Former President Barack Obama Returns With His Summer Playlist

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM- 26 JULY 2008: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama smiles as he waves during an event in London.

Photo Cred: Alessia Pierdomenico

By: Joshua Martin

The two-term POTUS has returned with another playlist of his summer favorites and this time he is boasting about his “eclectic” taste. On Monday (August 12th), the former president shared his “2024 Summer Playlist” on the popular social media site X. 

“With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately—and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix. I hope you find something new to listen to!”

— Barack Obama, X

With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix. I hope you find something new to listen to! pic.twitter.com/aL400Ctpde

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 12, 2024

English singer Charlie XCX, Rapper Tommy Richman and South African songstress Tyla are a few of the standout favorites that made Obama’s rotation this year. Along with a few familiar favorites from Bob Marley, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Sting, Beyonce, Etta James, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, and Digable Planets, among others.   

Also making an appearance were Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, H.E.R., Tems, Willow, Cleo Soul, GloRilla, Saweetie, Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, and Moneybagg Yo.

American singer-songwriter Shaboozey shared his excitement on “X” after he learned that his hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” made Obama’s annual list.

My man 🇺🇸🫡 https://t.co/c4YUdobe21

— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) August 12, 2024

Obama’s 2023 Summer Playlist included artists such as Babyface Ray, JaNelle Monae, Money Man, Ayra Star, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, and others. In an interview last year with comedic host Hasan Minhaj, Barack shared that his music taste is his and his alone.

“Listen, I am so glad that I had this opportunity. People, they believe the books and the movies. But the playlists, they somehow think—and this is mostly coming from young people like you—somehow y’all think you invented rock ’n’ roll, you invented hip-hop. And so the fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible, people seem to think, ‘Well, he must have had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut.’ No, man. It’s on my iPad right now. ”

— Barack Obama

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Cleveland Officials to Honor Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with Street Naming Ceremony

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

By: Adonis Armstrong

Earlier this week, it was announced that the iconic hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will be honored in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, through an official street naming ceremony, thereby immortalizing their legacy.

According to Cleveland News 5, city leaders have scheduled a forthcoming tribute event on August 11th from noon to 2 p.m. local time. This event aims to honor Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, and Wish Bone by renaming the intersection of East 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue as "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Way." Following a petition created by the group's supporters over a year ago, officials have now reached an agreement, acknowledging that the time has come for this recognition.

One of the Cleveland residents who initiated the petition is Felicia C. Haney, the proprietor of Beach Street Publicity. “There’s nothing here that pays homage to that or to the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony,” she explained her motivation during her conversation with the outlet behind taking action and implementing her plan. Ward 10 Councilman Anthony Hairston, along with the support of the Spread the Love Foundation, the St. Luke's Foundation, and the Famicos Foundation, is endorsing the street renaming, which will be sponsored by the city.

“Growing up on that street was crazy,” following the announcement, Krayzie Bone reminisced about it during his conversation with Rock the Bells. “We had many, many adventures on that street. We got in so much trouble. Our street was 99th and St. Clair, but we renamed our street because of the two nines — the 99 — we called it ‘Double Glock.’ I remember we shot the streetlights out on the street, so the police would no longer ride down it. At night, they would only come to the corner of the street, shine their lights down there and keep driving past. They wouldn’t come down the street. Every time they would have somebody fix the light, we’d take it right back out with either a BB gun or a little .22 rifle.”

Krazyie Bone continued by saying, “Everything really did birth who we really were in that era. We had started rapping together back in junior high school, then it carried over to high school until we got out of school. When we [got] out of school that’s when all of us were on 99th. We was definitely focused on our music around the time we was on 99th for sure.”

On August 11th, which marks Hip-Hop's official 50th birthday, everything will come full circle. After the street naming ceremony, Bone Thugs is set to deliver a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the same evening. The next day, August 12th, Bone Thugs will take the stage at Sam Miller Park for the Glenville Festival, followed by joining LL COOL J's The F.O.R.C.E. Tour at the Rocket Mortgage Field House, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Z-Trip, and other notable Hip-Hop artists.

Bone Thugs continues to hold a unique distinction as one of the only groups that collaborated with iconic artists like 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Eazy-E, and Big Pun during their lifetimes.

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Tupac Shakur Receives His Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Tupac Shakur

By: Gentel Sharrie

It was a great day in Hollywood as family, friends, and fans came together to honor the legend Tupac Shakur for getting a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tupac’s sister Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur accepted the accepted the honor and recognition on behalf of her brother saying "It fills my heart with honor to stand here today representing the Shakur family,'' she said. "Tupac knew deep down that he was always meant for something great. And as his little sister, I had the privilege to watch that greatness unfold.''

Tupac was a multi-talented rapper, actor, and activist. He was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, New York City. Tupac began his career as a rapper in the late 1980s and gained prominence in the early 1990s. He released several successful albums, including "2Pacalypse Now" (1991), "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..." (1993), "Me Against the World" (1995), and "All Eyez on Me" (1996), which is considered his magnum opus. His music often addressed social and political issues, and he was known for his introspective and thoughtful lyrics.

Aside from his music career, Tupac also pursued acting and appeared in films such as "Juice" (1992), "Poetic Justice" (1993), and "Gridlock'd" (1997). He was known for his charismatic presence and ability to captivate audiences both on and off the stage.

Tupac's life was tragically cut short when he was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. He was only 25 years old at the time of his death. The circumstances surrounding his murder remain unsolved, and there have been many theories and speculation about the events leading up to his death.

Despite his untimely demise, Tupac's legacy continues to endure. His music continues to inspire and resonate with fans around the world. He has sold millions of records posthumously and has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. Tupac's impact on hip-hop culture and his influence on subsequent generations of artists cannot be overstated.

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Tupac Set to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

By: Adonis Armstrong

Tupac Shakur, one of the most influential rappers of all time is set to receive a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame dedicated to the memory of the late great hip hop icon. 2Pac will be the recipient of the 2,758th star on the Walk of Fame, born in Harlem, New York, whose profound impact on the hip hop industry, notably the West Coast scene, remains undeniable.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce made a significant announcement regarding the posthumous honor for the rapper, as stated in a press release shared with The LA Times on Wednesday May 31st. Set to take place on June 7, the display of Tupac Shakur's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be a emotional tribute, taking place just a little over a week before what would have been his 52nd birthday on June 16.

Starting at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Shakur studied a diverse range of disciplines, including acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet. In the initial stages of his career, Shakur adopted the name MC New York before later transitioning to the iconic moniker 2Pac while being a part of the rap group Digital Underground.

Shakur started out as a background dancer/roadie for Digital Underground in the early 90s. He finally got a chance to grace the mic on a worldwide stage when he was offered to be feature on Digital Underground’s “Same Song,” from the movie Nothing But Trouble. He also made a appearance in the movie as well.

After gaining some attention from “Same Song” Tupac showed his versatility by portraying one of the most rememberable characters Bishop in the movie Juice. During his time filming he was working on his debut album 2Pacalypse Now, which generated both critical acclaim and controversy upon its release. Some praised Tupac's lyricism and social commentary, while others criticized the album for its explicit language and confrontational approach. Nevertheless, it laid the foundation for Tupac's subsequent albums and established him as a significant voice in hip-hop.

Afterward, he proceeded to release three additional albums before his tragic death at the age of 25. Each of these albums achieved notable success on the Billboard 200, with Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me reaching the top of the chart. In the wake of his passing, Shakur's mother established Amaru Entertainment, in collaboration with Interscope Records, leading to the release of six posthumous studio albums.

In 2017, Pac achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first solo hip-hop artist to be honored with induction into the esteemed Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Shakur showcased his acting skills through more notable performances in films such as Poetic Justice, Above The Rim, Gridlock'd, and Gang Related.

The ceremony for the unveiling of the Walk of Fame star will be conducted by renowned L.A. radio host Big Boy, with notable speakers such as director Allen Hughes (known for the Hulu documentary series Dear Mama), writer Jamal Joseph, and Tupac's sister Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur, who will graciously accept the star on his behalf.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony is scheduled to take place at 6212 Hollywood Blvd. on June 7 at 10:30 a.m. and will be live streamed on the official Walk of Fame YouTube page.

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Oakland is Honoring Tupac Shakur with a Street

Tupac Shakur poses for a photoshoot for the movie ‘Juice’.

By: Adonis Armstrong

During the time he resided in the Bay Area, Tupac Shakur created his powerful debut studio album 2Pacalypse Now, solidifying his position as a prominent West Coast rapper. Shakur acknowledged Oakland as the source of his inspiration and credited the city for honing his skills in the "Game." I believe everyone should understand the “Game,” either you have it or you don't.

The City Council is set to vote on Tuesday for the renaming a piece of MacArthur Boulevard, stretching from Grand Avenue to Van Buren Avenue, as Tupac Shakur Way. This item has been included in the consent agenda, indicating that it will be voted on alongside other matters without further conversation. In the past, Oakland has renamed streets to honor respected figures such as Peter Van Kleef, Huey P. Newton, Dorothy King, and Too Short, highlighting the city's recognition of admired artists, activists, and community leaders.

Born in 1971 as Lesane Parish Crooks in Harlem, New York, 2pac’s parents, Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland, were devoted members of the Black Panther Party. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, and Marin City, California, it was in Oakland where 2Pac career gained momentum as he connected with the hip-hop collective Digital Underground. He first started working as a roadie and backup dancer before working on his own rap career, which ultimately led to the release of his own records that continue to have a great impact today.

Oakland has previously paid tribute to 2Pac on multiple occasions. In 2016, city officials designated June 16 as Tupac Shakur Day. Before that, the community has celebrated Shakur's everlasting legacy through various gatherings, such as a commemorative event in 2012 that marked what would have been his 41st birthday.

“Tupac Shakur’s legacy will continue through his contributions in art and social outreach, through his family and fans, touching countless lives of children and elders over the years while alive and after his death, taken too young by gun violence,” stated by Councilmember Carroll Fife.

It’s only right I leave ya’ll with some “Words of Wisdom” from 2Pacalypse Now.

Words Of Wisdom - 2Pac

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