USC Thornton School of Music

In the early 1990s, Quincy Jones launched Vibe, a hugely influential publication that forever changed the landscape of Black popular culture. According to Complex, it was “the first periodical to cover rap, R&B, rock, reggae, dance music, fashion, sports, and politics—all through the prism of what people were just beginning to call ‘urban culture.’”  The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts notes that “the magazine included interviews with notable figures in American hip-hop, stories showcasing Black intellectuals, such as Dr. Cornel West, and advertised Black-owned businesses such as Phat Farm and FUBU.”

Held in conjunction with the 2025 Pop Conference hosted at the USC Thornton School of Music, this event will gather original music writers, critics, and editors from the early days of Vibe to discuss their experiences, the magazine, and its legacy.

Vibe Revived: Reflections from Vibe Magazine’s Trailblazing Writers and Editors