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Common was fretting about the state of hip-hop way back in 1994, on his first hit, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," a song that compared hip-hop to a girl who ran off with some gangsta guy. Five albums in, Common is on better terms than ever with the music. He describes his reconciliation with hip-hop on "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)," his hit ballad with his main squeeze, Erykah Badu, which updates "I Used to Love H.E.R.": "We broke up and got back together/To get her back I had to sweat her." And he's made the most adventurous album of his career: The new Electric Circus (produced in part by Roots drummer ?uestlove) is a free-for-all that recalls the ambition of late-Eighties classics from the Jungle Brothers.
That doesn't mean he doesn't have a few pointers for his colleagues, though. "I really don't want to be preachy," he says over five cups of tea at a Lower Manhattan Thai-food place. But his vision is distinctly more bohemian and less bling.
1 Free Your Mind, and Their Asses Will Follow
"I worry when people are able to imitate hip-hop so well on Saturday Night Live skits -- it means we have set this culture up to be just one thing. I think the big problem comes from us trying to please the crowd. We limit hip-hop to just one look, one uniform, one statement of being real: getting money and guns and women, or selling dope all the time.
"But you try to please the crowd, and the crowd might change. They may say, 'We're tired of that gangsta stuff.' Or a new cat will come in, doing the same thing as you. But because his face is new, he'll get accepted. As Ice Cube said, 'They'll have a new nigga next year.'
"Rock artists are allowed to just be themselves -- to be the nerds or punk rockers or skateboarders or acid takers that they are. Stevie Wonder or Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan or Bob Marley -- they did songs about all type of different things. You can't make yourself secure by just trying to please whatever is happening now. I believe you please the crowd by being you."Common was fretting about the state of hip-hop way back in 1994, on his first hit,... more
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After signing a Young Money/Universal distribution deal Drake caps off the week with a Kanye West directed video.
Watch it here.............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.3127After signing a Young Money/Universal distribution deal Drake caps off the week with a... more
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According to preliminary sales numbers reported by Nielsen SoundScan Michael Jackson [click to read] will dominate Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums when the chart is released today (July 1). Nielsen is predicting that Jackson [click to read] will attain the top nine spots on the chart.
Jackson’s Number Ones album is expected to top the chart at number one and will be followed by The Essential Michael Jackson and Thriller.
Of the nine Michael Jackson [click to read] albums on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums eight are solo albums and one is a Jackson 5 compilation album. And the sole non-Jackson album on the chart will be the reissued Woodstock movie soundtrack.
Aside from Jackson’s impressive entry into the charts a total of 415,000 solo albums by the pop icon were sold this week.
As far as the Top Digital Albums chart Jackson has a total of six albums on that chart, with four of his albums in the top four bracket. And 25 of Jackson’s songs will be included on the Hot Digital Songs chart. A total of six songs by Jackson made their way into the top ten bracket of the Hot Digital Songs chart and they include “Thriller” (No. 2), "Man In The Mirror" (No. 3), "Billie Jean" (No. 4), "The Way You Make Me Feel" (No. 6), "Beat It" (No. 7), and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (No. 8).
Read more on MJ here...............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9414According to preliminary sales numbers reported by Nielsen SoundScan Michael Jackson... more
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The corner of 205th Street and Hollis in Queens will be rechristened "Run-D.M.C. JMJ Way" after pioneering Hip Hop trio Run-DMC and the group's fallen member, Jam Master Jay who, in 2002, was shot and killed in a recording studio in Queens.
Hailing from the streets of Hollis, Queens, the groundbreaking trio took the reigns of a Hip Hop counterculture, crossed musical boundaries, and transcended their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [click to read].
Queens Democrat Councilman Leroy G. Comrie, representative of the area, supported the naming of the street, and even highlighted Darryl McDaniel's (DMC) donation of memorabilia for the possible Hollis Hip Hop Museum.
“It is my sincere hope that this street renaming, combined with the museum, will help to economically revitalize this particular neighborhood as a potential tourism attraction,” Comrie told the New York Times.
A set date for the official naming of the street has not yet been announced.
Read more on Jam Master Jay here................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9416The corner of 205th Street and Hollis in Queens will be rechristened "Run-D.M.C.... more
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The Game shared with MTV yesterday Michael Jackson's efforts to end the conflict between himself and 50 Cent. During his beef with 50 in 2005, The Game received a call from Jackson who offered to play peacekeeper between the two former friends.
"I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair," The Game told MTV News. "I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, 'I got MJ on the phone.' I ran and snatched up the phone."
According to Game, the two conversed about a number of things. Jackson complimented the Game on records like "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do" and then asked about the rapper's children. He later broached upon a matter that, at the time, was a large issue of contention.
"He got to this one thing that makes me laugh, man." Game explained. "He said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50. But I want to be the middleman behind you putting this situation to bed.' "
The Game briefly touches upon Michael Jackson's outreach efforts in his lyrical tribute to the late King of Pop. The song, titled "Better on the Other Side" [click to listen], also features Chris Brown, Diddy, Boyz II Men, and Mario Winans, and was released the day after Jackson's passing. Although the Game was able to put the song out in honor of MJ, he never actually got to feature on a track with the music legend. The Game did mention, however, that Jackson expressed an interest in a collaboration record that would include himself, The Game and 50 Cent.
The song never did come to fruition, nor did the meeting between the three artists occur, but it is no doubt that the King of Pop had an effect on both rappers. 50 Cent also released two MJ tributes recently, titled "Respect It or Check it Nigga," and "Where You Are."
Read more on MJ here..............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9415The Game shared with MTV yesterday Michael Jackson's efforts to end the conflict... more
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The quarrel between Eminem and Mariah has been documented [click here]. After taking a few shots herself, Mariah is now seemingly ready to fire back with "Obsessed" [click to listen]. The track, which many speculate is a dig at Slim, has been creating buzz online and on the radio. Now, she is readying her music video for the single and she has decided to dress like a man, with a beard and all.
The clip shows Mariah dressed as a chauffeur and a young man, sporting a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap. Both looks also consist of a goatee beard. The hoodie-look seems to be another shot at Eminem.
"It must be the weed. It must be the E," she says. "Why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I want to know. Lying that you're sexin' me."
"You're delusional. Boy, you're losing your mind."
The remix features Gucci Mane, where he adds other lines that may or may not be directed at Em.
"I wish I had a lie detector test right now...I know he a nerd."
This follows Em's latest jab at her and her husband on Relapse.
“Mariah, what ever happened to us, why did we have to break up? / Nick Cannon better back the fuck up / I’m not playing, I want her back, you punk.”
Read more on Mariah and Em here................
The quarrel between Eminem and Mariah has been documented [click here]. After taking a few shots herself, Mariah is now seemingly ready to fire back with "Obsessed" [click to listen]. The track, which many speculate is a dig at Slim, has been creating buzz online and on the radio. Now, she is readying her music video for the single and she has decided to dress like a man, with a beard and all.
The clip shows Mariah dressed as a chauffeur and a young man, sporting a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap. Both looks also consist of a goatee beard. The hoodie-look seems to be another shot at Eminem.
"It must be the weed. It must be the E," she says. "Why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I want to know. Lying that you're sexin' me."
"You're delusional. Boy, you're losing your mind."
The remix features Gucci Mane, where he adds other lines that may or may not be directed at Em.
"I wish I had a lie detector test right now...I know he a nerd."
This follows Em's latest jab at her and her husband on Relapse.
“Mariah, what ever happened to us, why did we have to break up? / Nick Cannon better back the fuck up / I’m not playing, I want her back, you punk.”
Read more on Em and Mariah here..............
The quarrel between Eminem and Mariah has been documented [click here]. After taking a few shots herself, Mariah is now seemingly ready to fire back with "Obsessed" [click to listen]. The track, which many speculate is a dig at Slim, has been creating buzz online and on the radio. Now, she is readying her music video for the single and she has decided to dress like a man, with a beard and all.
The clip shows Mariah dressed as a chauffeur and a young man, sporting a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap. Both looks also consist of a goatee beard. The hoodie-look seems to be another shot at Eminem.
"It must be the weed. It must be the E," she says. "Why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I want to know. Lying that you're sexin' me."
"You're delusional. Boy, you're losing your mind."
The remix features Gucci Mane, where he adds other lines that may or may not be directed at Em.
"I wish I had a lie detector test right now...I know he a nerd."
This follows Em's latest jab at her and her husband on Relapse.
“Mariah, what ever happened to us, why did we have to break up? / Nick Cannon better back the fuck up / I’m not playing, I want her back, you punk.”
Read more on Em and Mariah here.....................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9405The quarrel between Eminem and Mariah has been documented [click here]. After taking a... more
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New York's Gawker.com has confirmed that VIBE magazine has been the latest print magazine to close its doors.
Founded in 1993 by music and entertainment mogul, Quincy Jones, VIBE was perceived in the industry, by many, as "the black Rolling Stone." At its peak, the periodical reportedly boasted a circulation of over 800,000. Famous covers included Eminem, Suge Knight, Barack Obama and more.
After its first decade, VIBE branded numerous books, award shows and spin-off publications, including VIBE Vixen.
Famed journalists dream hampton, Bobbito Garcia and Nelson George had written for the publication.
The magazine, who was presently led by respected industry veteran Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith, had witnessed salary cuts, layoffs and circulation drops since early this year.
Read the whole story on Vibe here......................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9406New York's Gawker.com has confirmed that VIBE magazine has been the latest print... more
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The Black Eyed Peas [click to read] took back #1 with The E.N.D. [click to read]. The positioning may be shocking to some, as last week's controversy after a Toronto assault incident involving blog mogul Perez Hilton could have stifled the Interscope group's sales. Not the case, the onetime underground Hip Hop outfit from Los Angeles eclipsed the gold mark in the last week, heading towards platinum.
Eminem's Relapse [click to read], remains strong, staying in the Top 5, despite its lowest positioning to date. With D12 going on the road, the album may continue to motion towards two million in sales, despite limited marketing and advertising.
Now an Asylum artist, onetime Timbaland artist Ginuwine returned with a Top 10 debut release with A Man's Thoughts. The work, Ginuwine's first in four years features Timbo, Missy and Bun B.
Beyonce doubled up for the second week in a row with I Am... Sasha Fierce [click to read] heading towards two-and-a-half million in sales. Mrs. Carter also held down eight places lower with her Above & Beyonce collection, new last week, also a Sony release.
See all the sales here................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9410The Black Eyed Peas [click to read] took back #1 with The E.N.D. [click to read]. The... more
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After speculation that Jay-Z [click to read], just as thought after The Black Album [click to read], might be headed to Atlantic Records, the music mogul has taken his revised imprint, Roc Nation, to Sony. There, Hov will be joining his wife Beyonce, producer friend Rick Rubin, and mild adversary Jim Jones.
According to Billboard, Jay-Z and Roc Nation moved to Sony after securing Atlantic to distribute his eleventh album, Blueprint 3, a project that Jay purchased with his contract from Island Def Jam. At present, that album is slated for September release.
At present, Roc Nation includes J. Cole [click to read], as well as management ventures with Melanie Fiona, Wale and reportedly, the lone Roc-A-Fella Records carryover, Young Chris. There is no word yet on Roc Nation's release schedule.
Read more on Jay-Z here...................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9411After speculation that Jay-Z [click to read], just as thought after The Black Album... more
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A biopic about Michael Jackson is a Hollywood must. The potential film has A-list and Oscar written all over it. The story of the pop icon is full of highs, lows, success, drama and a climatic ending. Well, of course we need a cast and here is what I propose for the MJ story — I am sure the movie is already in the works and Steven Spielberg is trying to buy the rights!
Would you go see a movie like this?A biopic about Michael Jackson is a Hollywood must. The potential film has A-list and... more
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After touring the world and crafting some of the best known Rap records of all time, DMC has been staying busy. Recently, he has taken some time to encourage an advanced interest in rap within education. Fueled by his love of rap, he traveled to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame upon an invite to speak with teachers about the benefits of rap in the classroom.
Teachers attending the Summer Teacher Institute were able to attend D's session, where he spoke on rap's social commentary, among other topics.
"Real hip-hop is information, education, communication and motivation, whether you're rich, poor, black, white, Puerto Rican," he told AP [click here]. "Hip-hop is the total expression of the existence of what it's like to be alive on the face of the earth."
Teachers that attended his session added that rap may help students relate to school subjects in a more personal manner. Some added that it would enhance emotional connections and is of interest to students.
Joe Musich, a 62 year old teacher from Minneapolis South High School attended DMC's session and spoke on why using rap may help his students.
"Sometimes using music and other forms of art for personal expression might be a better way to go," Musich added. "When feelings are attached, the learning is going to go deeper."
DMC added that this knowledge came from personal experience.
"My teacher would give us five minutes before every English class in ninth grade to be creative. You could draw, you could write, you could read, you could do homework. All I would do then is write raps. My notebooks would pile up. It prepared me for an opportunity."After touring the world and crafting some of the best known Rap records of all time,... more
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Since the release of his third mixtape, So Far Gone, Drake has been heard all over the country. His single, "Best I Ever Had", is being played on every radio station from coast to coast. And with his debut album, Thank Me Later, scheduled to release sometime this year, rumors have been floating around on which major label Drake would sign to.
Now, after weeks of speculation, Drake has decided to sign with Lil Wayne's Young Money Records. A deal which breaks down as a joint venture between YM and Cash Money, with Universal Republic handling the distribution.
"Today is a definitely a comfortable day for me, having my team now that's been in place for a couple of years. It's just a great day. It's something new, but it feels familiar," Drake told MTV.
During the weeks, fans were guessing which label would get the newest superstar; with some begging him to go independent; in which Drake had the following to say.
"Independent is a funny term. I can go independent, but you need distribution, period. You need somebody to distribute your record and you need that army that a label has to really push the record."
The final result comes to little surprise to some as Drake has been running with Lil Wayne for quite sometime now, most recently performing alongside Mr. Carter at the BET Awards last night [click to watch] despite having torn his ACL just a few days prior.
Read more on Drake here................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9402Since the release of his third mixtape, So Far Gone, Drake has been heard all over the... more
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June 2009 is a month in a year that will be remembered most notably for the unexpected death of the "King of Pop," an international icon whose labor influenced fruit among artists across various genres, perhaps most notably within that of Hip Hop and R&B. As media outlets devote abundance in coverage to the great Michael Jackson, we here at the Underground Report went in search for artists who similar to the King, pave their own way both individually and artistically. Such search led us to two Latin rappers (each group members with their blood brother) whose determination carried their music well beyond their respected coasts: Sick Jacken from Psycho Realm and Jason Hamza Perez from M-Team.
Although he’s a veteran in the Hip Hop game (forming the group Psycho Realm with brother Big Duke in the late '80s), Sick Jacken is only today finding his niche in the realm of solo artistry. A significant portion of his soul-searching can be witnessed in his latest compilation, Stray Bullets, in which Jacken enlists artists that compliment him in such exuberant fashion (Planet Asia, Killah Priest, Immortal Technique and B-Real among others) that one would not associate him with a rapper in search – of anything. Hailing from the city of angels, rapper/producer Sick Jacken – whose talent is showcased on two tracks of Soul Assassins' Intermission - sits down with HipHopDX to discuss his artistic growth process (readying him for his first solo release), Big Duke’s production and chorus assist on Stray Bullets, and his upcoming Spanish Hip Hop record with Universal Records.
HipHopDX: Let’s start with Stray Bullets. What was your intention with this one?
Sick Jacken: The idea behind Stray Bullets is pretty much songs that I did with artists who are stray away from my group. So stray bullets being that metaphor for a collection of those songs.
DX: All of the features you chose blend seamlessly with your content, your flow, and voice especially. This is notable with Planet Asia, Murs, Immortal Technique. What do you look for in an artist when choosing collabos?
Sick Jacken: Something in the artist that I think is similar to what I do; if an artist is pretty much in the same lane – or even if he’s not in the same lane and I think I can blend good with that artist… It usually works out that way, it’s people pretty much that are around the crew, the camp, that I admire their work. Usually on all the Psycho Realm stuff, it’s just us, we never have any features. Projects like this is kind of fun for me because I get to work with the artist.
DX: How did you link up with Canada’s Swollen Members on “Sinister?”
Sick Jacken: We went on a tour with them in Japan, we went on the Tribal Tour [via] Tribal Street Wear. We picked up with those guys out there. We did a song for one of their compilations, and they reached out to me - I think it was about a year or two later - to do a chorus for a song that they had for the record Black Magic.
Read the whole interview here..................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1369June 2009 is a month in a year that will be remembered most notably for the unexpected... more
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The first signee to DJ Khaled’s We The Best imprint (distributed by Def Jam), 21-year-old Miami rapper Ace Hood spoke to HipHopDX last week regarding his sophomore effort, Ruthless (due in stores today, June 30th). The fiery rhymer also explained to DX why he is standing by fellow M-I-A native, and frequent collaborator, Rick Ross and the "Bawse’s" battle with critics of his prior work history. But “Young Gutta” also suggested that he might not be joining forces with Ross to retaliate against Trick Daddy in the two Floridian Rap stars current war of words [click to listen].
With the premiere of his “Champion” video this week, Ace is approaching what may become the biggest success of his short career so far. The follow-up to “Overtime,” the buzz clip for Ruthless featuring T-Pain and Akon, “Champion” is a thumping, emotionally-charged anthem for anyone facing barriers to their professional progress.
“Aww man, she’s phenomenal - the new Lauryn Hill,” gushed Ace of his “Champion” co-star, the scene-stealing Jazmine Sullivan.
Read more on Ace here..............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9403The first signee to DJ Khaled’s We The Best imprint (distributed by Def Jam),... more
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Diddy [click to read] may strike a deal with Diageo, the world's largest brewery company in the world, to promote the Guiness and Red Stripe beer brands, according to Advertising Age. In 2007, the Hip Hop entrepreneur teamed up with Diageo to promote its Ciroc vodka brand.
A spokesperson from the company declined to elaborate on the potential deal, commenting that the company does not make statements on rumors.
As the face of the Ciroc Vodka brand, Diddy has had a hand in the creative aspects of the beverage's marketing and is generally credited for the upturn in the drink's sales. However, Diddy is not the only Hip Hop figure who has aligned himself with alcoholic beverage brands. Jay-Z signed a deal with Bud Select, Common [click to read] supported Smirnoff, and Kanye West backed Absolut. Such alignments are not uncommon within a genre that makes many references to such brands in songs and videos.
Diddy's attempt to juggle three alcohol brands, however, is not common. For the most part, artists have involved themselves with one endorsement at a time. In addition to the potential deal with Guiness and Red Stripe, Diddy also has his own clothing line, fragrance line, and continues to be involved in the music industry.
Diageo nor Diddy have commented on the possible deal.
Read more on Diddy here..............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9393Diddy [click to read] may strike a deal with Diageo, the world's largest brewery... more
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The Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition has awarded Little Jonathan's Winery a silver medal for his 2006 Central Coast Chardonnay. Jon promised fans that his wine would be a good one, despite him not being an "expert" and it seems the the competition's judges agree that it's deserving of awards.
“My full name is Jonathan. The wine is more nature: I wanted to not just have a direct connection, but make it just a little bit more upscale than regular ‘Lil Jon.’ ... This is not no ghetto Boone’s Farm; this is some real wine,” he said last year according to AP [click here].
In the same article, released in April of 2008, he added that this venture came out of nowhere.
“It kind of came out of nowhere. We were just going to do some private label stuff (for parties) and we did it, and people was like, ‘Hey, it’s pretty nice. ...I’m not no ‘drink wine every day’ kind of dude. I’m not like an expert, so don’t ask me no questions ... I just like the taste.”
Excited, Jon went to his Twitter page to note that this waward was his.
On the LJW website, Jon explains more about his business idea and collection.
"While traveling the world, I've had the incredible opportunity to experience some of the world's greatest wines. My passion for enjoying those fine wines has led me to pursue my lifelong dream of starting my own winery. Our premium collection is simply some of the best wine that California has to offer. I'm very proud to present our rich, complex blends and world class varietals from the finest vineyards in the Central Coast, Monterey and Paso Robles regions. Our wines are hand-crafted to ensure excellence in every bottle and I personally invite you to try our wines and share in my passion."
Read more on Lil Jon here............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9394The Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition has awarded Little... more
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Like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and others, record sales for the late pop icon Michael Jackson have spiked in the days following the singer’s untimely passing.
According to new reports, the demand for Jackson’s music has far exceeded the supply, leaving retailers rushing to fill backorders for The King of Pop.
Several Best Buy outlets are completely sold out of Michael Jackson albums and the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller is currently out of stock at online retail outlet Amazon.com.
Bill Carr, vice president of music and video at Amazon says, "This is simply unprecedented.” In addition to the legendary Thriller album, Amazon is also out of all Jackson and Jackson 5 albums.
"We've seen the death of Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra and many other artists, but none of them compare to what we're witnessing today,” Carr added.
So exactly how popular is Jackson’s music these days?
"In the last 24 hours, we've actually sold more Michael Jackson albums in our MP3 and CD stores than we have in the 11 years since the launch of our music business," he said.
For those who cannot get enough of Michael Jackson music, there may be one—or several—posthumous albums released.
Michael Jackson was 50-years-old.
Read more here..............
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9395Like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and others, record sales for the late pop icon... more
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After a surprise live version, Jay-Z premieres the official full-length D.O.A. video after the BET Awards.
Watch it here.........................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.3091After a surprise live version, Jay-Z premieres the official full-length D.O.A. video... more
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Some of the biggest stars on the planet turned back into gushing Michael Jackson fans at the BET Awards, donning single gloves, swapping stories about their idol and singing The King of Pop's standards. One person who perhaps knew him best, though, brought the night into perspective: his sister.Some of the biggest stars on the planet turned back into gushing Michael Jackson fans... more
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