When hip-hop's reigning microphone king needed a little help driving home the point that
he wasn't about to relinquish his crown anytime
soon, he simply placed a call to none other than
the self-proclaimed King of Pop.
Jay-Z, the headliner at Thursday's [June 28, 2001] Hot 97 Summer Jam 2001,
shocked the sold-out crowd at Long Island's
Nassau Coliseumwhen he brought Michael
Jackson onstage during a break in his performance.
Although M.J. didn't perform - not live, anyway,
considering a sample of the Jackson 5's "I Want
You Back" was used in the set-closing "H to the
Izzo" - just his presence was enough to elicit
the loudest pop of the night from a crowd that had already seen performances by Ja Rule,
Destiny's Child, R. Kelly, Ludacris, Eve, Nelly
and Outkast.
"I know Michael Jackson better come from behind
that muthaf---in' curtain," Jay-Z said during
what had to be 90 of the longest seconds of his
career. Jigga had just announced Jackson to the
crowd, but the music icon failed to make his entrance.
The
audience seemed to think Jay was joking - who would expect
Jackson to appear at such a hip-hop-heavy concert?
But Jay quickly figured out that with cargo as precious as
this, it's probably best to hand-deliver it to the crowd.
"You want me to go back and get him myself?" Jay
asked a girl in the front row. "OK, I'm 'a go get him."
Seconds later the two walked out and posed for photos together.
In one of the pictures, Mike struck a b-boy stance with his
arms folded. Jackson'sonly words to the crowd
were "I love you all" before he exited the stage, but Jay-Z fans can expect to hear more from him. According
to Roc-a-Fella Records,Jackson will make a guest appearance
on Jay's next album, and although Jay attempted to
return the favor, his contributions are not currently scheduled
to appear on Jackson's long-awaited new LP.
Jackson wasn't the only guest Jay brought out with him, however.
His Roc-a-Family crew Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek stayed
onstage with him throughout the performance, and Missy Elliott
popped up to perform "Is That Your Chick" and a verse from
"Get Ur Freak On." Violin player Miri Benari was brought onboard
for "Big Pimpin'," while EPMD showed support for Beans and
Bleek by performing "So Wat Cha Sayin'" with them before Eric
Sermon went into "Music".
Jadakiss proved you could make your appearance short
but still keep it sweet. Coming out toward the end of Eve's
set, the applause he received was only overshadowed by
Jay-Z's and M.J.'s as he performed "Put Your Hands Up"
and "We Gon' Make It.
June
29, 2001: Dazed & Confused Magazine
You
think this is Michael Jackson? Well, don't
let your eyes deceive you...
On the absolutely fantastic cover of the
latest issue [July '01] of British magazine "Dazed & Confused" is not
Michael Jackson but Navi - "quote
D&C mag:world's no.
1 Michael Jackson impersonator".
The July issue of "Dazed & Confused"
is out now.
Click on the pic on the left to enlarge.
[source: Dazed
& Confused]
June
28, 2001: Jackson
To Help Missing Child Search
Michael Jackson is expected to help in the search for Sabrina Aisenberg, who vanished from her crib
as an infant nearly four years ago.
It seems a plea for help from parentsSteve and Marlene Aisenberg has caught the attention
of the international pop icon.
Jackson's new album will include a song about missing
children and is expected to have a picture of
Sabrina on the inside cover, the couple told
WTVT-TV on Wednesday.
The Aisenbergs say someone snatched their 5-month-old
daughter while they slept in their suburban Tampa
home in November 1997.
They believe she is alive somewhere, being raised by
surrogate parents. They have never given up hope of
finding her and repeatedly have appealed to the public
for help.
Police say over the years they exhausted hundreds of
leads and found no trace of the chubby-faced child,
who would be 4 years old now. They believe she is dead
and her parents know what happened to her.
The Center for Missing and Exploited Children says Jackson
picked Sabrina and several other missing children to
feature on the album. The center says it was asked
to put Jackson's lawyers in touch with the parents to
get permission to use photographs, the station reported.
Next September, Michael Jackson will hit record
stores around the world like never before.
An unprecedented number of new releases will be available
this fall. Planet Jackson reveals more on the INVINCIBLE campaign.
- September 4th:
International commercial release date of the "Rock My World" single.
- September 10th: International release date of the upgraded
versions of OFF THE WALL, THRILLER, BAD and DANGEROUS [American release date:
September 11th].
Each reissued album will contain bonus material, outtakes and demo versions, and a collector's
special card.
OFF THE WALL and THRILLER will also contain special interviews with Quincy Jones and composer
Rod Temperton.
Moreover, on THRILLER, the song "Thriller" will be available as a special version including a never-before-heard third verse by Vincent Price.
- September 24th: International release date of 4 limited collector's
edition pressings of the INVINCIBLE album.
- October 9th: Tentative scheduled date for the release of HISTORY
- GREATEST HITS - VOLUME I.
Note: Planning dates and release schedule accurate at
time of publication.
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
26, 2001: Major Invincible Events To Come...
The
following has been taken from Planet
Jackson:
In a few weeks, the promotional campaign for Michael
Jackson's INVINCIBLE album will start around
the world.
A detailed planning for the forthcoming promotion
plan has now been set. Planet Jackson reveals
some of the major events to come.
- July 30th "Rock My World" radio premiere
- August 5th "Rock My World" video premiere
- September 24th International release date of
INVINCIBLE
- September 25th American release date of INVINCIBLE
The artwork for the covers of the album and the first single have been finalized.
The album cover is an originally designed close-up
of Michael's face [printed with silver ink] and
the cover of the single is a close-up on a
specific detail from the album cover.
Stay tuned to Planet
Jackson as more exciting news will be revealed shortly.
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
22, 2001: MSG Concert - 2 Hour Special On CBS !!
The star-studded Michael Jackson concert originally
set for Sept. 7 in New York will be broadcast
this fall as a two-hour special on CBS. The event,
celebrating Jackson's 30th anniversary as a solo artist,
may encompass multiple nights at the venue, according
to sources.
As previously reported, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears
and 'NSync are among the artists expected to participate.
The festivities will come a few weeks before the tentative
Sept. 25 release date for Jackson's "Invincible", his
first album of new studio material for Epic since 1995's
"HIStory".
Jackson previewed many tracks from the single disc for
key worldwide Sony executives June 12 in New York, sources
say.
Louis Levin, who is rumored to be negotiating
to become Jackson's new manager, could not be reached
for comment.
Michael Jackson has chosen the first single to
be released from the forthcoming INVINCIBLE album.
It will be "Rock My World".
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
16, 2001: Invincible Release Date !!!
On
June 15, 2001 Planet
Jackson reported:
Sony Music and Michael Jackson have now confirmed the final release date for INVINCIBLE,
the King of Pop's new album.
The record will be released on September 25th.
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
16, 2001: More Details On Album Tracks !!!
The
following has been taken from Planet
Jackson:
As the King of Pop’s return is drawing near,
the excitement is building up.
In the meantime, Planet
Jackson reveals more details on the King
of Pop’s upcoming INVINCIBLE album.
Michael Jackson has shaped a new sound for INVINCIBLE.
The record features a selection of fast tracks that will set new standards in musical production.
The album is packed with strong beats, creative
tempos and killer grooves. Throughout the
record, the flavor is definitely R&B, but Michael’s
own style blends with it in a unique combination.
Once again, Michael Jackson has reinvented himself and comes back with an innovative new sound.
The album is expected to hit the dancefloors like a
tornado. One of the most surprising dance tracks
is “2000 Watts”, an electric club song that comes
in like a whirlwind.
But INVINCIBLE also contains the classic Michael Jackson
hit tracks, the signature songs that made him the King
of Pop.
Jackson’s favorite song on the album is the uptempo
destroyer track “Unbreakable”.
Another huge piece of music is the incredible “Rock
My World”, one of the album best tracks and one of Michael Jackson’s surest hits ever.
From the fascinating a cappella intro of “Speechless” to the poignant rendition of the heartfelt anthem“The Lost Children”, Michael Jackson’s voice
reaches new heights in the mastery of vocal performance.
INVINCIBLE contains seven amazing ballads. One
of the strongest and most passionate is “Cry”,
a beautiful song co-produced by R. Kelly.
R. Kelly is one of the producers who made the
final cut onto the album. As is Teddy Riley. Rodney Jerkins also co-produced several tracks on INVINCIBLE. Another collaboration on INVINCIBLE is
a posthumous rap cameo by Notorious B.I.G.
The global outline of INVINCIBLE is an extraordinary
collection of great music that will strike audience
with amazement.
This fall, the King of Pop takes over. Brace yourselves.
Infamous producer Rodney Jerkins has revealed
that Michael Jackson's forthcoming album is "so
hard"that fans will have to turn down
the volume to enjoy it.
The King of Pop's new long-player "Invincible",
as dotmusic exclusively announced, is set to surface
this autumn and is reportedly his best work since "Thriller".
Jackson has incorporated hip-hop and Latin sounds into "Invincible" according to Scottish
newspaper the "Daily Record".
Jerkins, only one of the producers behind the
record, said: "When you play his new CD, compared
to somebody else's CD, you may have to turn it down
because it's banging so hard. That's what I went for.
Michael is such an inventor of sound."
"I think he wanted some new stuff that the ears haven't
heard yet, that radio hasn't heard yet, that people
haven't heard yet."
The
following has been reported by MTV [06.14.2001 8:10 PM EDT]
15 Invincible Tracks
Though Michael Jackson has kept the world waiting
for his new album, executives at his record label got
a sneak peek of the nearly finished work this week.
Invincible is the tentative title for the record,
sources said, though an Epic Records spokesperson could
not confirm any details about the project.
The label did say that the record is planned for release
in time for consideration for the next Grammy Awards.
That means it would have to be out by September 25.
Jackson recently made his collaborators sign confidentiality
agreements about the album, but some details have surfaced.
Until a few weeks ago, Jackson was putting the finishing
touches on the album with producer Teddy Riley at Miami's
Hit Factory, according to sources at the studio, who
said Jackson had been there for three months. The
first single is a collaboration with Method Man,
those sources said.
Riley and Rodney Jerkins produced the bulk of the album,
the studio sources said. Other producers who have been
connected with the project include R. Kelly, Swizz Beatz,
former Jodeci member DeVante DeGrate, David Foster,
Kevin "Shek'spere" Briggs and the Neptunes, though it
is not known if their work will appear on the finished
LP.
At least 50 tracks were recorded and 15 were previewed
for the label this week, sources said. Some of the songs
previewed included "Unbreakable," "Speechless," "The
Lost Children" and "Privacy," though the track listing
remains indefinite.
Meanwhile, Jackson's plans to pay tribute to himself
with a concert featuring the likes of 'NSYNC, Britney
Spears and Whitney Houston are undergoing some changes.
The original announcement from Jackson's publicists
said the concert would take place September 7 at Madison
Square Garden in New York, with tickets to be available
the first week of June. While further ticket information
has yet to surface, show producer David Gest announced on Wednesday that a second show is being added for
September 10.
Production spokespeople said all previously announced
artists are still on for the tribute, though they're
still figuring out if the lineup will remain the same
for both nights. Madison Square Garden officials said
they're still working out the details.
Preparations for the tribute are already under way. Initial auditions took place June 6 and 7, while callbacks are in progress for the casting of the
show, an event choreographer said. Dance rehearsals
are scheduled to start in mid-July, while band rehearsals
are slated for the first week of September, according
to the studio where the rehearsals are to take place.
Brian Thomas, the choreographer, said that while he's
sworn to secrecy, he can confirm that producers are
looking for 30 dancers trained in jazz and hip-hop,
as well as performers with special skills, such as tumbling,
for the two-hour show.
"They have to be versatile," Thomas said, "because
they have to last the entire show. They might have to
do one number with Whitney Houston and another with
Brian McKnight."
Jackson and Gest have yet to select a director for the
show, Thomas said, so "things can still change."
Jackson's hasn't released an album since 1997's Blood
on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix, which sold relatively
poorly. His last album of all-new material was 1991's
Dangerous.
[Please note that MTV's news on the first single
is not confirmed by Sony Music]
After the premiere of Michael Jackson's new album to Sony Music last Tuesday, several leaks occured and
rumors started to appear in the media all over the world.
Although Michael Jackson wished to keep details on his
album secret a few more weeks, it has now become impossible
to stop the leak of information.
In order to prevent baseless rumors from spreading, Planet
Jackson will now release the official
information on Michael Jackson's new album.
The title of the album is: INVINCIBLE
Tracklisting:
- Invincible
- Unbreakable
- Heartbreaker
- Break Of Dawn
- Heaven Can Wait
- Rock My World
- Butterflies
- 2000 Watts
- Speechless
- Cry
- Shout
- The Lost Children
- Don't Walk Away
- Privacy
- Threatens
[titles in random order]
As previously stated, Michael Jackson is still undecided
about four songs from this selection which might
be replaced.
Stay tuned for more news on the new album.
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
14, 2001: Album Title Revealed !!!
The
following has been reported by MJNI:
New Album Titled Revealed; Second MSG Date Added
WKTU Radio in New York let the cat out of the
bag this morning when it announced the title of Michael's
new album.
First it was Off the Wall, then Thriller. He's Bad and
Dangerous. He's made music HIStory over and over again. He is in a word, INVINCIBLE.
That's right folks. INVINCIBLE is the title of the King of Pop's new CD, expected to
hit music stores in September to coincide with the September
7th MSG concert.
WKTU DJs had an opportunity to preview the
album this week, with one calling it "amazing". Expect a "change in the music industry," said morning DJ Michelle Versage.
MJNI has also learned that a second MSG show is now planned for September 10th, with more information
due at the end of the month.
[source: MJNI]
June
14, 2001: Second Gig At MSG On Sept. 10 !!!
NEW
YORK -- [ENTERTAINMENT
WIRE] -- June 13, 2001:
Set for New York in September
Producer David Gest confirms that "MICHAEL
JACKSON: 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE SOLO YEARS" is a go!
According to Gest, the Public Relations firm Susan Blond, Inc. has been retained to
handle the shows as well as the television special.
The all-star salute to "The King of Pop" is confirmed
for two concerts at Madison Square Garden,
will feature more than 200 stars and take place in New
York on September 7, 2001 and September 10, 2001.
Gest stated, "the line-up and details regarding the
event will be announced later this month."
Tuesday June 12th, Sony Music held a special
conference at the Hit Factory studio in New
York City to premiere Michael Jackson's new album
to Sony Music executives from around the world.
Michael Jackson greeted the exclusive crowd at the
studio and then left the audience.
15 songs were premiered during that special session.
Michael being very secret about his songs prior to their
release, we will not reveal the complete tracklisting
details. Besides, there are still four tracks from the
selection that was premiered that might be replaced.
Michael is still undecided about those four songs.
The title of the new album is now decided. Michael
has chosen to give a spectacular title to his
new record. As it is Michael's wish to keep it a secret
for the time being, we will only reveal that the album title is one word that begins with
the letter "i". And it is spectacular.
After the exclusive premiere of Michael Jackson's new
album, the reaction of the crowd was ecstatic. The new
record was described by many as Michael's best work
since "Thriller." Stay tuned to Planet
Jackson as more exciting information
will be available very shortly.
Behold! The King Is Back...
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
12, 2001: More Details On Album Premiere To Sony Executives
The
following has been reported by MJNI:
Details are emerging about this week's internal premiere
of Michael Jackson's new album.
It's now clear that as many as 60 Sony executives will converge inside a Manhattan recording studio
this week for a hearing of the album. The record
is now believed to be completely finished and will be
released in September.
[source: MJNI]
June
07, 2001: New Album Will Be Premiered To Sony Executives
The
following has been taken from Planet
Jackson:
Michael Jackson's new album will be premiered
to Sony Music international executives during
a special conference in New York next week.
[source: Planet
Jackson]
June
06, 2001: Michael Has Completed Recording Of New Album!!
The
following awesome news has been taken from Planet
Jackson:
Planet Jackson is happy to inform the fan community
that Michael Jackson has completed the recording
of his new album.
