Newswriter and author, Jasmina Cuevas
For years, Jasmina Cuevas operated in the high-octane epicenter of hip-hop media. From print institutions like VIBE, The Source and RESPECT Magazine to digital powerhouses like HotNewHipHop, Cuevas spent her career documenting the artists, shifts and cultural mechanics defining music journalism. But today, her lens is shifting—from capturing the global reach of hip-hop icons to nurturing the imaginations of young readers and future writers.
Growing up in the Boston area, Cuevas originally envisioned a path in traditional newsrooms. “I wanted to work for the Boston Globe,” she recalls. “I wanted to write news and really work in an actual bull pen.”
However, taking her writing into the music world opened up unexpected creative freedom. “The opportunity that I had to be able to write in hip-hop, in music and all that stuff allowed me the space to be able to write the way that I want to write.”
Reflecting on her years in newsrooms, Cuevas notes how hip-hop journalism evolved from local gossip into a respected global phenomenon. “A lot of it has become less about gossip and more about the creativity of these artists and their long-term goals,” she shares, pointing to international movements by icons like Jay-Z and Pusha T. “Hip-hop is getting—finally—the love that it deserves versus what it used to be 10, 20 years ago… it’s a lot more global.”
Behind that evolution was a relentless hustle. As an editor and writer, Cuevas navigated public relations barriers by building genuine, mutually supportive relationships with artist teams rather than treating them as obstacles. “I don’t really look at them as barriers; I look at them as people as part of the whole universe of that artist,” Cuevas says.
Her core editorial philosophy remained anchored in substance over noise: “A lot of the things that I have learned was to cut out the fluff and get straight to the point.” She adds, “I didn’t want this story to fully be just like the gossip that we heard from someone else… what could I really add to it?”
Yet, a new creative hunger emerged during the quiet reflection of the pandemic. Facing a heavy news cycle and personal encounters with systemic prejudice, Cuevas sought a project that could anchor her back to her roots and bring joy to young readers.
“I got to a place in my adulthood that I felt like, okay, I really want to tap back in with my inner child,” she reveals. That inspiration birthed The Adventures of Lola & Mina, a self-published children’s book inspired by her dog, her family, and her own healing journey. “I lived one dream of writing for these magazines and working with so many different artists that I wanted to go ahead and live a different dream and try something new. I’m a firm believer that you can live as many dreams as you like in your lifetime as long as you allow yourself to.”
Taking the leap into self-publishing demanded time, capital, and resilience, but it handed her total creative authority. “At the end of the day, you own it, it’s yours, you put it out… a story that you got to write to share with the world that maybe nobody else would ever hear if you didn’t,” she says.
Building on that momentum, she is currently developing her second book, ABCs of Reggaeton. Drawing directly from her Dominican and Afro-Latina heritage, the educational project explores the roots of the music across Jamaica, Reggae, and Spain to teach young readers—including her two young nieces—the rich history behind their culture. “This book is not just like a fun time, it’s really like learning about your culture, where it came from, the history of it.”
Now preparing to enter an MFA program later this year, Cuevas is eyeing her next chapter: academia. Having previously earned her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, re-entering higher education now feels deeply personal. “When I got my associate’s or my bachelor’s, I kind of just did it in the sense of, ‘Oh, I have to get this done,'” Cuevas shares. “This is more so for myself, because I love writing and I want to be able to continue to learn and grow.”
With aspirations to become a college professor, she aims to master the craft of creative writing and mentor the next generation of storytellers. “I want to be in a position where I can do that for the next person… to be able to become a professor in the future and teach others how to build their careers as a journalist, too.”
Her message to incoming writers reflects the very discipline that shaped her path: “Sit down and think about what’s the message that you’re trying to put out to the world, and stick to that. If it’s your message, don’t ever let somebody take that away from you.”
From documenting hip-hop history to crafting children’s literature and stepping into the classroom, Cuevas proves that a writer’s voice isn’t defined by a single medium—it’s defined by the authenticity of the story they choose to tell.
You can purchase your copy of the book directly here.
To explore more work, stay updated on future releases and join the creative journey, visit their site and follow along on Instagram.
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