Barry Michael Cooper, Pioneering Screenwriter and Journalist, Dies at 66

Known for coining 'New Jack Swing' and penning the Harlem Trilogy, Cooper shaped hip-hop culture and Black cinema in the 1980s and 1990s.

Barry Michael Cooper, writer of the influential Harlem Trilogy films 'New Jack City,' 'Sugar Hill,' and 'Above the Rim,' passed away on January 22, 2025, at the age of 66 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Cooper began his career as a journalist, writing groundbreaking pieces for publications like The Village Voice and Spin Magazine, including early reporting on the crack epidemic and the rise of hip-hop and R&B.
He coined the term 'New Jack Swing' in a 1987 Village Voice article, encapsulating a genre that blended R&B and hip-hop pioneered by Teddy Riley.
His debut screenplay, 'New Jack City,' became a cultural touchstone, grossing nearly $50 million and paving the way for Black-led crime dramas in Hollywood.
In later years, Cooper worked on projects such as Spike Lee's Netflix series 'She's Gotta Have It' and directed smaller independent films, leaving a legacy that continues to influence music and cinema.