Sacha Jenkins, a trailblazing hip-hop journalist, documentarian, musician, producer, and director, passed away on May 23. He died from complications related to multiple system atrophy. He was 53 years old.
Following the news of his death, social media filled quickly with condolences and tributes. Many prominent hip-hop artists honored his memory.
Rapper Raekwon wrote on Instagram, “MY MAN HUNIT GRAN. MR. #SACHAJENKINS, you will be missed. #historian #father #universalbuilder in the culture. Condolences to the family and friends of this great man.”
Hip-hop legend Fat Joe posted on Facebook, “God bless his soul, a gentle giant in hip hop.”
Jenkins was widely known for his documentaries, including Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022), Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (2019), and Word Is Bond (2018). These films explored the art of hip-hop lyricism and celebrated Black music and culture. His career spanned many years and different media formats.
Born on August 22, 1971, in Philadelphia, Jenkins grew up in Queens, New York. He graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School in Astoria in 1990. He then attended Brooklyn College and the City College of New York. In 2000, he earned a fellowship at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism through the National Arts Journalism Program.
Jenkins began his publishing career in 1988 with his self-published magazine Graphic Scenes & X-plicit Language, which focused on graffiti and included poetry and music reviews. By 1992, he founded Beat Down, regarded as the first hip-hop newspaper in the United States. Two years later, he co-founded Ego Trip magazine with fellow journalist Elliott Wilson.
Although Ego Trip ran only 13 issues over four years, it became a cultural brand known for its sharp voice and insight. The brand produced books like Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists and television shows including Ego Trip’s The White Rapper Show on VH1.
As an author, Jenkins co-wrote Eminem’s 2008 autobiography, The Way I Am. He also served as executive producer for VH1’s RockDoc film 50 Cent: The Origin of Me, which explored the rapper’s family history.
In addition to journalism and filmmaking, Jenkins was a musician. He played in punk bands such as The Wilding Incident (which featured Danny Diablo of Crown of Thornz), #, and The White Mandingos. The latter mixed punk, rap, and political themes.
In a 2019 interview with Complex about Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, Jenkins explained his vision for the documentary. He said, “I wanted to make a film that gave people a real view of the blues. Any form of Black music in America is essentially the blues. It is our way of reacting to our environment.”
Jenkins is survived by his wife, Raquel Cepeda; their son, Marceau; and his stepdaughter, Djali.
Details about services have not yet been announced.
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