Introduction to Sacha Jenkins
Sacha Jenkins, a renowned hip-hop journalist and cultural historian, has passed away. He was the co-founder of the "ego Trip" magazine and produced TV series and documentaries about iconic figures like Louis Armstrong and Wu-Tang Clan. Jenkins’ wife, Raquel Cepeda, confirmed his death, stating that he died at his home on Friday morning due to complications from multiple system atrophy.
Career Highlights
During his career, Jenkins wrote about hip-hop history in real-time, establishing himself as an authority in the field. He is considered one of the greatest journalists of all time, with a deep understanding of the hardcore punk and hip-hop scenes. In 1994, Jenkins co-founded "ego Trip" with Elliott Wilson, publishing 13 editions and subsequent books, including "Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists" and "Ego Trip’s Book of Racism." These books led to the creation of VH1 TV series like "Ego Trip’s The White Rapper Show" and "Miss Rap Supreme."
Early Life and Influences
Jenkins was born in Philadelphia and spent his formative years in Queens, New York. His father, Horace Byrd Jenkins III, was a documentary filmmaker and one of the founding producers of "Sesame Street." Inspired by the hardcore scene and the compilation "New Breed," Jenkins borrowed money from his mother in 1988 to publish his first graffiti zine, "Graphics Center & Xplicit Language." He also started working with Video Graf Productions, a video magazine series focused on graffiti culture.
The Rise of "ego Trip"
In 1994, Jenkins co-founded "ego Trip" with Wilson, who previously worked as a music editor at "The Beat-Down." Jenkins wanted "ego Trip" to reflect his life, which included his interests in skateboarding, rock, and hip-hop. The "ego Trip" team, which included Jefferson "Chairman" Mao, Brent Rollins, and Gabe Alvarez, featured artists like NAS and KRSON on the cover. They later published books, including "Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists" and "Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism," before creating VH1 shows like "TV’s Illest Moments Presented by Ego Trip" and "Ego Trip’s Race-O-Rama!"
Transition to Television and Film
After "ego Trip" dissolved, Jenkins continued to work in television and film, executive producing VH1’s Rock Doc series "50 Cent: The Origin of Me" through his company Roadside Entertainment. In 2012, he became a partner in the advertising agency and record label Decon, serving as the chief creative officer. His first feature-length documentary, "Fresh Dressed," which focused on hip-hop fashion, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
Recent Projects and Legacy
In 2022, Jenkins and his wife, Cepeda, founded the boutique production company Resurgent Pictures. The company developed and produced documentary, scripted, and commercial content, including projects like "The Walking Dead: Generation Dead" and a James documentary. In 2023, Resurgent Pictures collaborated with Imagine Documentaries on Jenkins’ documentary "Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues." Jenkins is survived by his wife and two children. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the hip-hop community, and his work remains a testament to the power of music and art to shape identity and challenge societal norms.
