James Bernard, the pioneering hip-hop journalist and co-founder of XXL and The Source magazines, died by suicide, New Jersey authorities confirmed this week, ending a 17-month mystery surrounding his disappearance.
Bernard’s body was discovered on December 29, 2025, by hunters in a wooded area of Pemberton Township, New Jersey, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and public information officer Joel Bewley. The Burlington County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide, with investigators believing it occurred shortly after he was last seen on March 17, 2024, walking away from his residence in a blue sweatshirt, gray pants, and backpack, possibly toward nearby woods. He was 58 years old. According to AllHipHop, this resolves uncertainty in the hip-hop media community, which had limited awareness of his prolonged absence.[3] Journal-Isms corroborated the timeline, noting Bernard had been missing since early 2024.[2][7]
Bernard, a Harvard Law School graduate, was a foundational figure in hip-hop journalism, co-founding The Source in 1988 with David Mays, Jonathan Shecter, and Ed Young while at Harvard University. As co-editor-in-chief, he established the magazine’s authoritative voice during hip-hop’s Golden Age, covering social justice, politics, and culture through columns like his 1990 “Doin’ The Knowledge” piece on Public Enemy’s “Welcome to the Terrordome.” Tensions over editorial independence, including conflicts involving publisher Dave Mays and rapper Ray Benzino’s group Almighty RSO, led Bernard and other editors to depart in 1994. He then co-founded XXL in 1997 with Reginald Dennis, creating a rival publication known for long-form profiles, the iconic Freshman Class list, and elevating hip-hop’s legitimacy amid skepticism. Questlove of The Roots paid tribute on Instagram, crediting Bernard for teaching critical listening via The Source‘s 5-Mic reviews and shepherding hip-hop “from skepticism to seriousness.”[3][4][5]
Dave Mays shared a lengthy Facebook statement honoring Bernard as one of three original The Source partners, highlighting their 1989 meeting at Harvard and reconciliation after a 1994 fallout. “James brought an authenticity to the magazine’s voice,” Mays wrote, reposting Bernard’s early writing and staff photos. Tributes poured in from DJ Premier (“Another staple of iconic raw history we salute you”) and writer Rob Kenner, who praised his stand for journalistic integrity. Bernard’s legacy extended to activism as national field director for the Hip-Hop Political Convention and executive coordinator of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Project Forum on Race and Democracy. He hailed from a family of professionals, including his father, Dr. Harold O. Bernard, a Nashville physician. No funeral arrangements have been announced.[3]
Bernard’s death underscores the pressures on hip-hop’s media pioneers who professionalized coverage of artists like Public Enemy during the genre’s rise. His work at The Source and XXL set standards for cultural critique that persist in digital outlets like AllHipHop, where he contributed. The confirmation of his suicide has prompted reflection on mental health in the industry. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 by calling or texting 988.[3]
