Joseph Anthony "Amp" Fiddler, a revered Detroit icon who collaborated with Prince, Parliament Funkadelic and others, now has a street named after him.

The big picture: The city is commemorating the legacy of Fiddler, a musician and producer across jazz, funk, soul, rock and hip-hop who mentored local legend J Dilla.

• He died in 2023 from cancer at age 65.

The latest: Detroit unveiled Amp Fiddler Avenue on Friday at 7 Mile and Revere Ave. in Conant Gardens, where Fiddler grew up and began his career. May 16, the musician's birthday, is now Amp Fiddler Day.

• The alternatingly somber and joyful celebration starred musicians who knew Fiddler, government officials including U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, academics and Fiddler's wife, Tombi Stewart-Fiddler.

What they're saying: "(Fiddler was) for many of us the very pulse of the block, the very pulse of Detroit," music media personality Chris Campbell said at the event.

• "Artists from all around the world came to his door. They left better, whether it was making beats, producing," Campbell said. "Amp gave you his time, he gave you his knowledge. But most of all, Amp gave you his love."

Flashback: Fiddler started learning the piano as a kid and studied music in high school and college, said council member Scott Benson, a P-Funk fan who read a short biography of Fiddler's life during the event.

• Fiddler worked with greats, as well as conducting his own solo career — one speaker shouted out his song "Possibilities."
• He was known for his personal style, once landing a gig off the street because he was recognized for it, per the Metro Times.
• Mentoring was a quintessential part of his life, Benson said. Fiddler nurtured the careers of many local artists who went on to success, like Waajeed and Urban Art Orchestra's De'Sean Jones.
• Fiddler taught J Dilla how to use an MPC, a key piece of equipment in hip-hop and electronic music. And he made an introduction that helped launch J Dilla's career — to Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest.

What's next: Expect a tribute version of Fiddler's album "Waltz of a Ghetto Fly" to come out this year, Stewart-Fiddler said.

• Plus, Wayne State's Amp Fiddler gallery exhibition opens May 23 and runs through Sept. 20.

Share this story ... check out Metro Times' insightful profile of Fiddler

Angela Rye isn't waiting on Washington. She's betting on — and investing in — the people.

Why it matters: Led by Rye and fueled by organizers and national partners, the 10-city State of the People Power Tour aims to meet urgent needs while building lasting infrastructure in Black communities.

• It's coming to Detroit on Wednesday and Thursday.

The big picture: A former Congressional Black Caucus adviser and co-host of Native Land Pod, Rye studied past efforts like the 1972 National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana and The Million Man March — not just for inspiration, but to understand why so many agendas faded, and how to build something that lasts.

• "We keep doing this… but this time, we're not letting it die on the table."

The effort kicked off in metro Atlanta in late April and has made stops in Birmingham, Durham, Raleigh and New Orleans — cities where Black communities face political pressure and economic precarity.

Context: The tour comes at a time when the political climate is increasingly hostile — diversity, equity and inclusion programs are gutted, book bans spread — while many working families are still unable to meet basic needs.

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We're back with our weekly local politics update.

Flood of support: We're seeing a deluge of endorsements come out in the Detroit mayor's race.

• Fred Durhal III has the backing of four mayors, according to a press release: Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel and Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman.
• Solomon Kinloch Jr. nabbed the endorsement of UAW's Region 1 and Region 1A, representing more than 300,000 active and retired union members, including Detroit, but also Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and other areas.
• In another union announcement, SEIU Michigan, with 30,000 members, endorsed City Council President Mary Sheffield for mayor.

Don't say debate: Detroit's mayoral candidates are participating in so many forums, it's hard to keep track. Many are advertised as discussions, without the rebuttals we associate with national political debates. BridgeDetroit recently wrote up a summary of what we've learned so far from these.

• Yes, but: A bona fide debate is scheduled for May 29 at the Mackinac Policy Conference. Axios Detroit will be there.
• Plus, expect more forums — including one on public transit June 4.

Tense moment: During a population growth announcement last week, frequent press conference attendee Gary Hunter of The Shot News, who's also running for a City Council at-large seat, asked Mayor Mike Duggan why the city doesn't advertise with "minority papers" to help grow population.

• Duggan responded that he's "not that interested in self-interested questions," directed him to media services and asked to move on to the next reporter.
• Hunter repeatedly said that it's about the city, not about his own publication, to which Duggan said that "when somebody says it's not about me, we know what it means." Each called the other's actions disrespectful.

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Standing by the Detroit Public Library on Friday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and activists asked Detroit and Wayne County leaders to prevent what they call unjust foreclosures.

• Low-value homes in the city are still being overassessed, Tlaib said in the press conference with racial justice author Ibram X. Kendi.
• A recent study found no systemic overassessment, per the News, but speakers at the Friday event say averages are being used to hide inequalities.