Details

ARC-0223

collection

Jesse Washington Collection of Blaze

1998-1999

1.63 (Linear feet)

Upon leaving the Associated Press (AP) in 1997, Jesse Washington became the managing editor of <title render="italic">Vibe</title>, which led to him becoming the founding editor-in-chief of <title render="italic">Blaze</title>, a hip-hop spinoff of <title render="italic">Vibe</title>. In 1998, <title render="italic">Blaze</title> was the largest magazine launch of the year and biggest music magazine launch ever--the first issue sold 250,000 copies; the second, 300,000. Washington's tenure with the magazine was mired in controversy. In his very first editorial he described a confrontation with Wyclef Jean, in which Jean threatened him with a gun. In late 1998, after an altercation with Derik Angelettie (aka, D-Dot), who was upset over his coverage in the magazine, Washington ended up in the hospital. Finally, after attempting to publish an editorial about the acquittal of his friend and <title render="italic">Blaze</title> employee, Montoun Hart, in a high-profile Manhattan murder case, Washington was released from his job at the magazine and replaced by managing editor Mimi Valdés. <title render="italic">Blaze</title> would cease publication in 2000. Washington would return to the AP, and currently writes about race and ethnicity.

The Jesse Washington Collection of Blaze spans the years 1998 to 1999, and consists of material compiled by Jesse Washington during his time as editor-in-chief of the magazine. The collection includes memoranda, mapping out the early issues of Blaze, a draft of an article, issues of Blaze, and documents pertaining to Washington's lawsuit against Derik Angelettie, and Washington leaving the magazine after the censoring of one of his articles. Other materials in the collection relate to the marketing of Blaze, including photographs and event flyers. The collection illustrates the start-up of a new magazine on hip-hop culture and music. Seen in a broader context, the collection provides insight to the difficulties of dealing with corporate pressures in the magazine business during the late-1990s.

Acquisition Note: The Jesse Washington Collection of Blaze was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as a gift from Jesse Washington on July 13, 2010.

Citation: [Identification of Item], Jesse Washington Collection of Blaze, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Processing Information: Processed by James A. Kohler, Project Archivist. Completed November 16, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.

Collection is CLOSED.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.