Miss Rhythm Nation is back as she announces her Unbreakable World Tour kicking off this August!

Not long after announcing that she'll be releasing a new album this fall, her first in seven years, under her own record label named Rhythm Nation Records, Janet Jackson has announced that she'll also be embarking on a world tour. The tour is being sponsored by Live Nation and it will make the seventh concert tour done by Janet in her career.

Only the first leg of the tour has been announced so far, which will cover 32 cities across Canada and the U.S., including Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Toronto, with the first show in Vancouver on August 31st. Concert dates for her international shows are to be announced at a later time.

Click below for more details and the full list of tour dates!




Tickets go on sale starting June 22nd, but there are many pre-sale options available.

American Express Card members can purchase tickets beginning Monday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. through Friday, June 19 at 10:00 pm. Walter Frye, V.P. of American Express Entertainment said in a statement:

“American Express is thrilled to partner with an iconic artist like Janet Jackson on the Unbreakable World Tour and bring our Card Members an opportunity to purchase tickets before the general on-sale date. Adding Janet to our industry-leading ticketing partnerships is rooted in our mission to serve our card members’ deep passion for music.”

One can pre-order Janet's new album or any of her other special packages on JanetJackson.com to receive exclusive access to pre-sale tickets as well.

Now see where she'll be headed and when below:

Unbreakable World Tour

August 31 - Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
September 02 - Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddldome
September 04 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
September 05 - Grand Prairie, AB @ Revolution Place
September 07 - Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre
September 08 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
September 11 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
September 12 - Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
September 15 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
September 17 - Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
September 18 - Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
September 20 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
September 23 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
September 24 - Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
September 26 - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre
September 27 - Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater
September 29 - Memphis, TN @ Fedex Forum
September 30 - New Orleans @ Smoothie King Center
October 09 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Axis at Planet Hollywood
October 10 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Axis at Planet Hollywood
October 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
October 17 - San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
October 19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
October 21 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
October 22 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
October 24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ EnergySolutions Arena
October 25 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
October 27 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
October 29 - St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena
October 30 - Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
November 01 - Minneapolis @ Target Center
November 03 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
November 04 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
November 12 - Honolulu, HI @ Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena

Also, check out a brief clip she released of a BTS from tour auditions!

Image via Janet Jackson

5:30:00 PM

Sad news. Paris Jackson, daughter of late legend Michael Jackson, was rushed to the hospital early this morning after a suicide attempt. Paris’ biological mother, Debbie Rowe, confirmed the news to Entertainment Tonight, adding that her daughter had "cuts on her wrist."

TMZ had reported that a 911 call was placed from Paris’ home in Calabasas, CA, around 1:30 a.m., and that she was wheeled out on a stretcher shortly after.


An insider explained to Us Weekly that Paris “has major depression issues, a lot of it stemming from her dad's death.” "It's very real and very sad," the insider added. "She has been extremely depressed and not been able to sleep lately, staying up all night."

Shortly before her emergency, Paris tweeted cryptic messages that were a little off. "Wonder why tears are salty? Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they're here to stay."

Very sad indeed. It has been almost four years to the day since MJ passed, and I understand that she, especially as a young teen, is struggling with losing her father. Instead of passing judgement, let’s just lift her and her family up in prayer.

Image via Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

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12:09:00 PM

Just moments ago, the jury on the case against Dr. Conrad Murray announced their verdict. The jury found Dr. Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of King of Pop, Michael Jackson. MJ passed away on June 25, 2009. I listened to the broadcast live online.

The judge and lawyers are figuring out sentencing dates in court now. I agree with the verdict. I don't believe that Dr. Murray had any malicious intent to kill Michael (because, honestly what sense would that have made to kill someone who was signing your check?) But tes, Dr. Murray should have been found guilty for involuntary manslaughter. In the end, he did Michael that lethal dose of Propofol. To me, this entire matter came down to ethics. Yes, Michael wanted the drug, and probably would've found somebody to give it him eventually. However, it was Dr. Murray's call whether or not he was going to be the one to give it to him. As a doctor, he had to have known that it was wrong to be giving Michael those doses in the first place, regardless of how much money he was being paid.


I hope that the Jackson family can sit well with this verdict. May Michael's soul rest in peace. 

What do you think about the verdict?

1:39:00 PM

Michael Jackson's posthumous video release of his song with Akon, "Hold My Hand" has officially been released. The inspirational song is the first single off of Michael's album entitled Michael, which will be released on Dec. 14.

The video features clips of course, of the late King of Pop at the top of the music empire. According to SingersRoom, It was directed by Mark Pellington and was filmed in California. "The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for -- life, in all its permutations...love, and its power.... A video of memory, healing and joy," the director said in a statement.

Watch the video for "Hold My Hand" below!



PEACE.

8:49:00 AM

Morning yall. Happy Sunday! I very rarely do a post on Sundays, but of course, I had to write today. Today, the late legend Michael Jackson would have turned 52. He passed away last year on June 25. In remembrance of him, I made a music playlist filled with his songs as well as the Jackson Five. Including "Lisa It's Your Birthday" from his appearance on the Simpsons haha my bestie got me hooked on that song! So listen and jam along!

Seriously, it's crazy that he's gone. And it's even crazier the stories that have come out since he passed. His children all out in the public, Papa Joe and some other people still after money, etc etc. But staying on the positive, Happy Birthday Michael! Your presence is greatly missed! Thank you for the contributions you made to the music industry and charities, and the impacts you have made on fans worldwide. Not too many artists have a worldwide fan base, not like him! RIP MJ!


PEACE.

6:00:00 AM

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been a year already. A year ago today, we lost one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, artists of all time in Michael Jackson. Today, I just want to remember his music, and his legacy, not get bogged down in what's going on with his family, or any other issues. Matter of fact, I started my morning blasting his music as I rode into work. So here goes some of my favorite videos by him.

Watch the videos after the jump!




BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE-JACKSON FIVE LOL this is my jam!


THE FULL THRILLER SHORT MOVIE-MICHAEL JACKSON Oh my goodness...swear the first time I saw this when I was a little kid, I was scared to death!!! Had a few nightmares, not gonna lie but I love it now!


WILL YOU BE THERE-MICHAEL JACKSON (FROM THE FREE WILLY SOUNDTRACK) Probably my favorite song by him...I know not one of his biggest hits, but the song is crazy beautiful...


THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US-MICHAEL JACKSON This song has two music videos to it, but I chose the one shot in Brazil because I loved the spirit of the people that came out! This song is special to me, because it talks about the injustices of our system in America, injustices that I think people like to ignore. Shows how


YOU ROCK MY WORLD-MICHAEL JACKSON (from his 30th anniversary celebration) Swear I LOVED this performance! LMAO at Usher trying to dance circles around MJ, almost tripped him up! LOL all in a good time and respect, but boy you already know he got you beat!!! And Chris Tucker is a FOOL! LOL


Those are just a few of my favorite videos. I could go on and on. "Remember The Time," "Ease on Down the Road" with Diana Ross, and so many more songs. What's your favorite Michael Jackson song or memory? I have a bunch. One of the top was that anniversary celebration man. Seeing him and his brothers perform, even if it was only on TV, was exciting for me! This man gave his all in everything he did, and since he stepped on the scene, the music industry has never been the same. RIP Michael...you are surely missed.

PEACE.

4:33:00 AM

When I first heard about the "We Are The World" remake Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones were doing with several of our current musical artists, I, along with several others I'm sure, was skeptical. I didn't know how it would be along side the 1985 original which, of course, featured the late great Michael Jackson, along with other talented artists of that time. When taking a listen to this updated version, I couldn't help smiling and laughing a a little, because you can definitely tell that the song has crossed over to reach my generation. I mean, you got T-Pain with his autotune, Justin Bieber and even Lil Wayne singing, and a whole rap verse featuring Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, among others. It was definitely cool to see LOL. And the crowd was sooooo diverse. I mean, you had Mary Mary, Pink, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Fergie, my girl Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Adam Levine, Toni Braxton, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Usher, and so many other artists. Michael Jackson parts were featured as well. So watch the remake and the original and give thoughts about each one. The videos are featured after the jump.



"We Are The World" 2010


"We Are The World" 1985


It was a good remake to me. Other people may not think so, but I would say that, just like the 1985 version, this remake had a purpose. Its purpose was to show the world that we can all come together AS ONE, no matter what our differences, to lend a helping hand to those in need. And that's what matters. Not who was featured, not how it was sung, but the true purpose behind the song's original meaning. Seeing so many different artists in different genres was a beautiful sight to me.

The "We Are The World: 25 For Haiti" 2010 version of the 1985 Classic was dedicated to the Haiti disaster. It can be downloaded at World 25.org. All proceeds go to helping the Haitian people rise again. So please give. They need us.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

6:20:00 AM

Ok, so I've been MIA from here for a minute. Now I reappear with clips from the 52nd Grammy Awards that were held Sunday night. Ok, now I didn't watch the full show because I was working on a huge school project, but through Twitter and Facebook (gotta love social networking lol), I read about some of the highlights of the night and watched the clips. So I'm gonna post what I thought was hot and what was definitely not. Check the vids after the jump.



BEYONCE THANKS JAY-Z IN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Ok so this was huge, because B has never publicly mentioned Jay-Z as her husband, least of all in an acceptance speech. I mean, we all know that they're married, but for Beyoncé to publicly thank him is awesome. They are definitely a power couple!


MAXWELL PERFORMANCE OF "PRETTY WINGS"
Need I say more. It's Maxwell! He killed it!


TAYLOR SWIFT WINS ALBUM OF THE YEAR?!!! WTH?!!!!!
Yooooo when I read this on a friend's Twitter, I honestly screamed "What the hell?!" Album of the Year?! I give the girl country, because she is a popular country artist. But Album of the Year?! No. I mean, seriously, I know Beyoncé won 6 awards last night (breaking the female record for most Grammys won btw), but my goodness, you know she deserved it. Or Lady Gaga. Not a big fan, but I'm sure her album was better than Taylor's. I'm sorry to all you Taylor Swift fans, but I honestly believe that the only reason Taylor got that award was because of the Kanye incident at the VMAs. And it's a shame. Later on Taylor dropped a Grammy though, and it shattered into a million pieces. If it was this one, good. LMAO! Sorry Taylor, but that award was just not for you. Still shaking my head at this nonsense....


LASTLY...
MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE FEATURING LIONEL RICHIE, CELINE DION, USHER, CARRIE UNDERWOOD, JENNIFER HUDSON, SMOKEY ROBINSON, AND MJ'S CHILDREN, PRINCE MICHAEL AND PARIS JACKSON
It was an amazing sight to see. All of these artists coming together to sing "Earth Song." Michael loved the environment, and it showed through this song. And it was a
3D performance! People in the audience could watch the corresponding short movie that was going to be shown at his tour in London. It was good to see MJ's kids at the end accepting a Lifetime Achievement award for their father (which I felt came a little too late personally but I digress) I thought they seemed a little out of place there, and definitely nervous, but it was still nice to see them.


So there are my favorite moments from a show that I didn't watch in full LOL. But hey, this is all I needed.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

4:07:00 PM

Happy Monday everybody! Sorry for not writing last week. Busiest week of my life, I swear, but I'm back! And back with Michael's new single, "This Is It!"

The single officially was put on his website at midnight last night. It will be featured on This Is It movie in the end sequence. I've taken a listen, and I really like it! I hope yall do too! Take a listen...



MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS IS IT! It's starts October 28, and runs for two weeks only! RIP Michael...we miss you.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

6:06:00 AM

Michael Jackson left behind his exciting music, a wonderful legacy, and three beautiful children: Prince Michael I (12), Paris Katherine (11), and Prince Michael II aka Blanket (7).

So when the great King of Pop passed away, everyone wondered what would happen with his kids, the ones who just saw him as "Daddy" instead of the big-time superstar we knew him to be.

The decision has finally been reached. According to Us Magazine, one of my most trusted sources, Michael's mother Katherine Jackson will have custody of the three children. Debbie Rowe, the mother of Prince and Paris, will get visitation, but no extra money.

NBC's Today show reports that under the new deal, Debbie will retain her parental rights but has agreed not to claim custody.


I'm glad. Honestly I am. I feel like the kids should stay with Mama Katherine (LOL calling her that like she's my mother or grandmother or something, but that's what I call her LOL). They've known her, they love her, they feel comfortable around her. Debbie hasn't really been there in the later years much. However, she does deserve to be a part of their lives. That is their biological mother after all. So I'm glad this deal was reached. It was what Michael wanted (at least as of 2002 according to his will). And something tells me that even if it was written this year, he would've wanted the same thing. The bond between him and his mother was a great one.

I wish this family all the best and they are still in my thoughts and prayers.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

6:31:00 AM

Man I was disappointed reading this news...

Access Hollywood confirmed that Sony secured the rights to the rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson's "This Is It" tour for $60 million. Yep $60 million!! It's Michael Jackson! Sony is planning to release a film of the footage in October (reports have said it might be on Halloween).

However, there was one condition. As part of their deal to get the footage, Sony also required that the planned August tribute concert in London be canceled. The studio stated that there couldn't be a tribute concert prior to the film's release, leaving me, along with millions of fans, I'm sure, somewhat disappointed. I was looking forward to the concert which I'm sure would've been televised, if not live, then sometime in the future. However, I know for a fact, that I would rather see Michael in his rehearsals of the tour, then seeing different celebrities pay tribute to them. No offense, I love Justin Timberlake and my girl Beyoncé, but they ain't Michael LOL. So Sony did what they had to do. I understand. Looking forward to going to that movie, even if I gotta go all by myself LOL. I'll be back at college, so I might even skip class and go see the earliest one LOL Hmmm...now that I mention it...yeah I'm seriouly thinking about it LOL I'm gonna come in there rocking a MJ shirt and everything. Probably would bring my camera cuz Lord only knows what the people of Baltimore and Towson, MD would be wearing LOL. Can't wait for the release!!!! REST IN PEACE MICHAEL!!!!

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

9:12:00 AM

According to OMG! Yahoo, A&E is working on a reality show featuring Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy Jackson. Footage was filmed for an hour special that was said to be the backdoor pilot for a potential reality series. This footage showed the Jacksons getting a new album together and a reunion tour! A&E planned to show the special sometime next year with the tentative title "The Jackson Family."

Of course, with Michael Jackson's recent passing, things have changed. There has been no additional footage shot, and the network is trying to determine how Michael's passing will be displayed in the special. Folks at A&E are speaking with the Jackson family to determine what direction the show will go, so production is on hold for a while. A&E executives are saying "Stay tuned" though, so we shall see.

Definitely, if there is to be a reality series, I'm in to watch. It would be cool to see the Jacksons still going strong even with their recent loss of Michael. And to have a new album and a reunion tour?! That would be crazy. Plus, I've heard that there is a possible idea of a hologram of Michael performing on the stage along with his brothers. Now there's nothing that can replace the real thing, the real electrifying performances by Michael, but that would still be cool to see. So we shall see! I will definitely keep you posted.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

5:56:00 AM

To view pictures of the memorial booklet click HERE

Wow...all I can say is wow. Today was one of the most beautiful memorial services I ever had the opportunity to watch. Today, the life of Michael Jackson was celebrated at the Staples Center in LA as I reported earlier today. It was a beautiful well-put together service, and I'm happy that I got the chance to watch it (Well, really I took the chance LOL I was at work, but yeah my afternoon was Michael based).

It started out grandly. Michael came out in style in his golden casket escorted by his brothers as a choir sang, "Soon and Very Soon, We Are Going To See the King." As his casket rolled across the front of the stage, people yelled and clapped for the King of Pop. And I couldn't help but let a few tears fall.

The tributes were amazing. Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and Mariah Carey sang beautifully. Queen Latifah spoke as well. Jennifer Hudson (beautiful as ever, and it's about her time on that baby ain't it?! LOL) sang my favorite song by Michael "Will You Be There" and killed it. Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, and Magic Johnson gave their favorite memories about Michael, and it was so touching. Mr. Gordy called him "the greatest entertainer that ever lived." And it's true.

A touching moment for me, when I actually broke down and full out cried during the memorial, was when Usher sang "Gone Too Soon." He struggled toward the end to keep it together, and the Jackson clan came and comforted him. I just cried and cried, because it finally hit me, just how I knew it would, that he was no longer on this earth. Honestly, I feel like Michael really was gone too soon. It seems like he had so much more to give, and it just wasn't his time, but God makes no mistakes, and that was said throughout the service. He is still present in spirit of course, but it's still sad.

Another touching moment was Rev. Al Sharpton's eulogy. He spoke the truth about Michael. I remember this quote from him that he said directly to Michael's children: "There was nothin strange about your daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with. But he dealt with it!" He still went through it. Think about it. All the humiliation and rumors, the FALSE cases from people trying to get some money. He had to go through all of that. Marlon spoke on it toward the end of the service, as he broke down in tears. He said that nobody should have had to deal with all of that, and maybe now they will leave him alone. But honestly, I think it's all just beginning, unfortunately. That's ok, though. Haters are great, but you know what? The good ALWAYS outweighs the bad! And Michael definitely has more fans than haters!

Probably the moment where I cried the most was at the end when little Paris spoke. Hands down, MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENT OF THE MEMORIAL! She spoke briefly, surrounded by her brothers and other members of the family, before breaking down into tears: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just want to say I love him so much." And then she turned to Janet for comfort. I was just done. Lost for words. It was so sad.

Like I've said several times before, Michael is no longer here physically, but as long as he is remembered and celebrated, he will never be gone. His music, his humanitarianism, his legacy, it's all just too big. And to my generation, we have to pass on his music to our kids, so that they could pass it on to their kids, and so on and so forth. The name MICHAEL JACKSON will never die!

Michael, we miss you. We love you. You are and always will be the King of Pop, or, as Berry Gordy more appropriately put it, THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED! Take your rest, and make sure you have a big concert ready for us in heaven!!!

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

8:13:00 PM

Well, today is the day. The day that people have been waiting for and also dreading. That's how I feel too. Today is the memorial service to celebrate the life and achievements of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. It is scheduled to be shown live on major networks like ABC, NBC, VH1, and BET. I'm at work, so I won't be able to watch all of it, but you best believe I have my little sister taping it at home LOL And for sure, I'm gonna be risking my job to watch a little of it here LOL, but hey, IT'S MICHAEL JACKSON! So it's beyond worth it.

I'm definitely anxious for it. I know that it will be a sad service, because yet another of our great legends has passed away. But I also know that it will be a happy service, because Michael would probably want it that way. He's so childlike himself, that he probably wouldn't want a boring sad service like we normally see. Some of the performers scheduled to perform include Usher, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Hudson. Part of me is hoping that they will have a surprise guest in the person of Chris Brown, but I know that's wishful thinking LOL It should be a great service and I'm excited to see it. I'm also wondering how many people are going to show up to the Staples Center knowing good and well they don't have tickets or wristbands and that the service isn't going to be played on the jumbotrons outside the Center. Me personally, I love Michael but I would not be standing in the hot LA sun with absolutely no chance of seeing the service, when I could watch it comfortably in my own home in a nice air-conditioned environment LOL I'm just saying.

I was speaking to one of my besties again last night, and I told her I would do this. I gotta put people on blast again. Of course, when the news came out that there would be tickets given out for this great occasion, and 1.6 million people applied, there was bound to be some people trying to milk it for all it was worth. Honestly, people are so money-hungry these days, it's ridiculous. Selling extra tickets and wristbands on E-bay for $15,000?!!! Making all these ugly t-shirts with his picture on it just to make a profit? Using his tribute time to promote what you have going on? (Yeah, that was directed at some folks at the BET Awards LOL I watched bits and pieces last night and got mad all over again LOL) Have you no shame? Seriously, how you gonna try to cash in on the man's death? I understand, we're in a recession. Times are hard, you got babies to feed, but good goodness. People didn't let the man rest in peace while he was living. Can't he get some peace now that he's gone? Can his family get some peace now? Lord I tell you....

Anyways, back to the subject at hand...This memorial service is definitely going to be one for the record books. There will be thousands of people actually there, and probably millions watching from home (or, for some of us, work cuz I'm not missing it shoot LOL) This is for the legend, the icon, the humanitarian, MICHAEL JACKSON!!!! Gotta do it up right! Of course, I will give yall my take on it after all is said and done. Be sure to tune in today during your specific time for your area. The memorial is at 10 AM Pacific Time, so add or subtract the hours the way you need to. Like I said last week, you don't wanna be flipping the channels looking for the service when it's 10 AM your time, 7 AM LA time. LOL somebody's bound to do it anyway!

PEACE.

~Britany Shawnté

5:02:00 AM

Ok, it's set in stone this time. I had to keep pulling stories down because incorrect information was being given out. But it's set. A public memorial will be held for the legendary Michael Jackson on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10 AM in the Staples Center in LA. A private memorial service will also be held at the Staples Center later that day. For those that do not live on the West Coast, remember to add in your extra hours so you're not looking at the TV for the memorial at 10 AM your time, 7 AM LA time. That's happened to me before LOL. NOTE: This will NOT be a public FUNERAL as was reported before with a public viewing. It will be a memorial for the King of Pop.

God, it's all hitting me now. It's been a week ago today since Michael left this earth. It's a really hard pill to swallow, losing someone with that much talent, charisma, love, and generosity. It's hard for a lot of people to understand. I'm struggling with it myself, but I do know that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I believe that Michael has played the role he was supposed to play, inspiring us with beautiful music, incredible (even though they are seemingly impossible LOL)dances, and electrifying performances. He inspired people to be better singers, better dancers, but, most importantly, to be better people in general.

People can say all they want about him, but the fact remains that most, if not all, artists out here today would say that Michael Jackson inspired them to take it to the next level. They would say that they wouldn't be where as an artist without his influence. From Quincy Jones & Diana Ross to Dolly Parton & Miley Cyrus, from Ne-Yo & Chris Brown to *N'Sync & Britney Spears, from Destiny's Child & Boyz II Men, to Lil Wayne & T.I. MICHAEL JACKSON HAS TOUCHED THEM ALL. Your favorite artists might not be at the level they are if it wasn't for Michael. You can say what you want about his appearance or even the stupid cases people tried to build up against him (just to try to get some money, in my opinion), but the fact remains that THIS MAN IS A MUSICAL GENIUS, AMAZING PERFORMER, AND A LOVING PHILANTHROPIST!!! That's to all the naysayers.

It's a sad occasion, and fans around the world are in mourning. But let's not stay in that position too long guys. Celebrate his life. Do the moonwalk in your living room like old times. Get your Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 collection out and BLAST IT! That's what I'm doing. Shoot, "Blame It On The Boogie" is playing as I write this! LOL

He is, and always will be THE KING OF POP! Rest in Peace Michael. We miss you and love you.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

1:33:00 PM

I know I have had so many posts about Michael Jackson, and that is because he has had a profound impact on me, members of my family, my friends, and so many people throughout the world. "In The Spotlight" is not an official Michael Jackson blog. I have other celebrity news that will definitely be written about, but just know and try to understand why Michael is taking precedence right now.

I felt the need to share this video with all of the Michael Jackson fans out there. It's the official video for "Better on the Other Side", a tribute song to Michael by The Game, featuring Chris Brown (YES!!!!!!), Diddy, Mario Winans, Usher, Polow Da Don, and Boyz II Men. This song is amazing! Thank you to Game and all of the other artists featured for making a beautiful tribute to Michael. And in such a short time! I'm proud of it. I just watched it and the tears are falling!! RIP Michael...I miss you already. Oh and one day I vow to master the anti-gravity move LOL Enjoy the video!



PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

3:46:00 PM

*******SPOILER ALERT!!!!*******
If you have not watched the 2009 BET Awards yet, and wish to watch it later on in the weeks to come, and don't want to know what happened just yet, DO NOT READ THIS BLOG!!!!!!!

Well, I said I would write about it and I most definitely am. This post may just be a little longer than the others, but I just have so much to say. Last night was the 2009 BET Awards. It was hosted by Jamie Foxx, and, of course, featured several superstars such as my girl Beyoncé (I'm gonna get to her a little bit later in this post), Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys, etc. etc. Of course, upon hearing about the unexpected passing of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, on Thursday, BET decided to change the show around to pay tribute to this great legend who has left behind such a beautiful legacy.

Well, in all honesty, I kind of wished they didn't. When I first heard that they would be changing the show around, I didn't think that it would be the best. They only had a couple of days to work with, so I knew that it just would not be the best tribute ever. BUT LAST NIGHT WAS JUST A HOT MESS!!!!


Ok, first, it started in the pre-show with Mr. Marlon Wayans opening his big mouth and saying that New Edition would be performing first. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SURPRISE!!!! Thank you Marlon. BET, now yall know that yall need to keep some things to yourselves. Then, when New Edition came on, they had all six members, which I was surprised by. They performed Jackson 5 hit songs, and it was ok. Not the best, but ok. They tried. I gave them that. Their costumes were hot though.

Throughout the night, everybody was commenting on Michael, which was to be expected. People were trying to give tribute, but all in all, it just wasn't working for me. Ciara sang "Heal the World" which was okay. Again, like New Edition, not the best, but I gave to her because she tried. ONE OF THE BIGGEST FLOPS OF A TRIBUTE was from Miss Keri Hilson. Her behind was gyrating on stage like she was Elvis, and it was just not good at all. I was extremely disappointed with her performance.

Let me tell you who else just got on my last nerves. Mr. Jamie Foxx himself. Now I love Jamie, don't get me wrong. Dude is funny, and he is very talented. But last night, he just lost himself. I feel like he made it all about him, when it was supposed to be mostly about Mike. I especially saw this when he had a whole crowd of loud ghetto black people (YES I SAID IT!! I'M MAD!!) around him trying to get their five minutes on TV. He told them to calm down cuz this was for Mike, and then his behind gonna start talking about his stupid tour. All night long, he was talking about his stupid tour. He tried at some points to pay tribute to Mike, like when he tried to moonwalk all the way across the stage (emphasis on TRIED, cuz his moonwalk was busted). I was mad at him last night.

Yet another thing that upset me, were some of these costumes people were wearing in honor of Mike. Really just some of the costumes people were wearing period. People were wearing all of these Michael Jackson shirts, and not one of them would I actually even think about buying. One of my best friends, who I spent the entire show on the phone with, stated that they looked like somebody just took a giant sticker of Michael and pressed in on all of the shirts. Sorry to say, it's true. I'm tired of the ugly MJ shirts. They don't do him justice. THEN Jamie Foxx and Keri Hilson both sported these high as ever pants. Now I know that Mike did have his socks showing as he performed, but Jamie and Keri's pants were capris! Michael's pants were never that high! Ugh...Then my girl Beyoncé. Beyoncé, Beyoncé, Beyoncé. She performed "Ave Maria", and "Angel" by Sarah McLachlin. In the middle of her performance, she changed into this huge umbrella skirt thing that was just not necessary. She was supposed to be a bride, but, in my mind, it's a little too late to be trying to acknowledge you're married to Jay-Z. Yall done been together since 2002, 2003, and you didn't want to say anything about it then. You didn't even want to say anything when yall got married. So no sense in trying to promote it now. Sorry B, I love you, I really do, but that's how I feel. Told yall she was coming up.

Speaking of Beyoncé and Jigga, here goes yet another disastrous moment of the BET AWARDS. B was accepting her award for Best R&B Female Artist, and she turns to walk backstage, like what is normally done when you win an award. Jamie Foxx comes out of nowhere, escorts her to her seat, saying that there was a suprise, and he didn't want her to get hurt. So, of course, I'm sitting here thinking it's something big for Michael. But no, it's Jay-Z. Now I love Jay-Z's music and all, but all that wasn't necessary just for his behind to take the stage. I'm sorry, but it wasn't. Again another disappointment.

My last one, and I swear I'm done (Trust me, I could go on and on cuz I got a list). All of this unnecessary cussing just cuz the show was live. Now Eddie Levert let an explicit go, when he was accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award with the O'Jays. I let that go, because it was an accident. But Jamie was cussing frequently, and then oh Lord, Lil Wayne and his crew, acting like they didn't have no type of sense when they were performing. (Drake killed it though!!!) They were just cussing like their behinds were still in the streets. No, your ignorant black behinds (AGAIN YES I SAID IT!!!!!!) were at the BET AWARDS, a show with just a tad more class than you may be used to. Oh I was heated. Wayne is one of the hottest rappers out now, but come on now. Am I in the wrong for believing that the cussing should have been toned down by like, A LOT?! Ugh... And then Wayne having those young girls including his daughter Reginae up there by Drake? Yeah me and my bestie were wondering what they were doing up there...

Now don't get me wrong, the show wasn't all bad. They showed clips of Michael performing and talking about his work, and I greatly enjoyed that. Ne-Yo was great. He perfomed "The Lady in My Life" and I really liked it. Monica and Keyshia Cole performed my song "Trust" and they killed it. Then towards the end of the show, Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance (oh and Papa Joe Jackson was there too) as a rep for the entire Jackson family and said how she appreciated the love and support being shown to them in their time of bereavement (In her mind, she knows deep down that show was a mess). I remember she said, "To you, Michael was an icon. To us, Michael was family." She was seriously trying to keep herself together up there, and I just about lost it myself. Then the very last performance was with Ne-Yo and Jamie performing "I'll Be There". FINALLY A REAL TRIBUTE!!!! It was very beautiful, very classy, and very appropriate, UNLIKE MOST OF THIS MESS BET TRIED TO PULL OFF!!!! Jamie won back some points after that.

So yeah, the BET Awards had its good moments. But overall, I'm feeling like it was a fail. To me, it just hasn't been the best it could be since Mo'Nique was hosting. The tributes throughout the night were overall lame. I'm feeling like if you were going to make tributes to Michael Jackson, THE Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, the Legend, the Icon, it should've been a little more put together. I would have rather had a well put together, more thought-through tribute later on in July or something, than the mess that they tried to give him at the BET Awards last night. Yall know I'm right. Yall know I'm right. BET, AND MY BEAUTIFUL BLACK PEOPLE IN GENERAL, WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER!!!!! A lot of us are on track, but, as was seen last night, we have a LOOONNNNGGG way to go!

Leave your comments on how you felt about the show, or hit me up on the Facebook Page (under the name Brittany Shawnté for those who didn't know). Sorry for the long post, but hey, I had a lot to say, AS ALWAYS LOL!!!

Rest In Peace, Michael. I love you and you live on through your music and your beautiful legacy. I hope that you get a really good tribute sometime soon.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

4:59:00 AM

I was coming home from work, and when I got home, I got the report from one of my best friends. Reportedly, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 today at the UCLA Hospital Center. I'm seriously, seriously heartbroken. A part of me refuses to believe it. A part of me just wants CNN or MSNBC to report that this isn't true. It can't be true. He is a legend. He can't be replaced. There is just no way. There is just no way. I'm seriously on the verge of tears right now.

This man is an inspiration to SOOOO many people. He inspired people to start dancing. You know you still hit that moonwalk in your living room. He inspired people to want to be entertainers. He is a great humanitarian. This man is a musical genius. People can say whatever they want about him, but they can't deny that this man IS A LEGEND. He inspired me to go after my dreams with everything I have. I just...I'm so upset right now. I know that God makes no mistakes, but it's just hard to watch when people leave this world at a young age. I mean, 50 is not old at all. First Bernie and Isaac, now this. It's just too much. I don't even want to go to work tomorrow. My stomach is all in knots. My eyes are just glued to the news, in disbelief of all of this.

I couldn't help thinking of one of my greatest memories of Michael. It was his 30th Anniversary Celebration as a solo artist at Madison Square Garden in 2001. I remember all of these artists coming out and celebrating his career, and, when he came out, PEOPLE WENT CRAZY!!!! And I went crazy at home right along with them!!! I sang along with the songs, and danced around the house! I remember joking with my dad when Usher was on stage trying to dance with Michael toward the end of the show, and Usher almost made him mess up LOL And then I couldn't help laughing when Chris Tucker came out and did Michael's famous kick with the wrong leg as usual, and then Michael fell out on stage laughing. Ahh...it was great. Be sure to post your favorite Michael memories.

TO ALL OF THE HATERS, I'M WARNING YOU NOW, STAY AWAY, BECAUSE YOU WILL GET PUT ON BLAST HARD!!!!

I'm still watching the news. I just can't believe this. Gone too soon.
RIP Michael Joseph Jackson August 29, 1958-June 25, 2009. You will forever be missed. Nobody will ever, EVER replace you!!!!! Often imitated, but never duplicated.
Rest In Peace, Michael. You are forever loved.

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

3:48:00 PM