What music did Michael K. Williams play to prepare for the role of Omar in The Wire?

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New York Magazine did a feature on Boardwalk Empire and The Wire’s Michael K. Williams. They discovered that to get in the right zone for a particular role he would make playlists to listen to:

“Music for me is a portal,” he reflects. “Once I’ve gone to that dimension and I’m there, whatever got me there, I just loop those songs.” For Williams, his playlists allow him to “stay there” for as long as possible. While filming, he will listen to his headphones until he “hears sticks” (the clapperboard).

Here’s his Jay-Z, Lauren Hill and 2Pac heavy list of songs he used to get ready to play Omar in The Wire, they are even compiled in this nice Spotify playlist:

2pac, “Unconditional Love”
Nas, “Let There be Light”
Young Jeezy, “Dreamin’”
Mary J. Blige, “My Life”
Lauryn Hill, “Oh Jerusalem”
Jay-Z, “You Must Love Me”
2pac, “So Many Tears”
Biggie Smalls “Suicidal Thoughts”
Young Jeezy “Bury me a G”
Jay-Z, “Oh My God”
Biggie Smalls, “Who Shot Ya”
2pac, “Against All Odds”
Biggie Smalls, “Everyday Struggle”
Nas, “One Mic”
Lauryn Hill, “War in the Mind”
Common, “It’s Your World”
Lauryn Hill, “Mystery of Iniquity”
Meshell Ndegeocello, “Akel Dama (Field of Blood)”
Lauryn Hill, “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind”
2pac, “Dear Mama”
Sun Tan “Sunscreen”

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