Lost In Translation?

I've never been to Australia so I don't know how they view people of color. Unfortunately I'm not up to snuff on the status of the Aboriginal population there. However I can honestly say I was not ready for the video shown below. I'm very pleased to know that a gentleman named Harry Connick Jr. stood up and said something against this deplorable behavior. Skip towards the end if you can't take the performance to see commentary from the judges.

What do you think of this "tribute"?
SPEAK OUT! (c) Insane Martin Payne

Soul Slam Prince vs. Michael Jackson 9/6/09

It's that time again kids. Keistar productions takes over BLVD/Crash Mansion to kill us all with the best in Michael Jackson and Prince music. But don't forget their respective camp catalogs are also up for grabs so expect to hear Janet, The Time, Vanity 6 and Jermaine.

I recommend that you get to the place to be EARLY! Also you should buy your tickets now. You don't want to be that person on line looking silly. The jam starts at 10pm and it don't stop til we get enough.

See you there.

Oh and you can cop tickets here.

Lit Fuse

Steel sharpens steel, every time I get the opportunity to catch up with members of the MG Fam I am happy to say that when they share with me what they've been up to I get amped. We are all so busy but when you see the work we produce it automatically makes us want to do better in our own endeveours.

While I've seen the imagery around prior to the event I had no idea it was "gang related". So many people I know were preparing to go to this since it is one of the annual events that lets you know summer has had it's time and fall is nearing. Here are a few designs that Fuse laced this special event with. For more on Mr. Green's work click on Fuse Green.

Saturday Aug. 29th more than 10,000 die hard MJ fans descended on Prospect Park in Brooklyn to celebrate the King of Pop's 51st birthday. When legends unite to celebrate other legends the result is magic.

Fab Five Freddy and Spike Lee. Classic material

Brooklyn's Own Tracy Morgan

Spoke Lee and Rev. Al Sharpton

Michael Jackson's Prospect Park Extravaganza

Photos by Shino Yanagawa

Rain? What rain? Thousands of people came out to Prospect Park on the 51st anniversary of the birth of The Man The Myth The Legend Michael Joseph Jackson. It felt like the whole park was in on the celebration. As I walked with Ms. Shino into the park we saw lines of people walking ahead. The workers of the parks department were very nice and seemed almost happy for us to be there. As we walked up through the path leading to the open area where the event was taking place I saw a group of little kids dressed like the Scarecrow and the Tin-man from The Wiz. You gotta love it.

We continued walking to hear the sounds of MJ blaring through the air. I looked out at a sea of people. Never before have I seen so many folks in Prospect Park in my life. There were barricades up separating sections of people so the parks dept. could keep order. A number of NYPD folks were on deck but no one seemed to be on edge. There was so much love in the park that day you could feel it. At first we were told we couldn't go into the main front area where I could see my friends from afar dancing it up. So feeling a little defeated we walked along side the gate figuring out what to do. After running into a few friends we were given the idea to have someone try to bring us in as if we were already there. Shino told a park worker and then a police officer a wonderful tale on the spot which was sort of true to get us in. That tale along with our friend Lorraine waving an armband in the air (which had nothing to do with the day's event) telling the cop to let us in sealed the deal. The officer escorted us into the coveted section and it was on like popcorn.

Through the day I saw plenty of friends and family come through. We danced til we couldn't dance any more in the heat and under the rain. DJ Spinna did an excellent job weaving in well known classic Michael records with under the radar Jackson gems. For those who decided not to go because of the rain...you really missed out. I was a part of two HUGE electric slides that day. Spike Lee, Rev. Al Sharpton , Ed Lover and Tracy Morgan took turns being the MCs for the event. Plenty of michael impersonators were on deck and the kids...I can't say enough about the kids. They had the most fun. The whole place even sang along in Karaoke to "The Way You Make Me Feel".

We miss you Michael but Brooklyn will always uphold your spirit. Here's the pics from Shino Yanagawa.

Rain on MJ's Parade?

I'm a little sad. I learned this morning that there's a 70% chance of thunderstorms for this Saturday August 29th. If you've been hiding under a rock for the past two weeks on that day Spike Lee and DJ Spinna will be holding a Michael Jackson celebration in Prospect Park (too many folks for Ft. Greene). This is an outdoor event that the whole Borough is trying to hit up. I'm sure being that Spike Lee is the host there will be cameras on deck. I'm hoping we can do a thunderstorm later on in the day after 5, sort of like Sunday.

In the meantime here's a video to get you hyped for Saturday's epic event.



For the record I'm still made I never saw him in concert.

Spike Lee and Spinna Tag Team For MJ

If you didn't know what you're doing on August 29th, now you do. Critically Acclaimed Director Spike Lee is paying tribute the King of Pop on his date of birth. The place to be is Ft. Greene Park from 12 noon until 5pm. The heavens will shake as we dance the sun into submission. DJ Spinna will be on the 1s and 2s doing what he does best (controlling the feet of any and all dancers in a 5 block radius).

I'm getting a little leery of so many "lets celebrate Michael" parties. I know he's the greatest and people want to express their love and respect for the man. However there are some out there who are just trying to profit off of his name and I don't respect that. Thus you wont see me at their events. This particular party has me really excited. Spike Lee actually worked with the man while he was alive. He's been a long time fan of Michael and I appreciate him doing something like this at the head of Brooklyn.

So if your a Brooklynite and a MJ fan like me I'll save you a spot in the park to boogie. See you there.

Worst. Summer. Ever.

Remember the summer? No not this summer because this one SUCKED and was nonexistent. I'm talking about summers of the past where we had more than one day of 90 degree weather. When people would go to Ft. Green every Sunday to dance their troubles away to some soulful house music. When there was no need for security at Habana Outpost in Brooklyn.

When my man Shan Boogie had a BBQ for every major holiday filled with lovely ladies, food and fun for all. When clothes had originality on the streets of NY and Summerstage was the ground zero for all things fresh. I haven't gone to ONE Summerstage performance this year and guess what, I'm fine with that. Hell besides the Giant Step show I wasn't moved to see anyone. The Soul Summit party in the park seems to have lost its thunder. The Happy Feet party seemed to constantly be on a night where either there's too much going on or work in the morning. What happened?

Pretty much the whole month of June was a wash...literally. I've only gotten a few good bike rides in. There have been days when I thought about taking a jacket with me, A JACKET! I don't live in San Diego and thus in the summer a jacket should not enter my thoughts at all. So I'm writing this summer off. With a few weeks to go I'm gonna rock out for Labor day and that's about it. Hopefully 2010 will be better.

Oh and Michael Jackson died.

WORST. SUMMER. EVER

Super Michael Jackson Bros.

Normally I wouldn't post something like this because of the high regards in which I hold MJ. However... this is a pretty cool video. Props to whoever came up with this idea and execution. This is just one of the many tributes to come to celebrate the Baddest man ever on the planet.

Spotlight on Tracy Morgan

One of my favorite comedians hailing from Bed Stuy Brookyn is the one and only Tracy Morgan. Dude has worked his way up from the round the way comedy spots up to 30 Rock on NBC. Tracy has a wild and crazy shtick that I happen to love. Here's a clip from Tracy doing stand up in Caroline's in NYC discussing Michael Jackson. This was during the time Mike was on trial for the last child molestation case (it's weird saying that now). Either way here's Tracy.

Joe Jackson (All in the videos, All on the record)

I'm not going to say too much on this man because it's due to him that my favorite performer ever had a chance to have a career. HOWEVER if I ever see him in the streets...
And I'm not even a tough guy at all. I just don't appreciate him capitalizing off of his son's name and fame the way he is.

Understand me, if my SON dies suddenly I'm not going to ANY awards show to pay tribute. I'm consoling my wife and other children. I'm also not pluggin any of my business ventures while discussing my son. But then again I also wouldn't abuse while riding them as a meal ticket out of Gary, Indiana.

Ladies in gentlemen, Joe Jackson. (stay classy Joe)

Old School Mondays

Yall already know what the occasion is so lets get to it. The best to ever do it people.

May he finally have rest after a hectic life. We miss you.

J5 on Soul Train - I Want You Back


Ben..(damn he's got me tearing up)


Another Part Of Me (from the Bad Tour)
This is actually my favorite Michael Jackson record.


Beat It

Lisa Marie Presley tells her story. (SWIPE)

I got the following from Lisa Marie Presley's Myspace (yeah she still uses it) blog. I have re-posted the contents here but the link in green is to her direct blog. Go check it there for yourself as well to leave her direct comments.

LMP's Blog

Friday, June 26, 2009

He Knew.

Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.

I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.

At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, "I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did."

I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.

14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.

A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened.

The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.

All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.

I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.

Our relationship was not "a sham" as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a "Normal life" found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.

I wanted to "save him" I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.

His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn't know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then.

At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.

He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated.

When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad.

Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson's being or actions.

I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.

I was in over my head while trying.

I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret.

Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.

At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.

As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.

Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.

He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.

I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.

He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.

I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.

The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.





I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.


~LMP

Michael Jackson, The Best To Ever Do It.

I miss him. I didn't know him but I miss him. I've had entertainers a musicians die and I knew there was an impact however this is different. My boy Keith called me because he knows that I love Michael Jackson. He told me he heard that Mike was rushed to a hospital and that he died. I got a lil mad and told him not to joke like that. I heard nothing up to that point. Our call got cut off and my phone wouldn't go to CNN no matter how much I tried. Then the text messages came pouring in.

Annie are you ok?

I think about the countless Prince vs. MJ parties I've closed down under the guidance of DJ Spinna. I learned so much more about my favorite musician/entertainer ever by going to those events. My boy Murph made me a personal mix of MJ Vs Prince and with him being a HUGE Prince fan he hit me with a couple MJ jewels. Mike has had a career spanning 40 years. Nobody did it like him and there will never be another. From the days with the Jackson 5 when they were the biggest thing on the planet to his solo domination of music he's always been a bright star. Through the legal battles and body changes I always loved his music. Nobody could get me on a dance floor faster than MJ. I remember being out in Vegas at Magic in the middle of a Triple 5 Soul party and Don't Stop Til You Get Enough came on. I was top of a fixture going for it man. Mike had a way of making you feel invincible while dancing to his music. The spins, the popping...

Thriller mania is something that I feel for those that missed it, you missed an essential part of American history. Thriller brought the country together under a love of that record. Everyone had a copy in the house. We had two in my household. I remember when my aunt got Thriller on Beta and we watched it. It was the most amazing thing ever to me. I was scared and excited at the same time. Hell I remember my best friend in elementary school telling me the video for "Can You Feel It" scared him lol. My sister's had MJ dolls (I wish I had one now). The posters were up everywhere. We all had a pair of penny loafers just like Mike.

I can be here all day writing about my childhood idol. I will miss him.




Oh and Yahoo is doing a run through of a bunch of his videos. Peep Game.

The Best To Ever Do It