I’ve been collecting hip hop magazines since the early 90s, after first coming across The Source magazine, widely referred to as the hip hop bible during its peak. These early publications captured the culture in real time, ultimately shaping my appreciation for hip hop magazines as a whole. Over the years, that passion grew into a collection of hundreds of issues, shaped by my love for hip hop and artists like Nas, Outkast, J. Cole, and so many more, along with a creative background that spans photo, video, and music. Around hip hop’s 50th anniversary, I revisited boxes of magazines I hadn’t opened in years and realized I was sitting on decades of history that weren’t being seen, even by true hip hop fans. That moment slowly inspired me to build Zine Fiend as a way to bring these magazines back into the world through gallery-inspired displays, while also exploring exhibits, merch, and original content as creative, refreshing ways to preserve and celebrate vintage hip hop print.