Sacha Jenkins, the influential journalist, filmmaker, and cultural historian, has died at the age of 54. His wife, Raquel Cepeda, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Jenkins passed away Friday morning at his home from complications due to multiple system atrophy.
Jenkins was a multifaceted creative whose work spanned journalism, film, and music. He was widely known for chronicling hip-hop history and culture through the founding of the iconic Nineties magazine Ego Trip and his deep dive into documentary filmmaking. His voice and vision left a lasting imprint on the intersections of music, identity, and American culture.
As a documentarian, Jenkins was particularly celebrated for his ability to weave historical and cultural nuance into compelling, immersive storytelling. His notable documentaries included:
- Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021) – A no-holds-barred look at the life of the legendary musician.
- Fresh Dressed (2015) – A vibrant exploration of hip-hop fashion that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
- All Up in the Biz (2023) – Chronicling the life and legacy of the late Biz Markie.
- Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (2019) – A four-part docuseries that earned him an Emmy nomination for best writing for a nonfiction program, celebrating the journey of the legendary hip-hop group.
- Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2023) – An intimate portrait of the jazz icon, produced with Imagine Documentaries, highlighting Armstrong’s creative genius and impact.
- Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain, You’re Watching Video Music Box, and Rolling Like Thunder – Works that dove into the music and subcultures Jenkins revered.
- Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos (upcoming) – A look at the notorious Cro-Mags bassist and frontman.
Jenkins’ passion for music, culture, and history extended beyond documentaries. He wrote for and edited publications like Vibe, Rolling Stone, and Spin, and co-authored Eminem’s biography The Way I Am. Through his production company Resurgent Pictures, founded with Cepeda in 2022, Jenkins continued to champion stories about underrepresented voices, including the fan documentary Generation Dead: The Walking Dead.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Queens, Jenkins grew up during the explosion of hip-hop, punk, and graffiti. His early publication, Graphic Scenes & Xplicit Language, one of the first magazines about graffiti art, was a sign of his lifelong commitment to documenting subcultures. With Ego Trip, he and co-founder Elliott Wilson gave voice to the irreverence, humor, and authenticity of hip-hop’s golden era.
In a 2023 conversation with Variety, Jenkins reflected on his filmmaking journey, emphasizing how he approached artists like Rick James, Louis Armstrong, and the Wu-Tang Clan as “addressing America through their art.” For Jenkins, these stories were not just Black history but American history — and he dedicated his life to telling them honestly and creatively.
Sacha Jenkins is survived by his wife, Raquel Cepeda, and their two children. His documentaries and journalistic legacy continue to illuminate the cultural tapestry of American music and art.