James Bernard, founding editor of The Source, dies at 58

James Bernard, a founding editor and prominent writer for the hip-hop magazine The Source, has died. His sister, Emily Bernard, confirmed that he died by suicide; his body was discovered on Dec. 29 in a wooded area in Pemberton Township, N.J., near his home. He is believed to have died around the time he was reported missing in March 2024 and would have turned 60 last August.

Mr. Bernard was a marquee writer for The Source, authoring the influential Doin’ the Knowledge column that examined rap’s relationship to Black politics and identity, and served for a period as a co-owner and co-editor in chief. The musician and producer Questlove wrote in a social media post that Mr.

Bernard “helped shepherd hip-hop from skepticism to seriousness, from novelty to culture,” according to the report. The Source was founded in 1988 by David Mays and Jonathan Shecter and moved to New York City in 1990. The magazine helped broaden hip-hop’s cultural reach with features such as the Unsigned Hype column, which helped break artists including the Notorious B.I.G.

and Eminem, and its five-mic reviews, which could elevate albums to classic status. After earning a law degree in 1991, Mr. Bernard shifted to journalism, writing for publications including The New York Times. His tenure at The Source ended after a 1994 staff walkout over an article by Mr.

Key Topics

Culture, James Bernard, The Source, Unsigned Hype, Hip Hop, Pemberton Township