A new chapter of VIBE has arrived.
More than a decade after VIBE ceased producing physical copies and became online-only, the iconic brand is relaunching print — with the first issue set to be released next week.
Quincy Jones created VIBE Magazine in 1992 when the media landscape looked very different. As one of the most accomplished producers in history, the late genius and visionary saw a void in American media. Black culture was shaping music, fashion, language, film, and politics, but there wasn’t a mainstream publication reflecting its full power, sophistication, and influence.
VIBE changed all of that and became a cultural treasure. VIBE wasn’t trying to join the conversation; it wanted to lead it. Inspired by Rolling Stone‘s standard, Quincy aimed to create impactful journalism rooted in Black culture. During its early years, the publication helped usher in a new crop of young artists — Snoop Dogg, Biggie, Mary J. Blige, Tupac, Usher, and Lauryn Hill. The cover of VIBE became a coveted stage for artists, giving the spotlight to legends like Prince, TLC, Wu-Tang Clan, Mariah Carey, and more. In 2007, VIBE became the first publication to put Barack Obama on its cover, recognizing a cultural shift before much of the mainstream did, “Ladies & Gentlemen, (Is This) The Next President of the United States?” In 2014, the final, double-cover issue featured Drake and Kevin Hart.
Through the ‘90s and early 2000s, VIBE’s magazines served as timestamps for where Black culture, music, fashion, and influence were headed before the rest of the world caught up. And now, with the return of print, that same legacy not only lives on, but will help shape the future of Black media. The brand, which joined forces with Rolling Stone in 2025, remains committed to delivering deeply reported storytelling about music and entertainment across multiple platforms.
On June 2, the first print cover story launches online. The issue will feature a cover star, as well as commentary and reporting on the current state of Hip-Hop, fashion, and culture, with interviews with some of today’s tastemakers.
Moving forward, VIBE will be published as a quarterly issue – premium in paper and limited in quantity (1,000 for this first issue). Each issue drops exclusively at specialty newsstands and will also be available on shop.rollingstone.com.
In a time when society has largely moved online and as things have gotten faster, louder, bigger, and more fleeting, VIBE firmly believes the artists shaping our culture deserve more than just a mere second as we scroll.
