Video Review: Camp Lo Boom Through ATL

Camp Lo Rains Luchini in Atlanta By Ismael AbduSalaam Last Friday (June 5), New York’s Camp Lo brought their unique, 70’s influenced style to the club Cenci venue in the city of Atlanta.

Unbeknownst to many, Camp Lo has been making regular appearances in the A since their breakout, 1997 debut album. With Atlanta being a transplant city full of northerners, westsiders, native ATLiens, and others, the tandem has never had an issue having an audience for any booked show.

The Cenci venue doubles as a restaurant/lounge on the main floor, and incorporates another full bar and stage in the basement. It was smart to hold the show downstairs, as the very dark lighting and intimate setting created the feel of the famous house party painting seen on the cover of Marvin Gaye’s I Want You, and Camp Lo’s debut. Concert-goers loosened up and danced while awaiting the headliners, and were treated to mid 90’s classics that spanned from Dr. Dre’s “Deep Cover” to Jeru’s “Come Clean.”

The 70s-styled Bronx duo was quite tardy for the show, not touching down until close to 2AM. Thankfully, Atlanta standouts Binkis Recs and Senor Kaos held down the venue beforehand with energetic sets that incorporated classics like Tribe’s “Scenario,” and breaks like the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache.”

The Lo thanked the patrons for their patience before kickstarting their set with the Smokey Robison-sampling “Lumdi,” and “Dope Boyz.” The crowd was receptive to these offerings, but the excited murmuring made it apparent that everyone was ready to rock out to selections from the group’s seminal debut, Uptown Saturday Night.



Camp Lo soon obliged, receiving loud applause when the rhythms of “Krystal Karrington” hit. Unlike many 90’s acts, whose breath control and lyric memory have deteriorated in the new millennium, Camp Lo’s rhymes were as crisp and clear as their CD counterparts. Ironically, for all of Uptown Saturday Night’s acclaim amongst fans, not many could recite the pair’s dense, allusion-heavy elliptical rhyme schemes. The result was the crowd supporting Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede as defacto hypemen, chiming in at the recognizable words and for choruses.

The group mixed in tracks from their latest offering Stone & Rob: Caught on Tape like “On Smash,” and the dancehall-tinged “89 of Crime.” However, like true veterans they continually surveyed the crowd reactions, and improvised selections as needed. After starting their sultry love ballad “Ticket 4 2,” Camp Lo cut the track short after joking there were not enough females present for the track to be appreciated.

Back to Uptown Saturday Night, the duo finished strong with more up-tempo tracks like “Black Connection,” “Rockin’ It” and “Swing.” The audience’s energy became more frenetic when “Coolie High” hit, obviously knowing that there was one final classic single that was needed to cap off the evening.



With various chants for “Luchini,” and even a scattered smart fan asking for the “Luchini Remix,” Geechi Suede made a simple request while the DJ held off on any music.

“We going to do something special right now,” he stated. “But at the same time we want everybody from the front, to the back, to the left, to the right; I want to see every hand in the air in the name of Hip-Hop. I don’t want this to drop until everybody is with us. I’m with everybody no matter how drunk I am.”



And with that, the familiar lush horns of “Luchini” boomed throughout the venue. The crowd didn’t struggle with this one, easily finishing the lines of each emcee as they spit back and forth. Camp Lo did the track justice, not fumbling once and making sure fans that had waited since 10:30PM had received their money’s worth.

Although the show did not officially end until close to 3AM, Camp Lo made the delays worthwhile. And even going into yet another decade, the Lo has ensured their fanbase will continue to thrive in Atlanta.

Michael Jackson Fan On Memorial: 'I Can't Believe I'm Going'

Longtime fan was among the 8,750 people to obtain tickets.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Michael Soleta
Photo: Michael Soleta

LOS ANGELES -- For years, Michael Soleta dreamed about seeing Michael Jackson perform onstage, but he was never able to land tickets. Now, Soleta, 19, at least will be able pay his final respects to the late singer.

The California native was one of the 8,750 people to successfully obtain tickets for the public memorial taking place at Staples Center on Tuesday. More than 1.6 million people registered online for the opportunity to attend the service, according to reps for the Jackson family, and a computer-generated program selected who will either see the proceedings live at the Staples Center or in a simulcast across the street at the Nokia Theater.

"I can't believe I'm actually going," Soleta told MTV News not long after he was notified via e-mail, at approximately 6 p.m. PT on Sunday. "Because for most of my life, I always wanted to go to a Michael Jackson concert. And I realized his last tour would be in London, so I wasn't going to that. I was pretty bummed about that, actually. So this is the only way I can be close to him."

Soleta and his mother -- who will be joining him at the memorial -- will be among the thousands heading to the Staples Center on Tuesday. City officials have warned ticket-less fans to stay away from the area, as only those with tickets and the corresponding wristbands will be permitted entry. Reports of a live broadcast outside the arena are false; the best way to view the service is from home, the Los Angeles Police Department has repeatedly urged fans.

Soleta however will be traveling from Fairfield, California, approximately 50 miles north of San Francisco, to see the proceedings. The avid MJ fan (he dressed up like Jackson twice for Halloween, he said) will make the trip to Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, where selected registrants were directed to pick up their tickets at Dodgers Stadium between the hours of 8am and 6pm PT. According to CNN, fans_have already began picking up their tickets and wristbands, one of which is blue and one gold.

Fans were active on social-networking sites like Twitter and Facebook on Sunday as they awaited notification. Posted messages of joy soon began appearing for those receiving tickets; messages dismay for those who didn't.

Soleta was no different. The odds of securing a ticket were estimated at 1 to 182, according to a release sent out by Jackson family reps over the weekend. "I just printed my voucher" Solet Tweeted. "I'm still in shock I was selected."

Additional plans for the public service and a private memorial taking place beforehand were still being developed at press time.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered." Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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B.o.B On Name Changes, Collabos With Eminem

'You make the best music when you're going through the hardest situations,' Atlanta MC tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

B.o.B
Photo: MTV News

The mixtape game is looking real big out there — street CDs are getting cats big free-agent deals, superstars are warming up the terrain for their albums and, in the case of Bobby Ray, the circuit is a way to release frustration and connect with fans while he waits for his debut to finally be released. He already has Tip's ear, and Eminem is checking for his music now as well. We got the goods all week — stay locked.

This Week's Main Pick

Street King: Bobby Ray

Holding It Down For: ATL

Street Album: B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray

Real Spit: No matter who wins in B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray, the artist who is known by both names insists neither one will die — they will simply merge. His debut, once known as The Adventures of B.o.B, will now be named The Adventures of Bobby Ray.

"I'm merging the B.o.B element to what I'm doing now," Bob told us recently in Atlanta.

The album still doesn't have a release date, but Bobby is keeping busy, playing on the road and dropping mixtapes. We broke the news of Bob's musical evolution and moniker switch a few months back.

"The mixtape really comes from just the obvious idea of during this transition — musically, name-wise, style, everything — to do a mixtape where you compare and contrast what's the difference, and emphasize the direction I'm going in. I feel really good about it. I feel like it's an album. There's a lot of music we're putting on there — 18 songs. We're doing two versions. One version with no DJ drops — it's set up like a two-sided album — and then we have one with DJ Don Cannon and DJ Green Lantern where they mix it up DJ style."

Bob says the growth into Bobby Ray is all about his coming of age.

"The difference between B.o.B and Bobby Ray is ... when I was signed under B.o.B, I was really young and didn't understand the type of business I was getting into," he explained. "[I didn't understand] how free I could be with the music. I felt like I had to play this person, play this certain character — talk a certain way, dress a certain way, rap a certain way. Now that I look back on it, I don't really feel that way. I don't really believe it. I wouldn't do that now. I wanted to break away from that and not box myself in. Bobby Ray isn't a character — he's really me. At the same time, it's so different, it's like a snake shedding its skin. Shed the old and onto something new. When I feel that's had its run, I don't think I'll do another name-change, but you're constantly evolving and that's where the inspiration from that came from. ... Moving forward, I'll officially be Bobby Ray."

Bobby Ray/B.o.B recently met with Eminem and Slim Shady in the studio, where the artists collaborated on a couple of tracks.

"We were in the studio ... we actually made a couple of productions, orchestrations," he said. "I'm real excited to see how people feel about it. For me it's a dream come true."

Joints to Check For

» "One." "The song features Big Kuntry and MacBoney from Grand Hustle," Bob explained. "The song uses a Beatles sample. [Editor's note: Bob probably meant Three Dog Night's cover of Nilsson's "One."] They say, 'One is the loneliest number.' It doesn't necessarily mean being one by yourself or one at the top -- it's just that motivation and energy you get. Just understanding that in any situation, it's really just you, whether you're at the top or the bottom. I'm venting on it. We all got some things to say. I impressed myself with that verse."

» "My Sweet Baby." "I don't know exactly where the sample came from," Bob said. "I'm trying to show my lyrical finesse. There nothing too deep on it, but I'm putting some thoughts out there I want to express. This mixtape, for me, is release therapy."

» "No Man's Land." "I'm excited about this song," Bob boasted. "It's got a good mix between B.o.B and Bobby Ray with this song. I'm excited ... just about this musical energy behind it ... and what I was going through when I made the song. It came from that period of frustration I went through, when there were rumors about me quitting. You make the best music when you're going through the hardest situations."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Michael Jackson Fans Await News On Memorial Tickets

Thousands have already made their way to the Staples Center to honor Jackson.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Photo: Mark Ralston/ AFP

LOS ANGELES — Over 1 million fans who registered online for the chance to attend Michael Jackson's public memorial woke up Sunday morning (July 5) awaiting e-mail notification on whether they were selected for two tickets to the service, to be held Tuesday at the Staples Center.

According to representatives for the Jackson family, close to 1.6 million fans from around the world registered for the 17,500 tickets that will be made available to the public; 11,000 selected registrants will enter the Staples Center, while the remaining 6,500 chosen will be ushered just across a small street to Nokia Theater for a live simulcast.

Bogus reports have been circulating online, falsely attributed to The Associated Press, saying that the notification has been delayed until Monday because of the overwhelming demand. But Shawn Sachs, a publicist working with the Jackson family, told MTV News via e-mail that "nothing has changed," and fans will still be notified on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. PT. Ticket pickup will then take place on Monday, at a location away from the Staples Center. Two tickets and two corresponding wristbands will then be given to 8,750 computer-selected fans.

Are you one of the fans selected to attend Michael Jackson's memorial? Tell us about it via Twitter.com/mtvnews or Your.MTV.com.

While millions anxiously await notification, a slew of Jackson fans had already made their way to the Staples Center by Sunday. A banner honoring Jackson that was erected on Star Plaza just in front of the center has become a makeshift memorial. Many visited the site during the holiday weekend and signed the banner with messages, placed drawings of the King of Pop nearby or laid down flowers honoring the late musical icon.

"I just wrote, 'Michael, you brought so much happiness to the world. May you rest in peace,' " Los Angeles resident Jessica Rendon told MTV News. Rendon, along with her boyfriend and his cousin, waited in line for 30 minutes to tag the sign. Representatives from the Staples Center allowed fans into the barricaded area for five minutes each to take pictures or leave a message.

A Staples Center rep told MTV News that fans have been signing the banner since late Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning, the line to see the banner had stretched back to approximately 75 people. Vendors hawked King of Pop six-packs of soda, framed Los Angeles Times front pages reporting Jackson's death and other assorted items.

Just across the street, workers were building risers in front of the Nokia Theater in preparation for Tuesday's event. Officials have urged fans to stay away from the area if they do not receive tickets. But tourist organizations and previous reports suggested that as many as 750,000 people will be arriving in Los Angeles to attend the Jackson memorial.

According to the AP, a private memorial for Jackson's family will take place before Tuesday's public service. LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell would not provide details on the private event beyond confirming the location at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. As of press time, plans for the services — from special guests to whether Jackson's body will be brought to the Staples Center — were still being finalized.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Madonna Salutes Michael Jackson At London's O2 Arena

Material Girl gives an emotional tribute at the venue were Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 concerts.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Madonna, Kento and the rest of her dancers perform a tribute to Michael Jackson in London on Saturday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

They both ruled the '80s, redefined themselves in the '90s and, as this decade draws to a close, they remained the two biggest pop stars of this generation. But now there is only one.

Madonna honored the late King of Pop Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, the very same venue where Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform a 50-show run beginning later this month. Jackson's series of concerts were being billed as his farewell tour. Instead, MJ suddenly passed June 25 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Halfway through Madonna's set — which kicked off the second leg of her Sticky & Sweet tour — the Material Girl halted the regularly scheduled show. One of her dancers, whom she later identified as Kento, made his way across the stage, wearing MJ's trademark fedora, fitted slacks, white socks, white glove and penny loafers and mimicking Jackson's spinning, gyrating and moonwalking.

A medley of Jackson's hits then played, from "Billie Jean" to "Wanna Be Startin' Something." From the stage, Madonna lead the cheers for one of the only other '80s icons who could eclipse her. She clapped her hands, swayed from side to side and jumped up and down while images of Jackson over the years flashed on a big screen.

"Let's give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known," Madonna urged the crowd. "Michael Jackson!"

Toward the end of her show, according to a report on Hollywood.com, Madge honored Jackson by wearing a black armband and a white glove while the lyrics to one of MJ's most touching hits, "Man in the Mirror," flashed on the screen behind her.

In addition to their professional connection, the two superstars had been longtime friends. They took turns alternately ruling the Billboard charts and MTV airwaves in the mid-'80s. And in 1991, the superstars memorably attended the Academy Awards as each other's dates. According to a Hollywood.com report, Madonna was also set to join Jackson at one of his O2 Arena shows.

In an interview before the concert, Madonna expressed her dismay over Jackson's death.

"I am so terribly sad about Michael Jackson's death," Madonna said. "I don't know what artist wasn't inspired by him."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Planning Michael Jackson's Memorial A 'Phenomenal Undertaking'

While the Staples Center holds 20,000, it's been estimated that 750,000 fans will make their way to Los Angeles for the memorial.
By Jayson Rodriguez

The Staples Center
Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Now that the Jackson family has officially confirmed the memorial service for Michael Jackson will be taking place at the Staples Center, plans are underway to prepare the area for the onslaught of visitors, both invited and uninvited, expected to make their way to downtown Los Angeles next week.

Only 17,500 tickets will be made available to Jackson fans through an online drawing, with 11,000 mourners allowed inside the Staples Center and the rest of the 6,500 attendees sent across Chick Hearn Court to watch a live simulcast inside the Nokia Theater. The total capacity for the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, is approximately 20,000.

According to previous reports, however, an estimated 750,000 people from around the world are expected to travel to the city for the proceedings.

On Friday (July 3), both L.A. city councilwoman Jan Perry and a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, Earl Pacinger, spoke at a press conference outside of the Staples Center and urged fans to stay away from the venue on Tuesday should they not receive a ticket.

Pacinger called the planning for Tuesday's event a "phenomenal undertaking." According to Pacinger, police will block off a large area outside of the arena that appears to be four times the radius of the Staples Center compound. But the size of the plazas outside of the Staples Center and the Nokia Theater pale in comparison to public areas around the world like New York's Times Square or London's Trafalgar Square.

In addition, during the preparation that will take place over the holiday weekend, arena officials will have to deal with an Anime Expo taking place right next door at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A number of those attendees travel directly through Star Plaza, in front of the Staples Center, to make their way to the convention center. The expo ends on Sunday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was previously expected to move into the Staples Center to prepare for a short run at the arena that was to begin on Wednesday. But AEG Live, the controlling company that owns the Staples Center, reportedly asked the circus to set up shop later than expected.

The preparation for the memorial service will be anything but easy. The Staples Center is not located in a very open area, resting between a number of other buildings nearby. Pacinger said fans without wristbands and tickets and media without proper credentials for the service would not be allowed anywhere near the arena. Police will be enforcing the restricted area.

Councilwoman Perry reiterated the city's concern about the expected turnout, saying, "We cannot jeopardize the health and safety of the public. Without a ticket, the best option for viewing the services for this extraordinary individual is at home."

MTV, VH1 and VH1 Classic will be airing the Michael Jackson memorial service live beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday. For continuing updates about the service as they become available, please continue to check MTVNews.com

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson Memorial Confirmed For Staples Center July 7

Service will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Michael Jackson in 2001
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Organizers and representatives for the Jackson family have confirmed memorial services for Michael Jackson will take place Tuesday (July 7) inside the Staples Center. The announcement ended days of speculation about how the King of Pop would be memorialized.

Fans will be able to attend after registering for free tickets at StaplesCenter.com beginning Friday morning, and registration will run until Saturday evening at 6 p.m. On Sunday fans will be notified and receive information on how to pick up tickets on Monday. The registration process is elaborate and has caused the site to crash once already — but the Jackson family insisted on a process that was democratic and fair, taking into consideration the many fans expected to arrive in Los Angeles for the memorial.

"It was our wish to allow as many of Michael's fans to be a part of the memorial, and we wish to thank everyone for their support and understanding at this difficult time," the Jackson family said in a statement.

Only 17,500 tickets will be given away, with 11,000 entrants able to go inside the arena and the remaining 6,500 ushered just across the street to the Nokia Theater where the proceedings will be simulcast. There are no guarantees for fans who register online and only 8,750 people will be selected randomly by a computer-generated program. Each selected fan will receive two tickets and two wristbands.

No further details regarding the service were announced. At a press conference held outside of the Staples Center, Jackson family representative Ken Sunshine said the plans are still being developed. Sunshine said he hopes the ticket process is handed with "dignity" and that tickets not be resold or counterfeited.

L.A. city councilwoman Jan Perry said the city's budget anticipates extraordinary circumstances and will pay for police protection on site. Perry asked interested donors to contact her if they wish to support other anticipated costs. She and a police spokesperson on hand urged fans to not attend the venue without a ticket.

Both parties said should fans not secure tickets, the best place to view the service is from home. Organizers stressed that the services would not be broadcast live outside the venue as previously reported, and again urged fans without tickets to stay away from the area on Tuesday.

MTV, VH1 and VH1 Classic will be airing the Michael Jackson memorial service live beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday. For continuing updates about the service as they become available, please continue to check MTVNews.com

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Jackson's Memorial Service Details To Be Announced Friday

Press conference to be held at 10 a.m.; memorial confirmed for Tuesday.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Michael Jackson in 1984
Photo: Diana Walker/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Official plans for Michael Jackson's public memorial service will be revealed Friday morning at a press conference to be held by Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of AEG, the parent company that owns the Staples Center, the venue where the memorial is due to take place.

Representatives for the Jackson family announced the media briefing late Thursday. At the briefing, which will take place at 10 a.m. PT, Leiweke is expected to announce details, including how the public will be given the opportunity to register for the 11,000 tickets available for the service. The tickets are free, but are limited in comparison to the venue's capacity, reportedly over 20,000 seats.

Jermaine Jackson appeared on "Larry King Live" on CNN Thursday night and expressed concern over the Staples Center location.

"There's 20,000 people just coming from the U.K.," the elder brother told King when asked about the capacity. Jackson also confirmed that a private service for the family and select friends will be held on Tuesday prior to the public service. He also said the services will be the first of many that will take place across the country.

ABC News reports that sources close to the planning said that over 750,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the memorial. According to the same report, over 2,500 police will be on hand to help with the huge crowds occupying the downtown area. A number of public and private travel partnerships have noted the upswing in arrivals into the Los Angeles airport and hotels, in addition to the already high number of holiday travelers into the city.

Previous reports suggested the services for the late King of Pop would take place anywhere from his Neverland Ranch to the Los Angeles Coliseum.

On Wednesday, however, police began to barricade Chick Hearn Court, the street located directly in front of the Staples Center. The move, along with reports by the Hollywood Reporter and CNN, confirmed that the services would in fact be held at the Staples Center. The venue is controlled by AEG, the company that also was promoting Jackson's upcoming 50-show run in London.

To accommodate the huge number of fans expected to attend the services, large screens are will be placed outside the Staples Center. As of press time, workers are placing Michael Jackson signage around the arena. A representative for the company that created the material told MTV News that a number of items that will be on display were made in just a few hours for the services.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Exclusive: 50 Cent Previews <i>Forever King</i> Mixtape

'Act as if you're a king to be treated like a king,' 50 says in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

50 Cent's <i>Forever King</i> mixtape
Photo: Alberto Erazo & 50 Cent

Forever King: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

50 Cent is definitely up on everything. He looks at the Internet just like everybody else. Sitting in his New York office Thursday (July 2), 50 was looking at the Drake video, refusing to watch Game's apology to the G-Unit on MTVNews.com and answering calls from Leonardo DiCaprio's camp for a dinner with the movie star. All that, and he played his latest mixtape, Forever King for Mixtape Daily. He was originally going to call his latest mixtape Sincerely Yours: Southside Part 2, and on it he planned to rap over '90s R&B classics. But in the end he decided to throw in some additional flavor with his throwback stylings.

"It was Sincerely Southside Part 2, but I changed it to Forever King because of the content," he explained. "I wanted to not just make all '90s music, I wanted to switch up the content a little bit. Also, calling it Sincerely Southside would cause an expectation based on Part 1. So I called it Forever King. In the past, you've had artists, when they feel they're on top their game, say they are, or would be considered, the King in New York City. So I feel on top of my game. It's actually one of the laws of power: Act as if you're a king to be treated like a king."

The cover of the tape features 50's face digitally imposed with an iced-out skull.

"When Michael Jackson passed, there was a piece of artwork that had 'King of Pop, King of Rap' with me and his pictures. That's what gave me the concept of the artwork. There's a real human skull that's got diamonds embedded in it," he said. "I saw the photo in Dubai. It's an artifact, it's priceless. That's a real skull they see. We used the effect to make it feel like it's a skull inside my face. And the Yankee hat would be my crown."

The King gets anything but the royal red carpet rolled out for him in a track called "Put Da Work In." Over a slow beat, Fif tells shocking, pensive true stories about his childhood.

"You know, my aunt killed my dog and never said sorry," he raps about one of his family members doing away with his pet canine. "N---as broke in my crib and stole my Atari/ Man, n---as could've asked, I would let them hold a cartridge."

Fif just couldn't catch a break.

"Instead of selling crack, I could've been Tiger Woods/ But they ain't got no f---in' golf courses in the 'hood.'

The tempo gets faster as does the mood on the playfully disparaging "If You Leave." Fif raps over the 1991 classic "You Called and Told Me" by Jeff Redd (the man who discovered Mary J. Blige).

As the beat builds up, Fif rhymes: "N---as know how I do./ Let's get mo' paper, mo' bread./ It's grind time./ I ain't f---in' 'round kid./ ...If there's a problem I get right to the root./ ... You talk too much, I'll put your a-- on mute."

"If you're leaving, then leave/ On the way out leave my keys," 50 sarcastically says on the chorus while Redd's chorus of "you called and told that you wanted to leave" plays.

"I got y'all back in Bentley's," he adds, referring to the legendary New York nightclub.

"Dreaming" incorporates Christopher Williams' 1992 hit off the "New Jack City" soundtrack "Dreamin'." Here, the G-Unit general tells his aspirations of being rich away from drug dealing.

"It's bigger than coke, bigger than dope," he promises in his rhyme. "My marijuana mentality went up in smoke."

"Things You Do," uses Gina Thompson's "The Things You Do" and finds Fif having fun with fast women, while "Funny How Time Flies" is about him withstanding the hate he receives from rolling with one particular woman.

"They can wish bad sh-- on us, it's cool we made it/ Look at me and see the Lord's blessing while they stressing/ Switch whips, push the Bugatti through the recession."

You can also look out for "London Girl 2" and 50 flipping records by Horace Brown and Case. He also includes tracks that he previously leaked such as "Paranoid," "Respect It or Check It" and "Where You Are," which includes vocals by Michael Jackson.

" 'You Called and Told Me,' that was [popular] at Bentley's!" 50 said with a grin. "That's when I met Jay-Z. That has gotta be '97. That record was ill at that point. A lot of those joints, I have memories tied to the records. Music marks times. 'Get Money,' that joint right there I took the Horace Brown joint, 'One for the Money.' Then I used Gina Thompson. Intro! That was my favorite group. At one point, Intro was consistently giving me [hits]. 'Let me be, let me the one!' A bunch of joints man. Of course, 'Funny How Time Flies,' the one I used. Then they had 'Let Me Come Inside.'"

Forever King drops Friday night (July 3) on Thisis50.com. Last night, 50 debuted his new video for "OK You're Right," which will be featured on his upcoming Before I Self Destruct.

Fif said he came across the clip from the short film "Carousel," which was directed by Adam Berg and won the Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and placed portions of it at the beginning of his video. The story escalates from there, with 50 in a clown mask for part of it.

"We're searching to find the newest thing possible or newest film tricks. That clip actually won in Cannes Film Festival. I felt it would have been a dope intro to the movie. It was a four-minute-long piece. I felt it was overkill the way they did it, but for what they were doing it for made sense.

"A little bit of the Joker," he explained about what "Carousel" reminded him of. "That was my opportunity to play the Joker with the mask on."

Forever King's track listing:

» "Paranoid"
» "Respect It or Check It"
» "Suicide Watch"
» "Things You Do"
» "Get Money"
» "Funny How Time Flies"
» "If You Leave"
» "Dreaming"
» "Where You Are"
» "London Girl 2"
» "Touch Me"
» "Put Da Work In"

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Michael Jackson Concert Rehearsal Footage Emerges -- Watch It Here

Brief clip of 'They Don't Care About Us' was filmed two days before death.
By Gil Kaufman

Michael Jackson at last rehearsal at the Los Angeles Staples Center
Photo: AEG/CBS News

Earlier this week, the promoter of Michael Jackson's 50-date "This is It" residency at the O2 Arena in London said there was ample footage of a Jackson rehearsal for the planned series of shows, and that he hopes to release them.

On Thursday (July 2), one week after Jackson, 50, died following cardiac arrest at a rented Los Angeles-area mansion on the eve of the July 13 start of the O2 run, MTV News obtained a clip of a rehearsal filmed just two days before Jackson's sudden passing. And though it is just a 90-second glimpse of the singer performing the controversial track "They Don't Care About Us," the brief bit of film does appear to show Jackson in solid shape, stomping around the stage, apparently singing in full voice and energetically dancing with an all-male troupe of backup performers.

The footage, shot on June 23 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles — where a memorial service for Jackson reportedly will be held on July 7 — opens with Jackson performing some of his patented military-style, slow motion marching dance moves along with the male dancers, who are behind him on a slanted platform. It then cuts to the singer enthusiastically pulsating to a solo from his guitarist.

Jackson gives one of his signature "Oh!" exclamations as the track changes tempo to a rousing royal fanfare overlaid with a snipped of the "I Have a Dream" speech from the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. The singer and dancers straighten up and salute, then do a high-step march across the stage to a martial beat as Jackson does knee bend and shuffles in place alone center stage.

After what appears to be an edit, the sound of a car horn blaring overtakes the music, the dancers put their hands out in a stop motion and the tempo shifts once again into a spare, funky track to which Jackson does a subtle shoulder shimmy walk to, landing him at the lip of the stage. It's clear the rehearsal is a casual run-through, as the dancers are wearing sweats and t-shirts and the typically meticulously dressed Jackson is clad in black pants, a grey jacket and a pattered red button-down shirt that is half-untucked.

Near the end of the clip, the car horn blares again and an unseen director says "hold for applause, hold for applause" and a look of what appears to be relief washes over Jackson's face. While Jackson is hardly the frail, sickly performer that some reports have portrayed him as near the end of his life — with one observer on the set of the singer's mysterious "Dome Project" saying the pop star was so weak he needed help descending steps — he doesn't appear to be the whirling dervish of energy and jaw-dropping dance moves that he was in his prime.

Granted, at 50, Jackson was nearly two decades removed from his heyday and the footage was shot at a rehearsal, but given that it was less than two weeks before the beginning of a showcase that was meant to put the singer back on top, Jackson appears to be moving at a curiously deliberate pace in the brief clip.

The song featured in the clip appeared on his 1995 greatest-hits collection HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I and it was one of Jackson's most controversial late-period releases thanks what some deemed its anti-Semitic overtones.

Among the lyrics were the lines, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me," as well as "Skinhead, deadhead, everybody gone dead/ Hit me, kick me, you can never get me," which said at the time could be interpreted as being "pointedly critical of Jews."

Jackson denied the charges in a statement released at the time, saying, "The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking." He later apologized again and eventually re-recorded a second version of the song without the offending lyrics.

It has been reported that the London show's promoter, AEG Live, has more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage that could eventually be culled into the singer's first live CD/DVD set.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson's Video Legacy, In His Own Words

We spoke to the King of Pop in 1999 about revolutionizing the world of music videos.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Alex Colletti

Michael Jackson in December of 1999
Photo: MTV

Michael Jackson revolutionized the world of music videos — he embraced the medium and took it to a new level by creating groundbreaking short films. Jackson spoke to MTV News back in 1999 about why he felt music videos are more than just commercials for the artist — they were an important part of the creative process for him.

"The idea is to take it a step further and innovate, otherwise why am I doing it?" he said. "I don't want to be just another can in the assembly line. I want to create, do something that's totally different and unusual."

Before talking about some of his greatest music-video achievements at length, he went on to say that "in my opinion, it has to be completely entertaining and has a linear sense of continuity. I like having a beginning, middle and an ending so that you can follow a story. I am very much involved in complete creating of the piece. It has to be from my soul."

In 1983, Jackson changed the face of music videos with his John Landis-directed music video for "Thriller," off the album of the same name. "We're never serious on the set, so it's fun working with John 'cause I get to throw water balloons and stink bombs at him," he said. "That's a ritual for me — after we wrap on each video I throw a lot of stuff at everybody. My idea was to make a short film with conversation at the beginning and bookmark it with conversation at the end. Believe it or not, I'm afraid to watch scary movies. I always try to be a pioneer and innovator in whatever I do."

While choreographing the video, Jackson wanted to make sure that dancing zombies would look natural, not cheesy. "It was a delicate thing to work on, 'cause I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I got into the room with Michael Peters and he and I together kind if imagined how these zombies move."

Before Jackson released the video for "Thriller" in 1983, he released "Beat It." And surprisingly, he found his inspiration for the video from a McDonald's commercial. "I remember [Quincy Jones] telling me to write this song that I would enjoy with an edge. The song is so self-explanatory that it was so easy to make the short film," Jackson explained. "I had seen ... I think it was a McDonald's commercial. I said I want this director [Bob Giraldi] for this piece."

In "Billie Jean," also released in 1983, Jackson made sure to include some of his signature dance moves.

"It's kind of surreal and it's different. I didn't come up with that concept. I think it was a British fellow, Steve Barron. I thought he had wonderful ideas but I let him go with it," Jackson recalled. "The only part I wrote in the piece ... I said, 'Give me a section I can dance a little.' So that whole section where you see that long street, that's the only part I contributed."

In 1991, Jackson released the controversial video for "Black or White" off his album, Dangerous, but looking back on the song eight years later, he didn't see any reason for the controversy.

"I wanted to do a dance number [and] I told my sister Janet, I said, 'You remind me of a black panther.' I said, 'Why you don't do something where you transform into a black panther and you transform into yourself again?' She said, 'I like it,' but she didn't go with it," he explained. "The two of us, we always think alike. So I did it. And in the dance, I said, 'I want to do a dance number where I can let out my frustration about injustice and prejudice and racism and bigotry,' and within the dance I became upset and let go. I think at the time people were concerned with the violent content of the piece, but it's, like, easy to look at. It's simple."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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