Entertainment

The Bad Boy Family Reunion Stops In Oakland

Published

9 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.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 – 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

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Arts and Culture

Book Review: Books on Black History and Black Life for Kids

For the youngest reader, “As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons” by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Magination Press, $18.99) is a book for young Black boys and for their mothers. It’s a hope inside a prayer that the world treats a child gently, and it could make a great baby shower gift.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo of Black History Month book covers by Terri Schlichenmeyer.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Authors: Various, Copyright: c. 2025, 2026, Publishers: Various, SRPs: $17.99-$18.99, Page Counts: Various,

Everybody in your family has stories to share.

Your parents have told you some, no doubt. Your grandparents have offered a few, too, and aunties and uncles have spun some good tales. But there’s so much more to know, so grab one of these great books and learn about Black History and Black life.

For the youngest reader, “As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons” by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Magination Press, $18.99) is a book for young Black boys and for their mothers. It’s a hope inside a prayer that the world treats a child gently, and it could make a great baby shower gift.

If someone said you couldn’t do something that you were clearly able to do, would you fight to do it anyhow? In the new book, “Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame” by Tami Charles, illustrated by Meredith Lucius (Charlesbridge, $17.99), a young girl in the Jim Crow South is told that she can’t dance because of the color of her skin.

She didn’t listen, though, and neither did her mother, who took her daughter to Mexico, where the girl soared! This is an inspiration for any 5-to-7-year-old; be sure to check out the back-of-the-book information, if you’re an adult fan.

Do you often hear your elders say things that sound like lessons? They might be, so “Where There is Love: A Story of African Proverbs” by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Leticia Moreno (Penguin Workshop, $18.99) is a book you’ll like. It’s a quick-to-read collection of short proverbs that you can say every day. Kids ages 4-to-6 will easily remember what they find in this book; again, look in the back for more information.

Surely, you love your neighborhood, which is why the tale inside “Main Street: A Community Story about Redlining” by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Penguin Kokila, $18.99) is a book for you.

Olivia’s neighborhood is having a block party, but she’s sad when no one shows up. That’s when she learns that “the government” is discriminating against the people and businesses near where she lives. So, what can she and her neighbors do? The answer might inspire 6-to-8-year-old kids to stand up to wrongs they see, and to help make their neighborhoods stronger and safer.

And finally, if a kid wants a book, where can they go to find it? In “I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy” by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam (Random House, $18.99) is a good introduction to the best of what a library has to offer. The freedom to walk into a library and borrow a book is the theme here, as is the sheer happiness of being welcomed, no matter who you are. This is an easy book for kids as young as two and as old as five to enjoy.

On that note, if you want more, head to that library, or a nearby bookstore. They’ll be glad to see you. They’ve got stories to share.