate is not surprising, but when it is a magazine that has helped to legitimize rap, hip hop and R&B into household genres, then it is worth lamenting the demise of a source of urban music and culture critical review.

Back when Vibe was founded in the early 1990s-before our current generation of hip hop stars were known as much as major celebrities with their own clothing lines and Vitamin Water commercials-rap and hip hop struggled for legitimacy and a place in the mainstream media.  Vibe Magazine helped give visibility and legitimacy to rap and hip hop artists such as De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Dell, and Public Enemy; all of whom paved the way for artists like P Diddy and 50 Cent to be ubiquitous media presences today.  While the genre is not in danger of going away, it is worth taking a moment to tip the hat to a late media source that treated the artists  with the same respect that they put into the creation of their music.