The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is mostly filled with musicians your dad loved. It hits differently, though, when they start inducting the people who made YOUR music, and the stuff you loved growing up. That’s the case more than ever with this year’s nominated artists, with likely inclusions Jay-Z and the dad-rocking Foo Fighters are leading the way.

The nominations were announced this month by the Rock HOF, with a pretty wide-ranging group of artists hoping to leap the final hurdle to inclusion. There were some older legends, overlooked in the past but finally getting their due, like Dionna Warwick, Carole King, and Tina Turner.

But Jay-Z and the Foo Fighters are first-timers on the ballot, both eligible for the first time. Which means…we are old. Because they are old. Artists aren’t eligible until 25 years after their debut.

While there are always surprises and snubs, and plenty of debate, both are seen as pretty much locks for the R-HOF. It will be a second inclusion for Dave Grohl, King of Dad Rock, as he is already in with Nirvana.

It’s that time again: The ballot for the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class is here and it features Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, Iron Maiden, and Carole King https://t.co/y9HUyn087r pic.twitter.com/pB7aofLinI

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 10, 2021

Jay-Z will become only the third(!) rapper in the Hall (I suppose it is technically the “rock and roll” Hall of Fame, although it’s definitely now just the “music” Hall of Fame). He will be the first rapper to be at his induction though, as both the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac were shown love posthumously.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said it was the most diverse class of nominees since 1996, and that they have all left their mark on music.

“This remarkable ballot reflects the diversity and depth of the artists and music the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates,” Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes says in a statement. “These nominees have left an indelible impact on the sonic landscape of the world and influenced countless artists that have followed them.”

But really, Jay-Z and the Foo Fighters have been around for so dang long, they are going to be in the Hall of Fame. Which makes a lot of us feel older than we thought we were.

In the first bit of positive news for hip hop legend, Dr. Dre has been released from the hospital after a stay in the ICU for a brain aneurysm. Things looked scary for Dre after he was rushed to the hospital, and brain aneurysms have a high rate of death and permanent neurological impairments. Incredibly, doctors think he will have a full recovery, according to sources close to the family speaking to TMZ.

While he has been discharged, doctors don’t know what the cause is, so he’s being monitored by health professionals 24/7 at home. The iconic producer has had a rough few months, as his LA home was targeted by burglars after he went to the hospital, and four people were arrested attempting to get into his home. He’s also been going through a contentious divorce.

Not long after he was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he shared an Instagram post saying:

“Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes. I’m doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dr. Dre (@drdre)

Ice T actually broke the news about Dre’s return home, sharing on Twitter that he just FaceTimed with Dr. Dre, saying “he just made it home, safe and looking good.”

Update: Just FaceTimed with @drdre He just made it home. Safe and looking good.

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) January 15, 2021

2020 hasn’t provided us with a lot of good news. It’s been a pretty consistent shit show. Movies we were anticipating got moved, concerts we would have loved to have gone to got canceled, restaurants and bars were completely closed for much of the year.

But we have had a few decent developments in the entertainment world, from cool castings to cool trailers to cool movies that landed on TVs before we expected them to. And now there’s news of a new album from an old favorite or two.

Dr. Dre’s latest LP won’t come out in 2020, but learning that it’s complete, and seems to feature his protege Eminem, counts as a win for this terrible year.

Detroit rapper Page Kennedy has the inside scoop, and he let it loose on Twitter, tweeting, “This Dr. Dre album sounding [fire emojis]” he wrote. “Hope y’all get to hear.”

This Dr. Dre album sounding 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Hope y’all get to hear 😈

— Page Kennedy (@PageKennedy) November 17, 2020

And then, when another person asked about Eminem’s next album, Kennedy dropped more news:

“Wait, also need to know when is Em dropping his…please,” a fan wrote, to which Kennedy replied: “Well he def on this one lol.”

Well he def on this one lol.

— Page Kennedy (@PageKennedy) November 17, 2020

No date yet on when Dre’s follow-up to 2015’s Compton will drop, but these hints from Kennedy bode well for fans of Dre, Eminem, and former presidential candidate Kanye West, who tweeted earlier this year that Eminem is actually featured on the album’s remix of one of his tracks was on the album.

“Eminem Thank you for rapping on the Dr. Dre remix of my daughter’s favorite song of mine USE THIS GOSPEL,” tweeted West.

Rap fans have something to be thankful for this holiday season. Hopefully, we get the actual album before Easter!

Sadly, the roller coaster ride of parenting often causes us to lose touch with quality music. We’re too busy. We’re too tired. We’re fine with listening to Raffi’s greatest hits because the kids stay quiet in the car. We’ve got the Paw Patrol theme stuck in our head. Heck, Baby Shark recently became the most played YouTube video ever with 7 billion plays. We must remain vigilant and keep our inner DJs alive. We must replace “Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo” with quality lyrics as often as possible.

Here’s a list of wonderful songs about fatherhood to help you wage a war against that Peppa Pig theme song you can’t shake.

1. Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

Far and away the best pop song ever written about the profound joy of seeing your newborn kid for the first time. Catchy as hell, and a testament to both the daddy-daughter relationship and how unparalleled Stevie Wonder’s talent is.

Best lyrics:
Isn’t she pretty?
Truly the angel’s best
Boy, I’m so happy
We have been heaven blessed

2. Show Me The Good Life by Blu & Exile

One of the best tracks from one of the best hip hop albums this side of the millennium. The track covers a lot, from Blu dealing with an unexpected pregnancy to Aloe Blacc running down a list of things he’d wished his dad told him. Doesn’t hurt that the beat is also fresh as hell.

Best lyric:
Trying to hit reset knee deep in debt
Trying to figure how to feed a mouth that ain’t got teeth yet

3. Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Owl City

If you dug “Fireflies” back in 10th grade, you’re sure to dig this sweet and melodic tune about a boy simply revering his dad. The singer celebrates his father’s golden heart, his love of rock ‘n’ roll, and his ability to fix anything.

Best lyric:
He built me a house in the arms of a tree
He taught me to drive and to fight and to dream
When he looks in my eyes, I hope he can see that
My dad’s a hero to me

4. Yesterday by Atmosphere

If the jovial piano beat doesn’t hook you, rapper Slug’s introspective lyrics about his late father, with whom he’s still trying to make amends. Slug also alludes to his own struggles with fatherhood, and his aim to be a better dad than the one he had.

Best lyric:
A whole house full of dreams and steps
I think you’d be impressed with the pieces I kept
You disappeared, but the history is still here
That’s why I try not to cry over spilt beer

5. Glory by Jay-Z

Outside the Royal Family, Jay-Z and Beyonce’s firstborn was probably history’s most highly publicized childbirth. In this charming song from 2012, produced by The Neptunes, Hov speaks on the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy, his relationship with his dad, and his full intent to spoil Blue Ivy, who’s listed as a guest on the track.

Best lyric:
Get ready for part two
A younger, smarter, faster me
So a pinch of Hov, a whole glass of Bey

6. Joy by Talib Kweli ft. Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)

“Joy” is the perfect name for this track in which Talib Kweli recounts the birth of his son, and then immediately follows it up with a verse about the day he first held his daughter. Backed by an uplifting beat, this is the perfect song about the day you become a dad.

Best lyric:
I’m about to be a father, the sights and sounds,
Seem brighter around me
And for starters, I know I’ma work harder

7. Color Him Father by The Winstons

This is a beautiful, touching song about stepdads. The singer talks about “big and strong” man who lived in his house, smiled a lot, and cared for his mom and younger sister. “I think I’ll color this man father,” he says. No, YOU’RE crying.

Best lyric:
He says education is the thing if you want to compete
Because without it son, life ain’t very sweet
I love this man I don’t know why
Except I’ll need his strength till the day that I die

8. Just The Two of Us

You knew this one was coming. In this track that samples the song of the same name by Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr., Will recaps that pivotal day in the maternity ward, mulls over what it means to be a good dad, and passes along nuggets of fatherly wisdom to his son, Trey. A classic. The Dr. Evil/Mini Me cover is also great.

Best lyric:
Got you home safe, placed you in your basonette
That night I don’t think one wink I slept
As I slipped out my bed, to your crib I crept
Touched your head gently, felt my heart melt

9. Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III

You might recognize this song from the end credits of Knocked Up. It’s an endlessly catchy tune about how much the singer loves his daughter, and will do absolutely anything for her. It’s such a wholesome, affecting ditty, and the perfect soundtrack to any daddy-daughter beach outing.

Best lyric:
Everytime she blinks
She strikes somebody blind
Everything she thinks
Blows her tiny mind

10. Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin

Not many people know this, but Harry Chapin’s timeless ode to his son, Josh, was actually written by his wife, Sandy. He just turned it into music. And that collaborative effort manifest as the single greatest song about the difficulties of parenthood ever written. Few things are as simultaneously tough and exciting as watching your kid grow up, and this song captures it mastefully.

Best lyric:
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw”, I said “Not today
I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s okay”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah”

Remember Lil Nas X?

It wasn’t all that long ago, calendar wise if not mentally, that the rapper was ubiquitous. His “Old Town Road” single – and the countless remixes and covers and collaborations it spawned – dominated social media, and the radio, for months.

In the wake of his success, Lil Nas X was revealed to be a really good guy, visiting children’s hospitals, traveling to elementary schools to perform his hit, donating to charities, and just generally being a positive presence in the world.

And then 2020 hit and positive presences were few and far between. But the cloud may be lifting. A coronavirus vaccine seems to be approaching, the election is all over but the (literal) shouting and the holidays are almost here. As an added bonus, this year’s Christmas season will feature a new single from Lil Nas X, and he’s bringing some friends along for the ride. Including Santa Claus and Michael J Fox!

The teaser trailer for the rapper’s forthcoming single “Holiday” features Lil Nas X traveling back to the old west where he stumbles into a Santa Clause-type scenario in which he takes up the jolly man’s suit, sleigh, and beard before traveling into the future.

Fox makes a quick, complete with his old his Back to the Future III outfit and some solid advice.

Check it out:

It’s always a good time when you travel back to the past. Thrilled to be a part of this! Good luck in the future 😁 ⁦@LilNasX⁩ pic.twitter.com/qQdmV3AoVK

— Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) November 9, 2020

A few weeks ago, a principal in Alabama made a fun video parody of MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This to encourage students and teachers to stay healthy and practice social distancing and proper hygiene when returning to school in the time of COVID. It was goofy and hilarious and clever and went viral immediately.

Now a pair of teachers at Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany, Georgia have stepped up with a video of a song that remixes Jack Harlow’s “What’s Poppin”, welcoming students to the first day of virtual learning. There’s nothing goofy about this one. These women spit pure fire, and they’re backed up by a collection of sick dancers. No pun intended, of course, especially since those dancers are all wearing their masks.

The teachers in the video are Callie Evans and Mrs. Audrianna Williams, and they thought it was a fun way to get their students pumped up about what’s sure to be a difficult start to the school year.

“It gets the kids excited. They like to dance so ‘What’s Poppin’ is just like ‘What’s up y’all ready for virtual learning’ so we wanted to meet them where they were just to get them excited about virtual learning,” Mrs. Callie Evans told WALB News.

Rather than call back to an old-school rap hit, this pair’s take is entirely modern and has more in common with Run the Jewels than parachute pants. The video also showcases the school’s colors, by design.

“We exude school pride, okay. We have a chat saying ‘that green, that gold’. We exude school pride and we truly love our school and that speaks from the video with the girls, the cheerleaders from everyone we really love our school,” Williams said.

The video has over 265000 likes and 70,000 retweets on Twitter alone, and I dare you to watch it without getting excited to do some virtual learning!

Here it is:

Monroe High School teachers in Georgia started the 1st day of virtual school in the most 🔥 way ever pic.twitter.com/tY7PewrKtA

— Mary Wilson (@TheeMaryWilson) August 18, 2020

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Before we hit the complete insanity of peak 2020, the weirdest thing on people’s radar was Netflix’s, Tiger King. The bizarre eight-episode series was viewed by a staggering 34.3 million people within just ten days of its release, and if you’ve seen it, it’s easy to understand why. The absolutely bonkers series stars Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, who are essentially rivals in the world of big cats. Joe Exotic was a decently unstable guy even without the tigers. Throw in the fact that he owned the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park where he kept, bred, and abused, alarming numbers of the big cats, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Here to take down Joe Exotic and protect the safety and well-being of the tigers (though her strange behavior and questionable motives mean she isn’t painted in the best light either) is none other than Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue. The show followed the feud between Baskin and Exotic, with Baskin trying to shut down Joe Exotic’s zoo, and Exotic (along with a good number of viewers) clinging to the idea that Baskin killed her second husband and fed his body to her tigers. Yeah, a lot going on here.

Now that the series is over, Carole Baskin has joined over 30,000 celebrities and pseudocelebrities on Cameo. Cameo is a website where basically anyone with a credit card can order a personalized video greeting from the celebrity of their choice for various sums of money. Well, one Cameo user named Charlotte got more than she ever could have dreamed when Carole Baskin filmed her birthday greeting. Carole could have just said “happy birthday”, thrown in her (extremely weird) signature phrase “hey all you cool cats and kittens!” and been on her way. But no. Instead, we got this. Baskin roped in her third husband Howard, and the duo proceeded to – there’s no gentle way to say this – rap 50 Cent’s “In Da Club”.

The two did what I can only describe as their very best, holding up a bottle of Bacardi and rapping, “Go Charlotte, it’s your birthday. We’re gonna party, like it’s your birthday.”

While the video has been described as “cringeworthy” by many of its millions of viewers, 50 Cent, oddly enough, was all over it. He commented on Instagram, “This song wasn’t music it was magic. It went everywhere in the world then never went away, everyday is somebody’s birthday.”

Every day is somebody’s birthday indeed, 50. Truer words have never been spoken. You can get your very own Cameo from Carole Baskin for the reasonable-ish price of $299, or browse through the seemingly endless others willing to make a video just for you (for a fee, obviously). The viral content basically writes itself.

All dads everywhere know that the front seat of your car is the absolute best place to get some solitude. We love to milk that front seat for all it’s worth. Need to run an errand? No problem. More front seat time. Fellow father, Snoop Dogg, has mastered the art of front seat time with a video that will absolutely make your day. Upon the first watch, it’s merely a famous rapper from the ’90s chilling out to the Frozen soundtrack. But upon repeat viewings, and this absolutely deserves repeat viewings, you start to realize that this video may be the answer to all of our problems. Twitter user, Amy Brown, reposted the video on her account. Take a look:

i would like to talk about this video of snoop dogg listening to the frozen soundtrack in his parked car pic.twitter.com/v46yLAwFwl

— amy brown (@arb) May 13, 2020

Delightful, right? Let’s break it down for further inspection. We open with Snoop’s eyes:

Watchful. Mysterious. What’s in store? He slowly pans up:

Snoop gives us a cold, dead stare, juxtaposing the pleasant vibe of the 2013 Disney classic. Does he hate the song? Or is he just “being?”

He’s into it! He changes expressions as the chorus rolls in. Snoop is feeling this Elsa ballad like nobody’s business.

Snoop breaks the tension. Snoop loves the song. This is the Snoop we know and love. But why, Snoop? Why this song?

I had to come sit in my car and listen to this shit, man. Let it go.

Snoop’s really taking it in now. This is who we all strive to be in the front seat. Once again, and this is the best part of the video, Snoop reiterates his purpose.

I’m just sitting in my car listening to Let it Go.

He can’t believe how good this song is. He is flabbergasted by the sheer power of Idina Menzel’s vocals. And the message? Forget about it. This is the song that snoop, and all of us, truly need right now. Snoop reaches nirvana in this next moment:

Could it be? Has he finally done it? Yes. Snoop has fully…100%…let it go:

After rocking out to the next verse, Snoop reminds us, once again, to let it go. He closes with a truly uplifting message:

We’ll be outside soon.

First of all, wow. What a journey. Thank you, Mr. Dogg. Twitter seems to agree:

like the rest of us, @SnoopDogg is having all the feels. he is not the hero we asked for, nor is he the hero we deserved. but he is: the hero we need. #letitgo #snoopdogg #covid19 #quarantine

— “tiger king” yuetsu ☮️ ❤️ ✌️ 🖖 ☯️ (@yuetsu) May 13, 2020

One could say we’re ALL sittin’ in Snoops car listening to Let It Go pic.twitter.com/HstFA09EFL

— TrAceOfSp♠️des*183cm* (@TraceHargrave) May 13, 2020

Wholesome Snoop is the best Snoop

— bkosh84 (@bkosh84) May 13, 2020

This exchange sums it all up for us:

Yes. And as a grown man, and a father, I’ve never felt more in common with another man on a spiritual level if I’m being totally honest.

— drinking heavily (@JHHerndon3) May 14, 2020

And finally, because sometimes the world is perfect, here is Idina Menzel sitting in her car listening to Drop it Like it’s Hot:

Could have sworn it was drop it like its hard. Learn something new everyday @SnoopDogg pic.twitter.com/3sgqqwrcvo

— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) May 14, 2020

Thank you, Snoop. Thank you world.

Beastie Boys Story, a feature-length doc on the beloved NYC rap group will premiere on Apple TV, and the trailer was recently released. The documentary features interviews with and involvement from surviving members Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond, and sadly can’t include group member Adam “MCA” Yauch, who passed away from cancer in 2012.

The press release states that the doc will “tell you an intimate, personal story of their band and 40 years of friendship in this live documentary experience directed by their longtime friend and collaborator, and loud chewer, filmmaker Spike Jonze.” Jonze is well-known for directing Being John Malkovich and Her, as well as collaborating with the Jackass crew and skate culture, and should be a perfect fit for a doc about the raucous trio that helped usher rap and hip-hop into the mainstream.

Based on this trailer, the documentary will showcase the same thing, as well as the bond the three-bad-brothers-you-know-so-well formed over 30 years of friendship and creativity. It also focuses on their evolution from reckless boys to mature men with more on their minds than simply fighting for their right to party, all while inspiring each other and the world.

The movie hits IMAX on April 2nd and Apple TV on April 24th. Check out the trailer:

I used to think I could talk pretty fast.

Not as fast as the Micro Machines guy, because let’s be serious…but it fast enough to impress my friends. As I got older, speaking quickly stopped being something to brag about (if it ever was). But it seems I may have a chance to dust off the old tongue (gross!) and give it another go, this time in an effort to impress Eminem and win some prizes.

Yes, Oscar-winning songwriter and rapper Eminem, well-known for his tongue-twisting talent and rapid-fire rap delivery, is inviting other aspiring rappers and obnoxious people like me to try and match his verbal dexterity by replicating one of his fastest verses.

There’s this verse in the rapper’s hit song “Godzilla” that he raps so quickly it’s sort of barely a song anymore and just becomes a series of staccato sounds designed to do little more than remind everyone that he can rap really fast. Which, more power to him, he really can! I have no idea what he’s saying – demon? unavoidable? probably something mean about his mom or his ex-wife or Moby? – but he sure says it quickly!

He actually raps 224 words in just 31 seconds, according to Genius.

“Fill ‘em with the venom and eliminate ‘em” @triller #GodzillaChallenge is on. Who can spit it? Reposting + got prizes for my favorites. https://t.co/jWfW83X7P8 pic.twitter.com/jKMpJH7nw7

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) February 25, 2020

Now he wants to hear how quickly his fans can say it too!

Plenty of people stepped up to the plate, impressively:

Excuse me while I OOP #GodzillaChallenge pic.twitter.com/TlOAs3wZgn

— Craig Thompson (@MiniLaddd) February 25, 2020

@EMINEM @Eminem MEEEEEEEE #GODZILLACHALLENGE I MURKED THIS https://t.co/dFLx6bvl2u pic.twitter.com/3tTMEgMgie

— Phillip Mweemba (@PhillipMweemba_) February 25, 2020

This guy added an extra twist to the challenge:

Did it one breath, Im also trying break the guiness world record book I can do about 650 words per minute for a speech record. Ive done “Rapgod” “Tung Twista by Twista” “Worldwide Choppers Sped Up” “Speedom Sped Up” and more. pic.twitter.com/qwyCDC8OMf

— Michael Yeghiazaryan (@MikeFever23) February 25, 2020

Actor Bryan Greenberg nailed this impressive attempt:

Who wants smoke? I just crushed this #godzillachallenge @eminem I’m ready to battle whenever! pic.twitter.com/GbjbK7b4Mk

— Bryan Greenberg (@bryangreenberg) February 25, 2020

This guy was even more realistic about his prospects:

Me :

I’m going to try & sing “Godzilla “ by Eminem.

My lungs :

😂😂 #GodzillaChallenge pic.twitter.com/d6MCncqBMj

— Alex R. (@AlexTheGreatzz) February 25, 2020

Eminem hasn’t announced any winners yet, but I think we all know the truth:

Yo Em!!! Ya manz man Bizmarkie ain’t playing with this Godzilla challenge!!! 😂😂😂 #GodzillaChallenge!!! @BizMarkie getting it done!!! 💯💯💯 @Eminem @RockTheBells pic.twitter.com/YyDYulu2xx

— LLCOOLJ. (@llcoolj) February 28, 2020

When my wife was pregnant with my first son, I made the decision that I wasn’t going to play any of that insipid children’s music in my house. No Kidz Bop, not Raffi, no Baby Shark (even though it didn’t exist yet, I COULD SENSE IT), none of it. I figured why bother with that when there are deep catalogs of great pop music by incredible artists that are perfectly accessible to and appropriate for kids.

I started with The Beatles and it worked like a charm. Among the other artists I was able to get my toddler excited about was The Beastie Boys. Something about their staccato style and frequent in unison yelling really appealed to my loud and energetic 3-year-old, and I have fond memories of singing along to “Fight For Your Fight” and “No Sleep Til Brooklyn.”

I was really proud of myself for pulling it off! Though some stuff I’d rather avoid has slipped through – “Apples and Bananas,” Imagine Dragons – I thought I had really gone above and beyond in the Good Parent wars.

And then I saw this video.

A Toronto family one-upped me in every single way. Not only did they get their kids to appreciate the Beasties, but they also recreated one of their most iconic videos and used it for their holiday card!

Angela Young and her two kids dressed up like the rappers and then filmed themselves re-enacting the Intergalactic video all across their city – at Union Station, in Yonge-Dundas Square, on the subway. It was only intended to be sent to family members for the holidays, but Angela also posted it to YouTube, where it has almost 150,000 views in just a few days.

It’s easy to see why. It’s a convincing recreation, and very very fun, with the kids – and Mom! – perfectly capturing the Beasties’ goofy swagger and fun poses.

Looks like my kids are gonna need to up their game!

There are a lot of reasons you might lose a gig.

Maybe you took a bath in the company sink? Or farted on the job? Maybe you didn’t properly fill out your TPS reports? Or just maybe you are too enthusiastic about your favorite rapper and it’s rubbing people the wrong way?

Okay, so that last one seems a bit far-fetched unless your name is Jerry Foxhoven and you were asked to resign from your role in Iowa’s Department of Human Services. Asked by the governor no less. And why? Well, that’s not exactly clear, but I think my man Jerry went a little too hard with his love for Tupac.

Did I mention that Jerry is a 66-year-old white dude?

It’s the timing of his resignation that is raising eyebrows, seeing as it came a day after he sent an email – to 4300 employees – celebrating Father’s Day and his two-year anniversary at the DHS. Which also happened to be Tupac Shakur’s birthday.

Here is the email 66 year old Jerry Foxhoven sent to his staff, the day he was fired.

He notes 2Pac’s bday is also Father’s day

“Hard to believe he has been gone for almost 23 years”

By all accounts, a kind email pic.twitter.com/ohSxSVpzJL

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) July 17, 2019

Apparently, that email came after Jerry’s Tupac obsession had raised rankles and provoked complaints from coworkers. According to the Associated Press, he was known to send congratulatory emails to colleagues there featured quotes from his favorite rapper, he celebrated his 65th birthday with Tupac-themed cookies, and all in all, he sent over 350 pages of emails that mentioned the West Coast rapper.

Jerry insisted he used the references to keep things light and to inspire his subordinates, but not everyone was a fan. Still, my man was not backing off, and it may just be that his last email was the straw that broke the camel’s back and sent him packing.

The governor has since denied Jerry went out because of his luv for 2pac.

Ok, ok, her spokesman, Pat Garrett, spoke a little more eloquently: “As the governor has said, a lot of factors contributed to the resignation of Jerry Foxhoven. Of course, Tupac was not one of them.

“Governor Reynolds is looking forward to taking [the human services department] in a new direction.”

As for J-Fox (what I can only assume will be his name as a rap artist when he releases his first album), he doesn’t think there’s a connection between the firing and the deceased rapper who inspires him daily.

“I think it’s a coincidence,” Foxhoven told the New York Times.

Whatever the reason, pour one out for Jerry this weekend, a true G who we can only assume also has an enormous THUG LIFE tattoo on his belly.

Around this time of the year, different media outlets start to speculate over what will be the so-called “song of the summer.” This is the phenomenon that left “Despacito” in our heads for the better part of a year and is not to be taken lightly.

But if you’re one of those trying to guess at this year’s summer pop song sensation, you’re a little late to the party.

Old Town Road by newly minted pop star Lil Nas X has been dominating the airwaves and the charts for weeks now (8 straight atop the Billboard Hot 100), and the man behind the viral sensation seems fully committed to keeping it going. Just ask the kids at Lander Elementary School in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

A few weeks ago, Lander’s principal Felicia Evans tagged Lil Nas X in a tweet showcasing her students dancing up a storm to the song at the 5th-grade talent show.

I love my job. We ended our 5th grade talent show today with the whole school dancing and celebrating…together!! #LanderLove???????? @LanderElem @LilNasX ???????????? pic.twitter.com/pzS1id79mu

— Felecia Evans (@EduLeadingLady) May 23, 2019

The rapper noticed the tweet and responded with what seemed like a joke about giving the school a free show.

when they want a free show https://t.co/a0rYdfZZAK

— nope (@LilNasX) May 23, 2019

Except it turns out he wasn’t joking. He and Evans began messaging on Twitter and arranging a surprise show at the school, the two of them keeping it completely under wraps as they did. Even from local media.

“It was completely a secret,” the principal told Buzzfeed. “The day before, the media had contacted me and I said, ‘Unfortunately, we’re not going to make it work.’”

But make it work they did, in about two weeks, delighting the school’s students and resulting in some of the most joyful, hilarious footage you’ll ever see.

why is this video of a sea of elementary school kids going HAM to old town road literally the funniest video i’ve ever seen in my whole life pic.twitter.com/iXItFq50QG

— ari ❿ (@wasteIandbaby) May 30, 2019

After the performance, Lil Nas X lingered for selfies and small talk. Principal Evans still hasn’t recovered.

“Never in million years did I think tagging him on Twitter would result in this,” Evans said.

After good-natured stunts like this, it will be a little less painful to keep hearing Lil Nas X’s song for the next three to thirty months.