Entertainment

The Bad Boy Family Reunion Stops In Oakland

Published

8 years ago

September 30, 2016

Oakland, CA – Who needs an opening act when Puff Daddy is involved? Sean “Puffy” Combs, head honcho of Bay Boy Entertainment took us down memory lane. He brought many of the classic hits from the early 90’s. The Bad Boy Family Reunion tour was just that, a family affair.

A video montage of Puffy’s first interview on his rise to stardom from top A&R rep to a top Executive at Bay Boy Records. The video also featured classic videos over the years along with clips of Notorious B.I.G. Once the lights went out, Puffy rose from underneath the stage donned in all black with five big gold chains.

The famous producer always knew how to put on a show and tonight was no different when Ma$e, Faith, Lil Kim, Total, 112, The Lox, French Montana and a special guest took the stage. The sellout crowd rose to their feet when “Victory” video featuring Busta Rhymes came over the jumbotron.

Puffy followed with hits like “Bad Boy” and “I Get Money”. But when Ma$e came out to the top chart stopping hit “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” the crowd went crazy!!! Doing his favorite dance that he coined in many of his videos Ma$e kept the crowd going to his next hit “Been Around The World”.

112 came out after Ma$e and sung three of their top hits, “Peaches N Cream and Dance With Me” to name a few. It was almost like being back in 1996! Total now all grown up brought the fans to their feet. Oh the memories… “Kissing You” and “No One Else” were favorites among the crowd.

The Lox followed with a bevy of hip hop hits like “We Gon Make It”. While Carl Thomas slowed things down with a few of his ballads like “Emotional and ‘Wish”. But the first lady of Bad Boy had the crowd singing her songs before she opened he mouth. Faith Evans first album is still in my rotation.

Talk about crowd participation “You Used To Love Me” and “Soon As I Get Home” was sung acapella by the crowd while Faith sung backup. French Montana turned things up with an old classic “Ain’t Worried Bout Nothin” and his current hit “All The Way Up.” Miguel was the special guest and he didn’t disappoint singing his hit”Adore”.

Puffy grew his empire with talented artists all from New York. He gained his respect in the music industry as one of the best A&R reps learning the business behind Hip Hop guru Russell Simmons. Two decades of music and management, Puffy’s 24 years of hard work paid off. Which is why he wants to thank the fans with a 24-city tour.

Now he leaves his mark with the younger generation, which includes his two sons. Christian Combs debuted his new song while his brother Justin Combs joined him with various dance moves. Puffy watched with a smile before all of the artists joined him on stage to pay tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. An interview clip on how the East coast vs West coast rivalry started between him and the late Tupac Shakur appeared on the jumbotron.

Then came the finale, a series of songs to follow Biggie’s tribute. “Player’s Anthem” “All About The Benjamins” and “Mo Money Mo Problems”. Together the artists locked arms and sung ‘I’ll Be Missing You” and the crowd joined in. The Bad Boy Reunion Tour is was very entertaining, non-stop music, dancing and amazing vocals.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Arts and Culture

Promise Marks Performs Songs of Etta James in One-Woman Show, “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley

“The (show) is a fictional story about a character named Etta, aka Lady Peaches,” said Marks. “She falls in love with Johnny Rhythm, leader of the Rhythm Players Band and headliners of Madam G’s Glitta Lounge.” Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo Courtesy Of Promise Marks.

Special to the Post

It was “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Group Theater in Berkeley on Saturday night, Dec. 7. The one-woman musical based on the music of Etta James featured the multi-talented singer Promise Marks

Marks, who wrote and directed the musical, also owns PM Productions.

Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

In between her soulful songs, Marks narrated impactful moments of the love story and journey of blues and forgiveness.

Marks sultry voice carried the audience back to an era that echoed with the power of Black music and a time of great change.

Marks said James shared love for the Black community by singing at gatherings during the Civil Rights Movement uplifting the people.

“She spoke to the movement, spoke to the people, and let her music speak for itself,” Marks said.

Backing the musical’s monologues, images and videos of Etta James are projected for the audience to view. While the production is fictional, Marks infused script with the unfairness and heartbreak James experienced while performing.

Marks performed gospel artist Donnie McClurkin’s “We Fall Down” as she narrated acts of reconciliation and forgiveness among the characters at Johnny Rhythm’s deathbed.

Marks, who regularly sings for the Miss America Pageant, was asked to perform as Etta James last year. “(At the event) a lady yelled out to me: ‘You’re Etta James!’ And then the audience went crazy. I said to myself, ‘I may have something here,’” she said.

Within 12 months, Marks created the musical production, which featured a dozen songs honoring “the great legacy of Etta James,” she said.

Marks says she was saddened to see how Etta James was often judged by the struggles in her life and wanted to offer attendees a more layered view.

“Etta’s life was so big. I want people to know that she was more than her drug addiction,” said Marks. “We can’t make that her legacy. Her catalog is too amazing. You can’t just be that and have the catalog that she (created). I don’t want the addiction to be the focus: I want her music, her element, her sassiness, and what she brought to be the focus – her woman-ness, that she was strong, and I wanted to honor that.”

Set Designer Nora Burnette says she created the set segments to mirror James’ life story. A set designer for BRG since 2016, she explained that her process of researching the scenario and the character serve as her inspiration for her design.

“I try to design a set as close to real life as possible so that the actress can deliver the performance sincerely,” said Burnette. “By creating the right setting, it helps the actors release the true essence of a character.”

The set brought the story to life and absolutely floored Marks. “Once Promise (Marks) saw the actual set, she understood my vision: ‘Wow, you get me. You get it,'” Marks told the designer.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins, Etta James, began her career in 1954 and gained fame with hits such “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She faced a number of personal problems, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album “Seven Year Itch.”

Co-producer and BRG Development Director, Sean Vaughn Scott, works with Overseer Production. According to producer Pamela Spikes, “Marks talent truly does Etta’s life story justice.”

Pam Jacobs of Hercules, a friend of Marks’ mom, Jackie Smith, said, Marks “was fabulous and sang all of those songs flawlessly.”

“I’m so proud of my daughter,” said Smith.

Marks, who has served as an instructor for BRG, will return on Feb. 21- 23 for an encore run of the musical.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the BRG (Black Repertory Group) family and continue our executive director Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott’s vision for the Black Repertory Group theater,” said Marks.

The Black Repertory Group Theatre is located at 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703. For information, visit: BlackRepertoryGroup.com