Michael became a pop-culture superstar, changing the face of music, dance, fashion, and music video with hit after hit. He was idolized and chased by fans and media wherever he went. He took an art form, refined and packaged it, and became an international icon. The American Music Awards recently named him the Artist of the Century. When it comes to the King of Pop, the world is insatiable.p>
After more than 30 years as one of the biggest stars in the world, Michael Jackson remains an enigma. When the mysterious legend appeared on VIBE’s cover for the second time, he agreed to a rare interview. Asking the questions was Regina Jones, who had covered Michael as a child star for Soul magazine, the black music journal she founded with her husband in the 1970s. The King of Pop felt safe enough with Jones to open up about hip hop, life as a single parent, and the mysterious joys of an all-out water-balloon fight.
I first met Michael Jackson some 33 years ago when Diana Ross introduced the Jackson 5—then a brand-new Motown act—to 350 music and media folk at the Daisy Club in Beverly Hills. My husband, Ken, and I were then publishing Soul, one of the first national black entertainment magazines.
Ten-year-old Michael already knew how to charm a crowd. Acknowledging Diana’s support, he said, “After singing for four years and not becoming a star, I thought I would never be discovered—that is, until Miss Ross came along to save my career.
Just four months later, the Jackson 5’s first single, “I Want You Back,” soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, followed two months later by “ABC.” Thousands of letters from across the country poured into our mailbox. Responding to the Jackson’s first tour, one reader wrote: “Those youngsters performed in a manner that could be harmful to one’s health. The heart can only stand so much soul, and their performance was definitely an overdose.”
Over the next decade, Soul kept up with the Jackson family as a guest at parties, weddings, and concerts. We were also regular visitors to the family home, where Michael—soft-spoken, polite, curious, and quiet—was usually off by himself, drawing or playing with his snakes and other pets, while his older brothers, cousins, and visitors played basketball. But when Soul stopped publishing in 1980, I lost touch with the family.
And then Michael became a pop-culture superstar, changing the face of music, dance, fashion, and music video with hit after hit. He was idolized and chased by fans and media wherever he went. He took an art form, refined and packaged it, and became an international icon. The American Music Awards recently named him the Artist of the Century. When it comes to the King of Pop, the world is insatiable.
When we sat down for this VIBE cover story, Michael reminded me of the last time I’d interviewed him—long before the barrage of negative publicity he has received in recent years. He was 13 or 14 at the time and he had his younger sister Janet sitting with him and doing much of the talking. “I felt afraid,” he explained. “I felt that if my sister was there to give me the questions they would go easier with me.”
How does it feel to be re-entering the market and competing in sales with likes of ‘N Sync and Britney, kids who were being born at the height of your fame?
It’s a rarity I think. I had No. 1 records in 1969 and ‘70 and still entered the charts in 2001 at No. 1. I don’t think any other artist has that range. It’s a great honor. I’m happy, I don’t what else to say. I’m glad people accept what I do.
What are your thoughts on the current state of R&B?
I don’t categorize music. Music is music. They change the word R&B to rock ‘n’ roll. It’s always been, from Fats Domino to Little Richard, to Chuck Berry. How can we discriminate? It is what it is—it’s great music, you know.
What are your feelings about hip hop?
I like a lot of it, a lot of it. I like the music. I don’t like the dancing that much. It looks like you’re doing aerobics.
What made you put Biggie on your album Invincible?
It wasn’t my idea, actually it was Rodney Jerkins, one of the writer/producers working on the album. It was my idea to put a rap part on the song. And he said, I know just the perfect one–Biggie Smalls. He put it in and it worked perfectly. It was a rap that was never heard before.
Why did you choose Jay-Z on the remix of the first single “You Rock My World”?
Because he’s the new thing. He’s hip, he’s with kids today. They like his work. He tapped into the nerve of popular culture. It just made good sense.
What was it like for you to appear at New York’s hip hop concert Summer Jam as Jay-Z’s guest?
I just showed up and gave him a hug. It was a tumultuous explosion of applause and stomping. It was a lovely, lovely welcome and I was happy about that. It was a great feeling–the love, the love.
Does it bother you to see people who emulate you, such as Usher, Sisqo, Ginuwine, and even Destiny’s Child?
I don’t mind at all. Because, these are artists who grew up on my music. When you grow up listening to somebody you admire you tend to become them. You emulate them, to look like them, to dress like them. When I was little I was James Brown, I was Sammy Davis Jr., so I understand it, it’s a compliment.
Did you know that you were creating classics while recording Thriller and Off The Wall, both classics that hold up today?
Yes, not to be arrogant, but yes. Because I knew great material when I hear it and it just melodically and sonically and musically is so moving. It keeps the promise.
Do you feel that there is a larger acceptance of black artists these days?
Of course, I think people have always admired black music since the beginning of time, if you want to go back to singing Negro spirituals. Today the market is just accepting the fact that that’s the sound, international, from Britney to ‘N Sync, they are all doing the R&B thing. Even Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, he’d always tell me, [imitating a British accent] “Man, we do R&B.” I said Barry, I don’t categorize it but it’s great music. I understand where he’s coming from. I love great music, it has no color, it has no boundaries; it’s all wonderful music. I love from the Beatles to the Bee Gee’s to the Mamas and the Papas to the Temptations, to Diana Ross and the Supremes, I love all of it. I love Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It’s a killer, I love it.
What’s life like as a single parent?
I never had so much fun in all my life. That’s the truth. Because I’m this big kid and now I get to see the world from the eyes of the really young ones. I learn more from them then they learn from me. I’m constantly trying things and testing things on them to see what works and what doesn’t work. Children are always the best judges to monitor something, especially in my field or any other field. If you can get the kids, you’ve got it. That’s why Harry Potter is so successful, it’s just a family-oriented movie. You can’t go wrong there, you just can’t. That’s why I write lyrics when I write a song I try not to say things that offend parents because we want a wide demographic. I don’t want to be like that. We weren’t raised to be like that. No way, you know [my parents] Mother and Joseph wouldn’t say stuff like that.
Do the pressures of your celebrity status affect your children?
Yes, absolutely, from the day that they were born.
What music do Prince and Paris listen to?
They listen to all my music and they love classical that plays all around the ranch. They like any good dance music.
How would you feel about your children becoming pop icons at 13 and 14 based upon your experience?
I don’t know how they would handle that. It would be tough. I really don’t know. It’s hard because most celebrity children end up becoming self-destructive because they can’t live up to the talent of the parent. It’s hard. Fred Astaire Jr., people used to say to him all the time, “Can you dance?” And he couldn’t dance. He didn’t have any rhythm. But his father was this genius dancer. It doesn’t mean that it has to be passed on. The competition is hard, it’s hard. I always tell my children, you don’t have to sing, you don’t have to dance, be who you want to be as long as you are not hurting anybody. That’s the main thing. Don’t you think?
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