Word Up! Magazine was a popular
teen entertainment
magazine which debuted in August 1987.
[1] It focused on
hip-hop music and
rap artists at a time when there was little hip hop journalism.
The magazine was name-checked by The Notorious B.I.G. in his 1994 hit song " Juicy": "It was all a dream; I used to read Word Up! magazine." [2]
A spin-off of Right On! magazine, Word Up! was headquartered in Queens, NY, with Gerrie Summers as founding editor-in-chief. [2] In the 2020s, both magazines were purchased by Cynthia Horner, former editor-in-chief of Right On!, forming Right On! Media Holdings, LLC. [3] [4] Its principal photographer was Ernie Paniccioli, who later claimed the magazine's mention in "Juicy" was intended for him. [5]
The estate of the Notorious B.I.G. and Budweiser produced two special editions of Word Up! in 2023, celebrating the artist and the 30th anniversary of Ready to Die. [6]
References
-
^ Fox 5 New York (2023).
"50 Years of Hip Hop: Word Up! magazine".
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link) - ^ a b Corrine, Amber (2023-08-09). "Biggie's Estate Partners With Budweiser To Relaunch Iconic 'Word Up!' Magazine". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
-
^ Maldonado, Aria Hughes, Jordan Rose, Lei Takanashi, Mike DeStefano, Karla Rodriguez, Dayna Haffenden, Drea O, Kameron Hay, Jessica Mckinney, melvinbackman, Angel Diaz, Alessandra.
"Hip-Hop Media Pioneers". Complex. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) - ^ "Right On! A Cultural Classic Makes Its Comeback". The Root. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Jordan, Chris (June 10, 2022). "Notorious B.I.G. secret shout-out revealed". The Central New Jersey Home News. pp. 9A.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (2023-09-12). "See a Sneak Preview of Notorious B.I.G. Word Up! Magazine Special, With Essay by Angie Martinez (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
