Christgau initially wrote short stories, before giving up fiction in 1964 to become a sportswriter, and later, a police reporter for the "Newark Star-Ledger". He became a freelance writer after a story he wrote about the death of a woman in New Jersey was published by "New York" magazine. Christgau was among the first dedicated rock critics. He was asked to take over the dormant music column at "Esquire", which he began writing in June 1967. He also contributed to "Cheetah" magazine at that time. He subsequently became a leading voice in the formation of a musical–political aesthetic combining New Left politics and the counterculture. After "Esquire" discontinued the column, Christgau moved to "The Village Voice" in 1969, and he also worked as a college professor.