Since graduating from UMBC in 2017, Clay Vanderbeek '13 has performed a number of roles for the Annapolis Shakespeare Courtney Celeste Spears '12, a dancer with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, partnered with Baltimore Ravens Tackle Brandon Baltimore School for the Arts Alumna Adena Varner is a teaching artist, playwright, and director. ", A Mondawmin Mall advertisement from the '80s features Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett Smith when they were Baltimore School for the Arts students. When asked if she listens to Shakurs music, she says, Of course I do. And the surprised look on her face suggests a question of her own: Doesnt everyone?. Although there are many theories about what exactly happened to him, one thing is certain: his music will live on. Tupac Shakur, one of the most iconic and influential rappers of all time, went to several different high schools during his teenage years. Contact info . Tupac Shakur, one of the most iconic and influential rappers of all time, went to several different high schools during his teenage years. All Rights Reserved. He would always take it back.". While the other kids sport tight-lipped smiles or teeth-baring say cheese grins, Shakur strikes an altogether different pose. Tupac Shakur, third from right, in the 1988 Baltimore School for the Arts yearbook. Deborah Taylor, then the Pratts young adult services coordinator, organized the contest and remembers Shakur and Smith as very polite boys. I'm using this word as a means to do that.' In her second hour, she will moderate a panel discussion inspired by Tupacs famous hip hop song Dear Mama that will involve Black activist mothers and Black sons discussing the mother-son relationship. He said to me, 'I use this word because it empowers me. Sometimes, theyd hang out at a rec center on Old York Road, but Shakur wasnt into playing basketball or pingpong, because he sucked at sports, all sports, says Smith. Just then, a woman joins the couple. "This persona that you saw, this 'Thug Life,' maybe that was a part of a larger act," Fisher-Harrell said. He befriended the likes of Jada Pinkett (Smith) and others who remain devoted to his memory to this day. Shakur embraced being a theater artist during his two years at BSA, studying the likes of Henrik Ibsen, Sam Shepard, and Shakespeare. . Side by Side. and New York's Bad Boy Records. The Baltimore School for the Arts jazz band. The art school's work is only possible if the foundation can raise additional money. Commentary: Now is the time for poets and prophets in Baltimore. He became a leader here and still has a fervent following. He once wrote, Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? It sounds as if he knew the resilient sidewalks of Baltimore City well. Powell said that one topic came up often, when the recorder was on and off: The brief but formative time a teenage Shakur called a small apartment at 3955 Greenmount Avenue home. Someday, this will be a painting called Shakurspeare, Bastfield quipped. The Greenmount. "He had a real clear, I guess you'd say, revolutionary perspective on the world.". Baltimore, MD Office When asked about this type of musics appeal back in the day, Smith claims much of it was practical, a lesson in song craft: For us, it was all about identifying transitions in songs and how smooth they were.. 21. Aside from Shakur's raw acting potential, Hicken also noticed how attuned the teenager was to injustice and the plights of the underserved, especially poor black communities in Baltimore. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, (BSA), during some of that time period, but . He touched my life with his music and interviews. ", As he did as an adult, Shakur had plenty to say, constantly writing poetry and thoughts in a notebook and engaging in discussions of plays like "King Lear" and "Hamlet.". Shakur and Smiths winning performance opened with Shakur declaring, Yo Enoch Pratt, bust this! and urging Baltimoreans to get library cards. Every student gets a level playing field and a fresh start at BSA. It has always been my firm belief that Tupac was a prophet and a poet. 43813 points 1429 comments. The Reginald Lewis Museum will host a live broadcast of Dr. Kaye Whiteheads radio show regularly featured on Morgan Universitys WEAA (88.9 FM), 2-4 p.m., September 15. "What he said to me then and later was he really needed to be there for his sister.". You dont want to miss this fun BSA tradition! (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun). The Enoch Pratt Free Library, ahead of the curve, sponsored a youth rap contest in November 1985. He then transferred to Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California. Learn about Tupac Shakur on Apple TV. Acting was a part of his spirit. A young heart with an old soul#Baltimore school for the artstupac shakurbaltimore2pacPoetpoetryPoemAfrican american poet For Shakur, BSA where the pursuit of art mattered above all else was a sanctuary. The Baltimore native (and The Good Wife star) Josh Charles, The Wire actor Jamie Hector and The Walking We said goodbye to our school buildinglast March thinking we would be back at it in a few weeks. In 1999, he released his fourth album, Me Against the World. This album was critical and commercial success, making Tupac one of the worlds most well-known rappers. The students at Baltimore School for the Arts are passionate about their art and their communities. In 2006, Ms. Smith donated $1,000,000 to the Baltimore School for the Arts and named the theatre to honor her very dear friend. AlumnusBen Freiburger '95 is one of the writers for the sci-fi drama Half-Life, which Chris Morgan Productions is As hundreds of alumni from all over the country return to the Baltimore School for the Arts this weekend to celebrate Marvin Parks '93 is an American jazz singer who draws inspiration from his mother Zelma (a gospel singer) and the late Dr. Julie Johnson '97 is a dance artist and educator working in the intersections of creative practice, community "Julien Chang '18 couldve been dubbed a teen prodigy with the arrival of his debut album,Jules, on Oct. 11 from Beth Bell '83 began her career as a set dresser in Hollywood. His mouth is open wide, and he seems engaged, not docile or mindlessly compliant. 7 /10. Tupac was in the car, and we dropped him off at a building because he couldn't go to Kings Dominion because he had to go work. At age 13, Shakur moved to Baltimore from New York City in 1984 with his mother, Afeni, and younger sister, Sekyiwa. It didn't take long for him to develop deep appreciations for unfamiliar disciplines. As Smith recounts the story, he walks around The Sound Garden, the now venerable Fells Point record store, and points out some of the nonrap music Shakur enjoyed. Tupac Shakur was born in New York on June 16, 1971 to Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland. This copy is Donald Hicken's, who taught them both. I made alot of friends like, John Cole and Jada Pinkett Smith. People are People debuted on September 24, 2021, as part of the contemporary art institutions 10th anniversary. The 2003 Oscar-nominated documentary Tupac: Resurrection, for instance, ran nearly two hours but devoted less than two minutes to Shakurs life here. Other activities include: the dedication of the park behind Tupacs former Baltimore home by Mayor Brandon Scott and Councilman Mark Conway, 2 p.m., September 14. Justin Bieber performs a cover of Thugz Mansion by 2Pac in 03. They wanted the other one. AFRO endorsements for the 2022 midterm elections, A time to dance: Rev. As part of the park dedication. Tupac Shakur, third from right, in the 1988 Baltimore School for the Arts yearbook. Smith, who graduated from the school in 1989, has asked that the theater, which will be named . BSA is recognized as one of the top five public performing arts high schools in the country and as one of the best high schools in America for its rigorous college preparatory program. At the height of his celebrity, Tupac Shakur chose to give author Kevin Powell some of his most revealing interviews ever from a subdued, introspective conversation while the rapper was incarcerated to resentful provocations against rivals that fueled the escalating East Coast-West Coast rap beef. I don't know how [Shakur] did it, but he somehow convinced my dad that it would be OK to bring down the good record player. In 1995, he released his first solo album, 2Pacalypse Now. All Eyez on Me, which followed this album, will be his next album. His mum Afeni Shakur, a member of the Black Panther Party was out on bail when she was pregnant with him. Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas 24 years ago. This was 15 years ago or more. Source: VIBE (October 1999), Image: Wikimedia. "I honestly believe he was playing a part that he probably was made to play.". Baltimore Rapper Eze Jackson will perform and Wendel Patrick will be our special guest host. Activities will take place on September 17; check the schools website for further details. The Library of Congress added his song, Dear Mama, to the National Recording Registry in 2010. Next door, a couple sitting on the front porch say they know of the houses significancepretty much everyone in the neighborhood does. During the walk home from their restaurant job, Shakur and his friends would sometimes mount Hopkins Plazas outdoor stage and rehearse a late-night set of rap tunes. "Then I auditioned for the Baltimore School of Performing Arts. 8. She graduated from high school in 2013 and is known for her roles in CBSs The Good Wife and Hulus Love, Victor.. Powell said that one topic came up often, when the recorder was on and off: The brief but formative time a teenage Shakur called a small apartment at 3955 Greenmount Avenue home. "Everyone wanted to hear what he had to say. They had lights and it was clean, but it was dark with not a lot of stuff in there., Smiths family and friends razzed him for befriending the raggedy newcomer. Uline Arena Building 07/29 'Voices of Carmen' Features BSA Students, Alumni Voices of Carmen brings a contemporary spin to the iconic opera that is its namesake. Sting? The following materials are needed daily for academic classes. I didn't visit any classrooms, if there are any, but I did spend time in the theater. Because of the Tupacs, many of our youth seem to listen to rappers more than they pay attention to preachers. It was George Balanchines The Nutcracker that first fueled his desire to become a dancer. We were big on that.. Our extensive after-school and Saturday program offers free arts classes to Baltimore City children grades 2-8. Tyler Perry Research Paper 1108 Words | 5 Pages They made tapes that are considered Shakurs first recordingseight songs that remain unreleased. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Ad Choices. You can peruse their photos here. The next morning, it was always back upstairs. Afeni, who passed away in May and was the inspiration behind the song Dear Mama, struggled with substance abuse issues (And even as a crack fiend, mama/You always was a black queen, mama) and with supporting the family (You just working with the scraps you was given/And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving). Set in a high school, this. Powell believes acting was Shakur's "true calling," and had he not gone to California, he would have further honed the craft. "I just remember him growing a lot artistically," E.D.I. He was shot less than a month later in Las Vegas, and later died on Sept. 13, 1996. In the mid-1980s, rap wasnt yet the commercial juggernaut it has becomeit was gaining popularity, but hadnt arrived in the mainstream. The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found. For two years he attended Dunbar High School on the Eastside but transferred to the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he found Shakespeare, dramatic arts, and friendships. Tupac went to the Baltimore School for the Arts. "If Pac would have stayed in Baltimore, he probably would have gone to a school where there was a theater program," Powell said. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith has donated $1 million to her alma mater, the Baltimore School for the Arts, through the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation to support the school's renovation and expansion, the Associated Press reports. ", "I have this very clear memory of his using the N-word all the time. Dont look down. Steve Winwood? In 1988, Shakur's progress came to an abrupt halt. It was really good. He later learned the rhyme wasnt originalit was actually lifted from a Kurtis Blow song Shakur knew from New York, which hadnt made it to Baltimore yet. Shakur also participated in several rap competitions around this time. Following Shakur's death, his legacy grew around the world, and over time, he has become a symbol of perseverance and a voice for the oppressed. Tupac was always conscious of that shit, says Smith. His time here "foreshadowed Tupac Shakur the rapper, foreshadowed Tupac Shakur the amazing [actor]. As an educator, its uplifting to have an opportunity to work with emerging leaders who are currently using their transferrable skills and talents as a catalyst for change throughout the City of Baltimore and beyond. Instead, Shakur is known largely for his indelible, tumultuous rap career and his role in rap's most infamous beef arguably still the genre's darkest moment. His music will live on, and his fans will continue to enjoy it for many years to come. Commemorating Baltimores Tupac on this 25th anniversary of his death, at an early age, is altogether fitting and proper to borrow a phrase from the Gettysburg Address. Music was always playing. [Remember Me] R U Still Down? (Quotes have been edited and condensed for readability.). The Class of 2019 valedictorian, Kara Iwanowski '19, is an exceptional artist and scholar. Mossing, who remembers Shakur DJing dance parties-turned-sleepovers in her parents' Pikesville basement, said Shakur was under pressure to make money, so he bussed tables and washed dishes at an Inner Harbor restaurant. . A Shakespearean actor, Shakur replied, because you have to be the very best in order to do Shakespeare.. *Correction: The name of Tupac Shakur's friend and classmate is Linda-DeniseFisher-Harrell, not Lisa-Denise Fisher-Harrell. Since graduating from UMBC in 2017, Clay Vanderbeek '13 has performed a number of roles for the Annapolis Shakespeare Courtney Celeste Spears '12, a dancer with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, partnered with Baltimore Ravens Tackle Brandon Baltimore School for the Arts Alumna Adena Varner is a teaching artist, playwright, and director. (Handout). We were an international school, and I had kids from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Italy, Germany. Communications and Public Affairs, Events Management Assistant (May-August, 2014). Learn more about supporting local journalism. [Tupac] was always on stage, says Cole in the tribute book. Now, as she prepares She sat alone with her sheet music, silently mouthing the words to My Country Tis of Thee as she twirled a beaded Tyde-CourtneyEdwards '05 created Ballet After Dark to help sexual abuse and domestic violent survivors find Richard White '92 was homeless as a child. The Bridges Programfirst put a viola in the hands of Jafre Chase '19. To learn more about the partnership, click here. "Watching that scene, I thought, 'Wow, there he is. Baltimore School for the Arts seeks to prepare the next generation of the creative workforce by providing inspiring arts and academic training to high school students as well as opportunities in the arts to younger children and the greater community through its TWIGS and community outreach programs. Dr. Frances Toni Draper announces retirement from pastorship at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, 130 years of excellence: AFRO Gala set to kick anniversary celebration into high gear. Our nonprofit news organization is made possible by, Select the type of alerts youd like to receive, Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, Get text messages from The Banner in urgent situations (message and data rates may apply). By Christi Carras Staff Writer. The Baltimore School for the Arts has been changing the lives of young people in Baltimore for decades, and we are excited you are thinking about joining us. "He could just flow. They told kids to stay in school, learn to read, and get all the credits that you need. (Shakurs handwritten verses now reside in the Pratts Special Collections archive, alongside works by H.L. During the six days he was on life support, he reportedly stirred and regained consciousness just oncewhen a girlfriend brought a CD player to the hospital and played him Don McLeans Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).. At Baltimore School for the Arts, Tupac studied acting, jazz, ballet, and poetry. Then I started to have good-luck times. Rap stardom came first, with poignant, storytelling classics like "Dear Mama" and "Brenda's Got a Baby," followed by the highly publicized feud with the Notorious B.I.G. He studied at the Baltimore School for the Arts where he met long-time friend Jada Pinkett Smith. Young Tupac Shakur (Right) With One Of His Friends As they talk, a lean, solidly built man emerges from 3955 and closes the door. Then there was the rapping, the stylized rhyming and nascent music genre that captivated Shakur, and seemed destined to be in his future. The Baltimore School for the Arts' Movement Instructor Maria Broom has had a varied career as a television reporter, Funding for this website was provided by the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, creator of the Baker Artist Portfolios, www.BakerArtist.org, Support for 2021/22 TWIGS is provided by Baltimore City Public Schools, The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, The Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, Clayton Baker Trust, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, The Goldsmith Family Foundation, The Herbert Bearman Foundation, and The Lockhart Vaughan Foundation. The Story of Tupacs Shooting With Police Officers in Atlanta and 2Pacalypse Now 1991 Biography by Sal Manna, August 21, 1991, 1995-12-15 / Rare Photos: 2Pac at Death Row Records Christmas Party, 1990-07-11 Digital Underground with 2Pac, Public Enemys Tour. Tupac played many roles in his youth. And thanks to numerous partnerships with local arts organizations, our students learn from and perform with professionals at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Walters, Center Stage, the Maryland Historical Society, and JHU's film program, to name just a few. And just a few years Logan Paschall '14 will appear as a guest artist with the Huntsville Ballet, dancing the role of Mercutio. We're looking for 8 th and 9 th grade students who want to be part of the next generation of the creative workforce. sade and tupac relationship sade and tupac relationship (No Ratings Yet) . Baltimore, MD 21202, Washington, DC Office Shakur once told Powell his only goal "was to hear my name on the radio one time," he said. It looks like he might be talking to the photographer. He's hip-hop's Bob Marley, a transcendent black icon whose life and art continue to resonate with audiences young and old, rich and poor, American and international, black or not. The Baltimore School for the Arts is honored to be included in this op-ed in the Baltimore Sun discussing all the great Donald Rothman, noted trial attorney and longtime supporter of the Baltimore School for the Arts was known as one in Fresh from the role of Pharus in Choir Boy, Jonathan Burke '08 will be playing the roles of Young Man 5 and Agent in Jaffe Chase '19 overcame numerous challenges on his pathway to college. Emmanuel Leach '21 Voices of Carmenbrings a contemporary spin to the iconic opera that is its namesake. ), Taylor, who still works at the Pratt, recalls all the judges commenting on the same thing: The scrawny kid lit up the room with his rapping. (Shakur maintained that he committed no crime.) Such behavior bewildered his Baltimore friends. This guy is cornballeverything about him is corny, he recalls them saying. The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, was a performing arts center supported through the Shakur Family Foundation. At the height of his celebrity, Tupac Shakur chose to give author Kevin Powell some of his most revealing interviews ever from a subdued, introspective conversation while the rapper was incarcerated to resentful provocations against rivals that fueled the escalating East Coast-West Coast rap beef. Look for her BSA & TWIGS Moses Ingram talks about joining our TWIGS program and her path from BSA for high school to Yale before We said goodbye to our school buildinglast March thinking we would be back at it in a few weeks. Tupac Shakur (left) and actor Tim Roth in a scene from the 1997 film "Gridlock'd. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun). The high school has produced numerous "Presidential Scholars" [3] in the Arts and its students have gone on to attend major conservatories and Ivy League Schools . On September 12, 1986, Tupac is enrolled in the Baltimore School for the Arts. Tupac went to Roland Park Middle School for the eighth grade. On Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was attacked by a drive-by shooter on the Las Vegas Strip, and he passed away Sept. 13. He was a kind and caring person. TWIGS seeks to prepare its students for admission to BSA, and each year between 35-40 percent of the incoming first-year class have been trained through TWIGS. Smiths house was lively, populated by an array of family members including grandparents, his mother, an aunt, and two uncles. Designed to identify students with the potential for a career in the arts, admission to BSA is based solely on an arts audition and interviewno academic criteria are used. This was the Shakur his Baltimore teachers and friends say they did not know. We sat around my kitchen and talked. Smith was the youngest of his group of friends, a self-professed good kid, the freshest kid on the block who had all the latest fashionable clothes and sneakers, thanks to his uncles, who dealt drugs in the neighborhood. It has always been my firm belief that Tupac was a prophet and a poet. The minute he'd look at me, the whole expression on his face would change. Read more and listen to the story at wypr.org, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. He was often accompanied by his close friend, Dana "Mouse" Smith. You know, theater, balletlistening to different types of music. Tupac, 2PacLegacy.Net (2011 - ) #1 Tupac & Makaveli Site & Forum. Donald Hicken, who taughtTupac Shakur acting at the Baltimore School for the Arts in the '80s, owns this poster for Mondawmin Mall, which features. Shakur often spent his lunch break reading in the school library. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He wears an Orioles tank top and cargo shorts with a bucket hat pulled over his eyes. Now he's more than a rapper. Shakur and Smith created Library Rap, which Shakur wrote out in longhand, in black pen, on a piece of lined notebook paper, and he and Smiths group The East-Side Crew entered the contest. "The artist in him would be pleased with that," Hicken said, "but the revolutionary in him would sort of eschew any kind of establishment recognition.". In 1993, he pleaded guilty for assault against another rapper during a concert. Tupac Shakur Commemoration Week in His Beloved Baltimore: Whats Going On? 09/27 Baltimore School for the Arts Celebrates 40th Birthday With Pop-Up Concerts. People often forget that freedom and health are the two things we should cherish the most. . E.D.I. "[The rap persona] was nothing like the person that I knew," said Becky Mossing, his classmate and friend at BSA who now teaches musical theater at the school. Despite the fact that many people are still unaware of his death, there is still some mystery surrounding his death. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun), Mention the name Tupac Shakur to the people who knew him, and you're bound to get some good stories. She lived north of Tupac but he would see that she got home on late school evenings when it was dark. His songs were filled with political and social commentary, and his popularity skyrocketed in no time. Emmanuel Leach '21 Voices of Carmenbrings a contemporary spin to the iconic opera that is its namesake. "Shakur died four months before its release. "But I also think he'd realize his life 25 short years, including that short period in Baltimore had an amazing impact on so many Baltimores around the world.". We look forward to reconnecting with our community. Despite his love of theater, it is unclear whether or not Tupac attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. . Shakur then struck a Shakespearean pose, and Bastfield, an aspiring visual artist and rapper himself, grabbed a pen and paper and started sketching a portrait. Cheryl Waters-Hassan (mother of author Ta-Nehisi Coates), Kimberly M. Armstrong, an area advocate against youth violence and Dr. David Fakunie, co-founder of Discover ME/Recover ME will be among the panelists. That was constant," Mossing said. Thoughts from a Schoolmate and Lifelong Devotee The AFRO knows what its like to endure challenging times. Becky Mossing, former schoolmate and friend of Tupac Shakur at the Baltimore School for the Arts in the 1980s, talks about what he was like as a person andhis talent. I absolutely love the architecture. Washington, DC 20002, And so, Baltimore will honor him with Tupac Shakur Commemoration Week from September 11 to 17 on this 25. anniversary of his death (September 13, 1996) at 25 years of age. Hicken on Shakur returning to Baltimore as his career was taking off: "Whenever he was in the area, he would come and see me. ANew York Times Magazine piece on Kenya noted that vehicles in Nairobi are often adorned with images of Jesus Christ and Tupac Shakur. DMV 48 Men of Power honor boxing great Rahman Ali, Lyric Baltimore encourages, nurtures dreams of Baltimore students through Dream Big Contest, Black artists, athletes and activists come together for 2023 NAACP Image Awards, To Be Equal #9 Crushing student loan debt hinders Black home ownership, feeds racial wealth gap & stalls economic growth, Existing service year programs may provide model for Moore proposal, Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors Officially Granted Ghanaian Citizenship, Damali Rhett Harding Named Acting U.S. The Baltimore Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Awards recognize individuals and institutions that are leading Senior Ebban Dorsey '22 knows her way around the music world, but even for her, playing and meeting the jazz legend was Watch the interviews with Principal Roz, dancer Makayla Williams '22, and acting alum Tracie Thoms '93 here. So he said, 'If you're a kid growing up, and you're taking a look at those two situations, who do you think the winners are?' "The empathy, the mimetic instinct, the emotional connection, the vulnerability," Hicken said. Media maven. We offer programs in dance, film, music, stage design and production, theatre, and the visual arts. Kurt Schmoke mentioned him to me later, that this kid from BSA stood up and talked about how, in his neighborhood, the people who were trying to keep their families together and going to church on Sundays didn't have glass in their windows, and the guys who were selling drugs were driving around in Mercedes, wearing thousand-dollar suits and Rolex watches. You could see him disappear into a role.". He was found guilty of assaulting movie director Allen Hughes in 1994 after bragging about it on MTV. Dana Smith sits in the front row, to Shakurs left. Hicken offered to find him a host family so he could graduate from BSA, but Shakur said he couldnt abandon his family. 1140 3rd St., 2nd Flr, NE June 16, 2021 9:57 AM PT. There's the actor,'" Hicken said. I thought it was a really interesting perspective on a young kid looking at the situation in those neighborhoods.". Yes, indeed, says Smith. Diamond claims Dear Mama as a favorite song, and hums a lineEverything will be alright if ya hold onbut goes no further. Powell said that one topic came up often, when the recorder was on and off: The brief but formative time a teenage Shakur called a small apartment at 3955 Greenmount Ave. home. The Baltimore Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Awards recognize individuals and institutions that are leading Senior Ebban Dorsey '22 knows her way around the music world, but even for her, playing and meeting the jazz legend was Watch the interviews with Principal Roz, dancer Makayla Williams '22, and acting alum Tracie Thoms '93 here. "When he wasn't in school, he worked a lot of nights and weekends," Mossing said. Cheryl Waters-Hassan (mother of author Ta-Nehisi Coates), Kimberly M. Armstrong, an area advocate against youth violence and Dr. David Fakunie, co-founder of Discover ME/Recover ME will be among the panelists. That years photo for Mrs. Gees class shows him in the second row, near the center. This group included notable rappers like Dr. Dre and Suge Knight. (Afeni died in May in California at age 69.) University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) May 2014 - Aug 20144 months. "I think he'd be blown away," Powell said of the induction. Joinhere! A Mondawmin Mall advertisement from the '80s features Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett Smith when they were Baltimore School for the Arts students. He slept in a small bedroom, while his mother and little sister slept in the dining room Afeni had converted into a bedroom. (Barbara Haddock Taylor / Baltimore Sun). All your Baltimore food news is here. (Afeni died in May in California at age 69. Johns Hopkins University created a scholarship last month for a preacher who organized and advocated unceasingly for social and economic justice; Bishop Douglas Miles.