In honor of FLASHBACK FRIDAY, I decided to take a trip waaaaay back! You may be aware of all the hoopla surrounding the “We Are the World” remix for Haiti last week, but weren’t even BORN during the Children of the World project!  The project, circa 1985 was formed by Sonny Melendez, a radio host that had a vision of children singing the song.

Producer George Duke jumped aboard with a few other legendary musicians and the Children of the World Project grew into something that made Michael very proud:

“I had thought that song should be sung by children. When I finally heard children singing it on producer George Duke’s version, I almost cried. It’s the best version I’ve heard.” – Michael Jackson

As the project celebrates it’s 25th year, it’s fun to see how some of the kids involved evolved into superstars!  Watch the video below and see if you recognize a few… (more…)

Another “final” send off tribute to Michael Jackson has just been released.  A video for the legendary singer’s graceful, posthumous single, “This Is It,” directed by filmmaker Spike Lee hit the net and is presented as a loving scrapbook of Jackson’s life.

Starting with slow-mo close-ups of his childhood home, then ballooning through his massive, worldwide fame, the video received flack for not featuring any shots of Michael’s brothers. However there’s a small section of footage of Jackson with his mother, Katherine.

Lee devoted over half of the 4-plus minute clip to footage shot since Jackson’s death. Capturing thousands of fans in mourning and awe, from footage near the Apollo Theatre and all across the world.

In classic Spike Lee fashion, the director focuses several times on a sign that says “Stop The Hatin’,” referring to the coverage of the controversies in Jackson’s life.

Watch the full “This is It” video directed by Spike Lee below: (more…)

A former bodyguard of Michael Jackson has been caught on camera attempting to sell the surgical face mask worn by the king of pop the night before he died. Jackson, who was known to rock a surgical mask in public quite frequently, also slept in them and apparently the bodyguard felt it was ok to snatch it for a profit.

News of the World, a U.K. tabloid, obtained footage of the bodyguard, Eric Muhammad, as he secretly demanded $150,000 for the mask in an apparent set-up. The tabloid was tipped off by an LA businessman, after he’d been approached by Muhammad to negotiate purchase of the legendary icon’s mask. News of the World sent in a replacement who pretended to be the ‘customer’ and a deal was made.

Muhammad, 36, is shown in the video boasting of his close relationship with the Jackson clan and even pulls out a paystub as proof of his employment. The footage captures Muhammad negotiating the deal for the deceased singer’s property:

I’ve got the mask that he wore on the night before….he died. This is a very personal item. This is the only way I could, you know, preserve it. This was HIS and you are more than welcome to DNA it. It still has his make-up on it. It still smells like him.

I was really banking brother on getting the money from the tour to do me well. And I’m not asking for a handout. To part with that, is very sentimental to me and I would hope that you obviously consider that.

Muhammad reportedly obtained the mask the day he took Jackson’s three children to the Los Angeles hospital to see their Dad, who was ultimately pronounced dead.  View the appalling video below: (more…)

Janet Jackson was spotted arriving at Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy earlier today (September 22). yesterday on the arm of a well-toned “mystery man.”  She’s scheduled to attend amfARs (Foundation for AIDs research) inaugural Milano event to raise money and publicity during Milan fashion week.

Janet’s battle against the AIDS epidemic stems from personal experience, as a number of her close friends have been affected by the virus. As a chair of the amfAR event, Jackson continues to campaign for research worldwide.  CLICK HERE to learn more about amfAR.

Spotted @GossipGirls

In related Jackson news, a movie about Janet’s late brother, Michael Jackson, will be released in 25 cities next month. The film, entitled “This is it” is a compilation of footage from Michael’s final days. Check out a preview below: (more…)

Janet Jackson opened the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards with a full tribute to her late brother Michael Jackson. MTV did a montage of several of Michael’s popular videos and Janet appeared to rock the stage in typical Jackson fashion. Janet also hit up her twitter account later to offer her fans a special gift:

I hope u guys enjoyed us tonight. It was very special for me n I have a very special gift for all of u. Sept 14th 1:28am

The gift turned out to be the lyrics to a new Janet Jackson song entitled “Make Me” Click Here for the lyrics.

In between the opening and closing there was a bunch of tomfoolery. In short, Kanye stole the mic from Taylor Swift, Beyonce performed yet again in her sequinned bathing suit and then redeemed herself by giving Taylor some time to shine. I’m sure there was alot more going on but I was too busy rewinding the Kanye incident to pay any attention to anything else. Sorry.

The grand closing for the evening was non other than Jay-Z. Fresh off the heels of his 9/11 tribute concert, Jay rocked the stage with Alicia Keys in a hot performance of “Empire State of Mind”

Jay-Z and Alicia seem to be giving the side eye to the surprise guest who hopped onstage at the end of their performance.

I still don’t know what Lil Mama was thinking…

Watch the opening and closing performance videos below: (more…)

New details of the death of Jackson, who would have turned 51 this Saturday, emerged yesterday after court documents pertaining to a search of Dr Murray’s Houston offices and storage facilities were made public.

In making a case for the search warrants, police said the Los Angeles Coroner had concluded that Jackson’s death was a homicide in that it was caused by the actions of another. The Coroner said Los Angeles police had asked for no public statements while they were continuing with their investigations. But in asking a Texas judge to approve the search warrants, police believed they would find “evidence of the crime of manslaughter”.

Although Dr Murray has been the primary target of the investigation, the documents released yesterday made it clear investigators were still determining whether Jackson died as the result of a single doctor administering a single combination of drugs or as the result of a long-term pattern of many doctors over-prescribing him drugs.

It is very rare for doctors in the US to be charged in these kinds of cases, but not unprecedented. (Source)

In case you missed it:
A Message From Michael Jackson’s Doctor (Video)

The Doctor who is suspected if issuing the final deadly injection to superstar Michael Jackson has hit YouTube with a video message to his supports. Dr. Conrad Murray explains that the he knows the TRUTE and the TRUTE will set him free. He also thanks his patients and friends by saying that he’s been afraid to use the phone or answer emails but doing the video was the next best thing. *sigh*

Where they do that at?

Video below:

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Did Michael Jackson predict his own demise in a song?  ‘Morphine’ from the 1997 album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix is being tossed around online and the question is being asked did the song actually foreshadow his death and reveal his Demerol addiction? The song starts off with the lyrics “He got flat baby/Kick in the back baby/A heart attack baby/I need your body.” But the verse about morphine substitute Demerol is what is creating a ton of buzz, particularly after rumors have surfaced that Michael had been suffering from drug addiction and abuse. Recent reports that Jackson was injected with the same painkiller just before his death also sparks the controversy surrounding the track.

Check out the haunting song and lyrics below: (more…)