Tag: Barak Obama

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Vince Staples’s Nod to Obama’s Summer Playlist

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Panorama

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, released his annual summer playlist and Vince Staples took notice immediately. On Tuesday, July 26, Obama released his annual summer playlist on social media. Additionally, this playlist featured a lot of hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples. However, the playlist also included artists from other genres like Prince. Clearly, the former president enjoys a variety of different genres when it comes to his taste in music. This playlist caught the attention of many people including artists who made the list like Vince Staples. Obama has a reputation for supporting the hip-hop community and the culture behind it. 

“Every year, I get excited to share my summer playlist because I learn about so many new artists from your replies – it’s an example of how music really can bring us all together,” Obama’s caption said. “Here’s what I’ve been listening to this summer. What songs would you add?” Clearly, Obama goes through the comments of his post to find new artists just like everyone online. You can see the full playlist in the tweet below. 

Vince Staples’s Response to Obama

The range in the summer playlist is vast from Rakim’s “When I B On The Mic” to “Dancing In The Dark” by Bruce Springsteen and “Ojitos Lindos” by Bad Bunny and Bomba Estéreo. The 60-year-old retired politician proves that he loves rap just as much as he loves Al Green or Aretha Franklin. 

Vince Staples’s song “Magic” with DJ Mustard landed at No. 43 on the list and the artist couldn’t help but give a nod to the former president. Just an hour after Obama posted his playlist on Twitter, the Long Beach native responded. Staples said “Dead homies Barack” which is a reference to an ad-lib Staples used in the song. Staples even joked around saying “If I convince Obama to get put on the set y’all gon be mad?”

Written by Partick Rodriguez | Twitter |

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Lupe Fiasco 15 Years In And Still Working

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 18: Lupe Fiasco performs as part of the benefit concert, 'Power To The People' at Coliseo Jose M. Agrelot on March 18, 2018 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Gladys Vega/Getty Images)

Grammy award-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco has been around for a while.  He won a Grammy for his hit “Daydreamin “with Jill Scott in 2006.  The Chicagoan is now 40 years old as he first came on the scene in the early 2000s with stamp of approvals from Jay-Z and Ye.  His first two albums were met with high praise, “Food & Liquor” and “The Cool”.  He dropped “Lasers” in 2011 and that topped the Billboard charts that year.  But around that time, Lupe had a few obstacles to deal with.

He wasn’t seeing eye to eye with his label, Atlantic Records.  He also made comments about former President Barack Obama as he claimed President Obama was the “biggest terrorist”.  Both instances did not work out in Lupe’s favor as his name became tarnished around the industry.   Although, he continued to drop music eventually going independent.

Drill Music in Zion

Fast forward to 2022 and Lupe has found himself teaching rap at the prominent Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The course starts this fall and will involve computing and activism as well.  Before he heads to class, he decided to drop us off an album.  “Drill Music in Zion” was released a few weeks ago and he created the project in only 3 days!  It is being received well, while Lupe continues to work day in and day out.

He spends most of the days dealing with the boring part of rap such as answering emails, phone calls, and following agendas.  This is the business part that he refers to this as scams and scandals.  Originally, Lupe wasn’t going to drop an album, but his label co-owner asked him to.  The album title came to Lupe in a freestyle, and he instantly knew that was going to be the title.  In an interview with XXL, Lupe explained that the album is not about Drill music or Chicago.

“It’s not so much necessarily about Chicago. It’s just the title and it’s how does that title guide certain things?”, said Lupe.

Reality of Drill Music

One thing about Drill music though, Lupe wished it was just entertainment.  The rappers are telling the truth through the Drill music and people all over the world are singing and dancing to it.  He references Pop Smoke, for example.  He was killed as being a part of that type of music and Lupe is not entertained by that.  It’s 2022 and Lupe has been in the game for 15 years now, he feels he doesn’t have a role in hip-hop anymore.  Every now and then, he just wants to pop up and deliver his lyricism to the current generation.

Written by: Brandon Simmons