Video: Michael Jackson’s Last Rehearsal

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by by Melody

Concert promoter AEG Live released this clip of Michael Jackson rehearsing his ‘This Is It’ tour two days before his death in Los Angeles.

I don’t know, the promoters say this is proof he was in good health. Granted he was moving but I can see frail he was and know how much he gives, it wasn’t 100%. That could be because it was a rehearsal… He was hitting the moves, just not like the Michael Jackson we knew.

Le Sigh (c) Looseneck

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Pleasure P: Under

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by by Melody

Pleasure P tapped Tia Mowry (of The Game) for the video of his second single “Under.” I like the visuals, the chick taking a dip in the grass is kind of crazy. Me likey the song too…

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Don’t go to Neverland…Funeral Date Confirmed

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by by Melody

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UPDATE: The funeral for Michael Jackson will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday July 7th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Sources said AEG Live, which owns the arena and the adjacent Nokia Theatre, will use both facilities and the surrounding plaza.

Michael Jackson’s memorial won’t be there. Memorial services said to be in the works for Friday at the Neverland Valley Ranch isn’t happening says the Jackson Family.

“Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland. Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly.”

There were numerous concerns around logistics and according to the LA Times the family ran into trouble obtaining a permit to bury Jackson on private grounds, despite Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reportedly volunteering to cut through any bureaucratic clutter that could slow down the process. However, officials in Santa Barbara County were not able to process the request in more timely fashion.

Word on the curb is that the Staples Center is also a possible location for a public memorial.

There is also no update on the burial of the King of Pop.

In other Michael Jackson news:

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Drake: Best I Ever Had

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by by Melody

Is Drake the star or the video chicks tit-tays?

Directed by Kanye West, this is the first video from the So Far Gone mixtape… yeah still trippin’ on the fact that it’s just a mixtape.

In a recent interview, Drizzy talks about signing with Young Money…

“To go independent is — like I said in a prior interview — it’s a funny term,” Drake told MTV News on Tuesday, addressing the deal that finds his albums being released on Wayne’s independent Young Money label (which is affiliated with Cash Money Records) and being distributed by the major Universal Republic. “Because it’s almost impossible to go fully independent. This was basically like the closest thing I could get to my own independence, to sort of continuing to be that guy to the fans that, you know, is trying to prove something — trying to prove that it can be done. So with that being said, I signed directly to Cortez Bryant and Gee Roberson, my two managers, and their company Inspire. It’s a joint venture with Young Money, so that’s the deal. I know there’s been a lot of stuff on the Internet about different entities, but that’s the people involved in the main record deal. And then it’s distributed through Universal, so it’s great, man. You know, if we can sell some records I think it could be a pretty legendary situation.”

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Opposites Attract…

Posted on July 1st, 2009 by by Melody

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Dawn Richard (Danity Kane) and her boo Que (Day26) took there look to the photo studio with celebrity photographer Derek Blanks. The shoot is an alter-ego interpretation of “good vs. bad” as they both explore their “dominatrix side” along with their “peaceful/angelic” side.

Yes… that tat on his hip says “Dawn” and it’s been there for a while. I really don’t have the time to dig up an old pic right now, but I saw it a few months ago. Young love I guess.

Derek Blanks always does great alter-ego work. This uber-fab!

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Nurse Says Michael Begged for Sedative

Posted on July 1st, 2009 by by Melody

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A former nurse for Michael Jackson, one of many people that I am sure will be flocking to the nearest news channel to give their accounts on his life, says that she refused to give him a power sedative after he pleaded to be “knocked out.”

Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse and nutritionist tells ABC News that Michael asked her to help him obtain Diprivan, a sedative used mostly in hospitals just a few months ago.

Lee said during the call from a Jackson staffer, she heard Jackson in the background “He said ‘Find me an anesthesiologist, I don’t care how much money they want, find me an anesthesiologist to be with me here overnight and give me this IV.’”

Jackson, Lee said, said he was in extreme discomfort, was desperate for sleep and said that one side of his body was hot and the other side was cold.

Lee said wasn’t familiar with the drug when he first asked for it three months ago, but, after consulting with a doctor, warned Jackson it could kill him.

“‘I look at you Michael and I’ve been around you long enough now, I love you as family. I would not give this to anyone,’” Lee said she told Jackson. “I said, ‘This is not a safe medicine, please don’t take this.’”

Lee said Jackson had often complained of not being able to sleep more than a few hours at a time and the man who would often watch Donald Duck cartoons in bed, trying to sleep. “‘The problem with you telling me you want to be knocked out,’” She says she told him, is “‘you might not wake up the next morning. You don’t want that.’”

She also went on the give details on his child-like lifestyle, watching cartoons in bed until he fell asleep.

I really do believe that Michael Jackson was dealing with a lot of physical issues, espically after performing for so many years, with prescription drugs and was clearly using them abusively. Just sad that he didn’t have people around him to intervene sooner.

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Jackson Family Plans for Neverland Memorial

Posted on June 30th, 2009 by by Melody

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The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has just confirmed to E! News that plans are under way to hold a memorial service at the famed estate/amusement park in the hills outside Santa Barbara.

“Our guys are meeting as we speak with the California Highway Patrol to discuss the security issues,” says Lt. Butch Arnoldi, a department spokesman.

Sources close to the family say that there will be some kind of public memorial over the holiday weekend, perhaps with Jackson’s body lying in state. The body is expected to be transported from Los Angeles on Thursday.

Jackson’s brothers Jackie, Jermaine and Tito visited the grounds over the weekend and earlier Tuesday a delivery truck was spotted dropping off boxes at Neverland.

Arnoldi says the sheriff’s department usually only gets involved when there is a huge crowd of people expected. He did not have any specifics on a date or time for any service.

CNN reports that a public viewing will take place Friday and a private memorial service will be held on Sunday.

There is no indication that Michael Jackson will be buried at the ranch, however. Indeed, asked point-blank during a press conference yesterday, father Joe Jackson said his son would not be interred at the ranch.

That’s going to be INSANE! I can’t lie though, if I was home in California right now, I’d make my way there.

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Vibe Folding… But is this the final cover?

Posted on June 30th, 2009 by by Melody

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Ummm… This might be sad news time two. Vibe Magazine is folding, which is the reality of a recession driven downfall in the media market. But if this is really the final cover [via RapRadar], which looks like a photoshop experiment, then this is a sad way to go out…

Vibe, one of the nation’s leading popular music magazines, is closing immediately, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Word leaked to music and media news Web sites early this afternoon, and the spokeswoman, Tracy Nguyen, said the Vibe staff would be formally notified in a meeting at 2 p.m. She said she did not know how many people would be laid off as a result of the closure.

Vibe’s closure leaves just one large-circulation magazine, The Source, focusing on hip-hop and R&B. The Source has had its own troubles, going through a bankruptcy and emerging under new ownership last year. A rock-focused magazine, Blender, folded last year. [SOURCE]

I grew up with Vibe Magazine, they were one of the first magazines to have a web presence as well. Can anyone say Mosaic? Hate to see a staple in urban entertainment fold. Unfortunately print media has been hit hard over the last few years. They are an analog girl in a digital world. They could could pull a Honey Mag move and go strictly digital.

Vibe staffers were informed this morning that Vibe will be closing effective immediately… Read the letter sent from the CEO and Editor-in-Chief below.

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Joe Jackson Not in Will, Fans Commit Suicide, & Paternity

Posted on June 30th, 2009 by by Melody

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The bloodsucker father of Michael Jackson, Joe Jackson, was not mentioned in his will last signed in 2002.

Michael Jackson signed a will in 2002 providing for his children and his mom, but leaving nothing to daddy Joe — this according to the Wall Street Journal.

As we reported yesterday, attorney John Branca has the will and plans to file it with the court within 30 days of the singer’s death. According to the will, Jackson reportedly left his estate — estimated at $1 billion — to his mother, 3 children and one or more charities.

As for why Joe was left out — Jackson has said during his childhood his father beat him.

Hmmmm… I sure hope this sticks. Unfortunately I don’t trust Katherine to leave Joe out of it. I don’t trust any of them. Maybe Janet, but this will be a long drag out fight over his estate. Especially with Joe making declarations of management over his affairs on red carpets and ish…

Sadly, and pretty crazy, there are reports that grief stricken fans are committing suicide after the death of the King of Pop. I mean I love me some Michael Jackson, but I’ll hopefully meet in heaven in due time. I am in no rush. Reportedly, 12 people are bleieved to have ended their life so far says Gary Taylor, president and owner of MJJcommunity.com.

Lastly, news that isn’t really news, Debbie Rowe has said to admit that Michael Jackson is not the biological father but the gotch gotcha is that she isn’t the biological mother either! All three children where conceived through in vitro but not with Debbie’s eggs, she was just the sarrogate. The youngest, Blanket, was also by a sarrogate who like the biological parents are unknown. He was basically picked up from the hospital at 3 days old and given to Michael.

There are said to be birth arrangements for the children and no permanent decisions have been made in their custody.

UPDATE: The father of Michael Jackson’s children Prince and Paris is none other than Jackson’s L.A.-based dermatologist and Rowe’s former boss, Arnold Klein.

“He is the dad,” one of many sources tells Us Weekly. “He and Debbie signed an agreement saying they would never reveal the truth.”

Rowe also claimed that she carried his children as a personal favor, “I said, ‘Let me do this. You need to be a dad. You have been so good to me.’”

Rowe and Jackson met when she was a nurse’s assistant in the 80’s.

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Check It: Anticipation

Posted on June 30th, 2009 by by Melody

Trey Songz is gonna make you a believer… on his mixtape game, he just dropped Anticipation, the prelude to his upcoming album, Ready, so out later this summer. Fresh off his blog, See Further Than I Am.

Many of you may ask, Why ANTICIPATION? Well lets break it down shall we:

An⋅tic⋅i⋅pa⋅tion [an-tis-uh-pey-shuhn] -noun
1. realization in advance, intuition; foretaste.
2. Musically – a tone introduced in advance of its harmony so that it sounds against the preceding chord.

Musically, I’m currently in a creative space like no other. I feel as though whenever a mic is put in front of me, I can do no wrong. At a time in the music industry where album sales are low, fans are fickle, inconsistent, or more into the various songs than they are the particular artist, I feel that I must give u a reason to love me. Embed in you a desire to love me and an appreciation for the music. I must show you that not only do I LOVE what I do but I also do it well.

The creation of ANTICIPATION began after I presented READY to my label the first time. I just started recording on my days off and the music felt great and decided that I’d rather share the music than let it sit and be idle. This is music without politics, without creative boundaries.

CHECK IT: Trey Songz – Anticipation Mixtape

My favorite track is the Prince infused “Yo Side of the Bed,” it’s a great preview to where Trey is going musically.
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