[Neil Drumming]
Having worked for Vibe as an editor for a short time and done some freelance for the magazine in recent years, I wish I could say I was more distraught. But as Ta-Nehisi was fond of telling me back in our earlier days in the magazine business: "Some things aren't meant to last forever."
Somebody tell that to the guys at RollingStone.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
I have just about every issue of Vibe and The Source from between 1994 and 2002 at my parents' house (and I remember when this MJ issue came out, too.)
Do teenagers and tweens today even bother with magazines? I suppose they only go on blogs for their inof. Or do they care about music in the same particular way we did (not asking about the extent, I would never say one generation likes music more or less than another.)
I'm assuming that the reference to RollingStone was a bit of a throw-away but like "Classic" rock stations they can keep rehashing the same top 100 lists and artists, the dilemma for "urban" culture seems to be that only the lastest thing is in demand which is good for selling sneakers and ringtones but not so good for print media. Not sure what if anything this means in terms of developing long careers or slow developing arts like literature and music composition but it could leave out some element of depth/perspective.
Rolling Stone just not relevant anymore. Travers is probably the worst high profile movie critic--quite an accomplishment--and is poster-bait. Taibbi is a foul-mouthed, dumb version of good work being done on the blogosphere. David Wild has always been a joke. The same people that had the balls to slam Layla (erroneously, and out of sheer arrogance) now proudly puts the stars of Gossip Girl and the Jonas Brothers on the cover.
not sure if you meant to make this a response to my post as it doesn't seem related but if i missed something pls let me know
Just in that it's piling on Rolling Stone, but I definitely agree with your overall point that print media isn't really suited for today's music.
Totally, absolutely, 100 percent disagree with you on Matt Taibbi. That man is the truth as far as I'm concerned.
But yeah, the rest of them are flagging. Won't be long now...
This is when I knew I was making a break with 'Urban' Culture. I am a magazine addict, yet I never liked Vibe in any way, shape, or form. Bought occasional issues, but never liked it.
You probably never liked it because it was always filled with more magazines than content - but there were a number of talented journalists working there. I remember reading the magazine religiously, but getting disappointed because somehow no matter who was being interviewed, the same things were said. I'm not sure if that's the fault of the magazine or the interviewees.
As both a former contributor to Vibe, but also someone who researched the history of hip-hop journalism and where Vibe fit in with it...I have mixed feelings. I think Vibe represented some of the best and worst in critical/journalistic coverage of hip-hop music and culture and I think, ultimately, its decision to adopt/cosign on the excesses of the music helped partially explain its loss of relevancy.
That said, that mag attracted an insanely great stable of talent over the years (and no, I'm not including myself in there).
I'll miss it. Haven't read it much lately, but it was a part of my life at one time.
First MJ (don't recall this cover shot of him...MJ in a kangol? Who knew?), now Vibe. All of my pop cultural touch-stones, are dying off. Sigh.
This cover was part of the promotional run-up to his HIStory comeback album in 1995. If I recall correctly, one of the big aspects of that story they were pushing was that he had done some work with Biggie Smalls for that album.
Re: Biggie and MJ, read page 2 of this: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/401331-robmix-tell-us-about-mj.html
Those were some great stories man. I think part of Mike's problem is that for years if not decades, he's been surrounded not by hardworking and talented studio rats and producers and other folks who live for music as he does; no, he's been surrounded by lawyers and accountants and managers and handlers who didnt usually have his best interest at heart.
He bears much blame for that; I mean, I understand wanting to relive his childhood but his money gave him a certain arrogance and entitlement about how he could use it to fulfill any and every whim. That came at a price--the mountain of debt he was under, and the choices he had to make to manage it. Its too bad his love of music was usurped by his love of money.
Former contributor to Vibe as well.
I'd be nice to have seen Vibe and The Source join Ebony, Jet and Essence in the ranks of Venerable Black Literary Institutions; they had a hand in their own demise sure, not sure Im qualified (or willing, anyway) to go into depth about it, but to quote former Solar Records chief Dick Griffey's quote "Black Music / Culture is to Black folks as oil is to Arabs; only we dont control it."
And thats a dynamic Im beyond sick of, to be frank.
TNC is quoted in today's NYTimes discussing the demise and relevance of Vibe Mag......
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/arts/music/02vibe.html?ref=arts