The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute

It’s been three months since the world lost Michael Jackson and tributes have been flowing in many magazine pages, Web pages, music, lyrics and dance. Janet Jackson was able to perform with her late older brother one last time at the MTV VMA’s, and it indeed was a performance to remember.

After a heartfelt introduction to the fallen King of Pop by Madonna, the performance started off with a brief replay of MTV’s launch and the announcement of the premiere of the Thriller video with a young, bright-eyed, handsome Jackson in his signature red jacket. The stage was then flooded by dancers flaunting various outfits Jackson wore in his past performances and videos, such as the gangster suit from “Smooth Criminal” and the black-and-white ensemble from “Black and White.” The video mash-up on the big screen consisted of “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Smooth Criminal.” With each video transition, the dancers gave their all to put on one serious performance because everyone knows that Michael constantly did the same for his fans.

The icing on the cake was the “Scream” duet that Janet did with Michael from his 1995 album, HIStory. The audience screamed while clips of the video were being shown and as soon as Michael’s verse ended, the glass broke and there appeared the Disciplined diva with her futuristic dance outfit. Singing her verse, dancing with Michael and pulling her ultimate Jackson swag, Janet gave an unbelievable performance that shook Radio City Music Hall. The Jackson brothers were so proud of their sister and the rest of the dancers and they know that Michael would have been, too.

Check out the original posting at http://www.in-color.net/index.php/article/the_ultimate_michael_jackson_tribute/.

Photo courtesy of last.fm.

Senator Dems Working with Gov. Paterson

This assignment was by far the hardest story that I did for my public affairs reporting class [oh em gee]. But thank goodness, my group was assisted by my professor and we finished:

Senate Dems are 'committed' to working with governor

Wednesday Oct 7 10:34 AM

By Casey Quinlan, Regina Rivers, Dana Morris, Michael McDonald and Terra Thompson, contributors to The Legislative Gazette

Senate Democrats say they are committed to working with the governor and other lawmakers in the coming weeks as leaders try to remedy the state’s estimated $3 billion budget deficit.

Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Senate Majority Conference, released a statement Tuesday following Gov. David A. Paterson’s announcement that he will try to cut $500 million from the current budget.

"We support the governor’s efforts to get spending under control. The Senate majority is committed to working with the executive and other leaders to protect New Yorkers from further tax and fee increases and to preserve vital services," Shafran said. "With real transparency and real accountability we will find the real savings we need to make New York more affordable for middle income families and small businesses."

Two weeks ago Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, proposed during a September 23 leaders meeting that the new lieutenant governor chair a meeting of the budget staffs of legislative leaders and the governor’s office to begin talks about budget reduction. The governor agreed to the plan.

In a statement released yesterday, Paterson said, “I look forward to working cooperatively with the Legislature to enact additional savings and close our current-year budget deficit.”

In recent days Kolb spoke with Paterson and Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch about the budget after complaining that both of the men had failed to return his phone calls, according to Gannett News Service. Kolb said he is uncertain whether the Democratic majority in both houses wanted to make the cuts.

To see the original posting of the article, check out http://www.legislativegazette.com/day_item.php?item=1146.

In light of me spelling out AIM instant message lingo, my next posting will be an essay of Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman and how media saturated we are as a culture; pending on the grade I receive in my Press in America course.

Write On, Sista (Inside Black Hollywood Magazine)

Write On, Sista!

Written by admin in interviews at 6:22 pm on Aug 11th, 09

Aspiring lifestyle journalist Eboyne’ Jackson has been on the move to her success and shows no signs of stopping.

From print media to her eye-catching website to the many hits for her radio and public access show, Jackson is hitting the journalism world with massive force. Jackson earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Communications minor from Post University in 2007. Since then, she has been contributing, writing, and corresponding for various publications and began to utilize radio and TV in order to expand her audience.

“The Ebony radio show like a part two to the Eboyne’ talk show,” Jackson said. “The TV show is more timely and there is not a lot of editing for the radio.” As a staff writer of Parle’ Magazine, Jackson got in touch with urban author, Relentless Aaron for an interview. They touched based a short time after the interview and began talking business. “Relentless Radio stays true to fun, fabulousity, and whimsical commentary.” Jackson’s radio show has reached more than 10,000 views in just two weeks after its debut and has interviewed Abiola Adams, author Omar Tyree, and Christian Keyes.

“From spirituality and faith to health and beauty and with dynamics on how to go about being multi-faceted, listeners can feel like they can do it,” Jackson states. In addition to her multimedia talents and work with Parle’ Magazine, Jackson writes for various print and online publications. She has graced the pages of Iconography, Diva Dymes, Dynamically Advanced Movements, and Street Confinement Magazines, as well as the New Hampshire Telegraph, the Connecticut Republican-American Newspapers and AOL Black Voices. The positions that she holds with the publications include staff writer, columnist, correspondent, feature fashion writer, fashion editor, and music editor.
Jackson has interviewed a plethora of movers, shakers and entertainers, such as radio personality Miss Info, Pastry designers Vanessa and Angela Simmons, singer and producer Ne-yo, and celebrity stylist Dr. Boogie. She also stated that she was fortunate to attend and cover the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama earlier this year. Soon, she’ll be adding author and fashion designer to her résumé. She is currently working on the manuscript of her first book.

“It’s a self-help book focusing on women empowerment, our place in the world, and how God designed us to be beautiful,” Jackson said. “We can be fun, sensual and sexy without compromising our dignity.” With the book geared toward Christian women and all women in general, Jackson emphasizes about how important it is for people to notice their appearance and portrayal to their environments. “The people I interviewed in my book are offering their own critique on beauty…presenting one’s self commentary with spiritual reference, we do have to answer to someone for our actions,” she concluded.
Jackson is also looking to Anna L. Sparkman to help her with the beginning phases of her clothing line catering to curvy women. Jackson is taking her time in order to achieve the right results. The clothes are being catered to fit women with various shapes, like the big hips, small waist, etc. With her flair for glamorous fashion and her journalistic advancements, we can expect a lot from Ms. Jackson in the months to come. Check out her literary passions and latest interviews at www.eboynejackson.com.

Check out original version at http://insideblackhollywood.com/2009/08/11/write-on-sista/.

PICK UP ESSENCE, SEPT 2009

Look at the 30-page Michael Jackson Tribute with a byline by Marcus A. Scott!

"As the Summer 2009 research and production Essence Intern, I had the excellent opportunity to pitch ideas to the magazine for the September issue, which had to be "crashed in" because of Michael Jackson's shocking death at 50. We had many projects at this time--including our summer project, writing profile features for future files, working on the 40th Anniversary Issue, and various other projects we had at this time--so this was a doozy trying to pull this off! I pitched several ideas, some of which made it in to the magazine. As interns, we covered the timeline and by-the-numbers. My role after this was to compile most of the info, then find sources, then find more facts, and more numbers and to make it as cohesive as possible. This took speaking to the RIAA, Billboard, the Grammys, TV guide and various other media outlets that cater to entertainment, music, pop culture and philanthropy--all of which Michael Jackson has influenced. It was very fun, but took alot of effort. You could say that this was my project, but all of the interns did a lot finding great factoids."

-Marcus Scott (credited as Marcus A. Scott) about his experience working with the magazine. Marcus was a Summer 2009 intern with Time, Inc., publisher of Essence. He worked as the research, processing and production intern, and was housed in Columbia University. He says the experience was a great one!

Athletes and their girls (Essence.com)

Baller and The Beauty
Why do rock stars have all the fun? Here are some of today's hottest athletes and even gorgeous girlfriends/wives!
A gallery by Marcus Scott
Essence Magazine

To see the link, go to: http://photos.essence.com/galleries/baller_and_beauty

Hip-Hop Wives (Essence)

Hip-hop Wives: The Real Wives of Hip-hop and Rap stardom
A gallery by Marcus Scott
Essence Magazine

From CEOs and studio execs to hip-hop pioneers turned pastors, ESSENCE.com brings you the top married couples in the rap game.










To read more, go to:
http://photos.essence.com/galleries/hip_hop_marriages_going_strong

King of Pop, now King of Covers! (Essence.com)

The King of Pop is now the King of All Covers
Michael Jackson’s presence alone, was larger than life, he was the JumboTron megastar.
By Marcus Scott

One black fedora. Check. One rhinestone jacket. Check. A pair of black high-water slacks. Check. A pair of ultra-slick black Oxford shoes. Check. Raising the bar to the sun until it liquefied. Check. Check. Check.

Far from any dilettante in the entertainment biz, on March 25, 1983, 24-year-old Michael Joseph Jackson from small-town Gary, Indiana, shined like a white dwarf when he performed a memorable Jackson 5 medley, reunited with all of his brothers for the 25th anniversary of Motown. Motown 25 was saturated with memorable moments: Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” The Temptations and The Four Tops face-off, and Stevie Wonder’s medley. But nothing stood tantamount to the soft-spoken Michael. His electrifying and exhilarating performance of “Billie Jean,” a menacingly sinister futuristic jazz-funk with the sassy crack-whipped downbeat, cat-on-the-prowl bass stare was unforgettable. A panic-attack set to music, Jackson’s unique vocal hiccup falsetto styling and fancy footwork thrilled the Motown 25 crowd, but it was his bullet-time moonwalk that sprinkled the gold dust that solidified his superstardom.

With a career spanning four decades in popular culture, Michael Jackson’s spectacular and unprecedented career has been nothing short of spectacular. The androgynous, sequined gloved man-child known for his quintessentially avant-garde fashion sense; dizzyingly sleek razor-sharp dance routines and startling, sentimental songbird glissading-tenor—left a black hole that couldn’t be filled. Jackson’s take-no-prisoners frontman bravissimo, was left unmatched by his closest contenders Prince, Madonna and even his youngest sister, Janet. No one did better: no one could hit the same notes with the same emotion, had the same intensity, had the same imagination that created the blueprints for “Scream” and Leave Me Alone,” no one could write the same messages in their songs, and no one could out-dance him. So, why would they cover him? Here are a few stars with the gull to pull it off.

1. Recently, Mrs. Badu herself decided to get her inner Michael one. Covering Michael’s ‘72 single “I Wanna Be Where You Are,” with The Roots crew as her co-pilot, the cover is almost as good as original… almost.
2. Whistle Register diva extradonaire Mariah Carey, a legend in her own right wowed critics and fans alike when she performed for MTV Unplugged in ’92. Her rendition of Jackson’s timeless 1970’s I’ll Be There,” with back-up singer Trey Lorenz was soul-stirring, but despite a No. 1 hit, Michael is still here with us.

3. Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, arguably this generation’s Aretha, brought down the house with her rendition of “Will You Be There?,” with a choir backing her when she performed this gem at the Michael’s memorial at The Staples Center. But, nonetheless its Michael’s vocal ticks and gospel howl that made this a principle standout on his Dangerous album.

4. In 1996, BLACKstreet’s Another Level, took the pop game by the horns and their signature “No Diggity” was anything but a forgettable track. But even they had a hand in sampling the “King.” When Teddy Riley remixed “Billie Jean” with this club banger, it was destined for greatness… just not as great as the original.

5. “Billie Jean” was also covered by another star. The MTV Awards 2007 saw many things that night, with Kanye and others jamming the night away, but it was up-and-comer Chris Brown’s performance with former flame Rihanna that stole the show when he executed Mike’s hat toss, spins, and landing en pointe. A legend in the making?

6. Barbados ingénue Rihanna also got her kicks with “The Gloved One.” Her chart-topper “Don’t Stop The Music,” sampled Michael’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” from the landmark Thriller. Now, if only she can get the African chant down. We believe it’s: “Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa.”

7. Kanye is famous for name checking MJ in his tunes. Basically the backbone of Kanye’s “Good Life,” Michael’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is still one of Thriller’s several highlights. With a T-Pain cameo, Kanye’s Graduation standout track still gets the party started.

8. No one can glam it up better than Beyoncé, and on June 26, ,the night after Michael passed she honored him the best way she knew how: doing a cover. From Off The Wall, “I Can’t Help It” is the smooth jazz slow jam that captured the King at a perfect calm. While the effort wasn’t bad, she’s still got a long way to be Mike, battling between her cliché prima donna vocal gymnastics and Mike’s effortless

9. Giving Mike a big run for his money is sometimes neo-soul singer, sometimes folk singer and pianist John Legend featuring political satirist Stephen Colbert singing “The Girl is Mine.” Probably the oddest couple in musical history, this tour de force, a cover of the very first single from Thriller—comical and soulful—is music with wings.

10. Thriller opened the way it closed, phenomenally and unforgettably. The last track, “The Lady In My Life,” a quiet storm slow jam has also been covered from Ne-Yo to Al B. Sure in R&B music. Mike’s poignant riffs and boy soprano high notes laced with gushy sweetness was one of the few songs responsible for late night pillow talks. Hip-hop icon LL Cool J agrees, and with Boyz II Men grooving in a melismatic unison, “Hey Lover” from his hit “Mr. Smith” not only topped charts, it made us sweat, sampling this MJ classic.

11. From their sophomore self-titled album Naughty By Nature, the East Orange trio unleashed an unforgettable ’91 hip-hop anthem, sampling the Jackson 5’s No. 1 hit “ABC.” Just a simple melody, an acronym for other people’s (sexual) property, “O.P.P.” remains one of the most influential pieces in hip-hip history.

12. “I Want You Back,” the first Jackson 5 single released on Motown, made history as one of four back-to-back number one hits. No doubt, Mr. Roc-A-Fella himself asked Mr. West to sprinkle some Kanye dust on his now-classic The Blueprint. Magic was created when Jay-Z declares fame on the summer smash “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” sampling the J5 standout. The Motown fave has been sampled numerous times, and helped a lot of songs become hits—remember, “Jump” from Kris Kross? Forty years later, and this J5 song is still funky.

13. These Sisters With Voices kick-started a rock-the-house career amongst a competition against other girl groups TLC, Total and Xscape, in the early to mid-90s, but it was their defiant Thriller sample that took the cake in ’92. On the heels of their No. 1 hit “Weak,” it was “Right Here (Human Nature remix)” that was the jump-off to every block party, with Coko’s up-close-and-personal swagger and Michael’s piecing and breathtaking falsetto that pulls at the heart strings.

14. From his 2001 album Invincible, Michael covered a song from UK duo Floetry, about the special someone that stirs up those little emotions every time you look at them. Almost without batting an eye, Michael spits out the syrupy ballad “Butterflies” like he’s calmly sipping chamomile, effortlessly. At first listen alone, it’s evident that the third single, released from his tenth studio album, was a far cry from the Gaia of sound ringing out from Natalie Stewart’s little mouth. While Natalie provides the voice, it’s Mike who provides the bittersweet and heartfelt passion, that Marsha Ambrosius declared.

If you want to see the published version, go here: http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/the_king_of_pop_is_now_the_king_of_all_covers/?Page=1