In light of the Grammys airing Sunday, February 12th on CBS at 8 pm, The Urban Daily decided to highlight some of the best performances in recent memory. Share your favorite Grammy memories in the comments along with any performances you feel we should’ve put in the list.

BLACK HISTORY MOMENT: Remember Kim K & Ray J’s Sex Tape?

10. Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (1996)

Any man can attest to the fact if a woman yells all of the time, whatever they’re yelling about goes in one ear and out of the other. In 1995, you couldn’t find an angrier woman screaming about being done wrong than Alanis Morissette. After sweeping every award show know to man, she performed the break up anthem “You Oughta Know” at the 1996 Grammys. Morisette’s performance created such a great impact because she stripped the anger away and sang with all the sadness a pained woman could muster. Who knew Joey from Full House could provoke such emotion.

9. Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya, Pink, & Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade (2002)

It’s common knowledge the remake of the Labelle classic caused plenty of beef between Pink and Christina Aguilera. During happier times, Mya and Lil Kim joined the dueling divas for a rousing rendition of “Lady Marmalade” at the Grammys. The potluck quartet had the audience and viewers rocking. The set was only taken to the next level when Patti LaBelle surprised everyone and tore the stage up with her diva scream. In that one diva scream, Patti LaBelle let those ladies know there still isn’t anything like the real thing.

8. Alicia Keys & Jamie Foxx – If I Aint Got You/Georgia On My Mind (2005)

The planets seemed to align for Jamie Foxx and Alicia Keys in 2005. Foxx was winning awards hand over fist for his impeccable portrayal of music legend Ray Charles. Alicia Keys was killing the game with her single, “If I Aint Got You.” The pair met on the Grammy stage to pay tribute to Ray Charles and proving soul music is still alive and well. The chemistry between Foxx and Keys burned the screen and etched their duet into the memories of every soul music fan around the world.

7.Christina Aguilera – It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World (2007)
When it was first announced Christina Aguilera was going to perform in the James Brown tribute, there was a great deal of shade thrown. Nobody figured Aguilera could do justice to the Godfather of Soul’s catalog. She sure shut us all up. Christina hit the stage draped in white and sang the hell out of “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” She embodied his wild spirit and soulful presence like she was possessed by the man himself. If there was any doubt before, Christina Aguilera cemented her status as one of the greatest vocalists of all time with this performance.

6. Moby, Jill Scott & Blue Man Group – Natural Blues (2001)

In 2001, Jill Scott was still fairly unknown in mainstream circles. Her breakout moment came when she was asked to perform with minimalist rocker Moby and the industrial Blue Man Group. While the names on paper sound like a terrible mix, their performance of Moby’s “Natural Blues” blended industrial drums, brooding rock, and powerful soul music together for a memorable four minutes. Though Scott was shut out of every category she was nominated for that night, the academy rectified their mistake soon after. See what a little showing off can do  for you?

5. Kanye West, John Legend, Mavis Staples & The Blind Boys of Alabama – Jesus Walks (2005)

Kanye West being the egotistical maniac he is, it was only right he show out for his first Grammy appearance. Putting on a production never associated with rappers, Kanye set himself apart from the pack. John Legend and The Blind Boys of Alabama added the gospel feel needed to fully express the importance of “Jesus Walks.” Mavis Staples did her thing despite needing a throat lozenge.  Years later, the most poignant moment of the set was when Kanye and his mother are getting down together when she says, “Only Jesus can save us!”

4. Janet Jackson – What Have You Done For Me Lately (1987)

Janet Jackson took control of her career and the Grammy stage in 1987. Her hit album, Control was nominated for Album of the Year and Janet, along with her Flyte Time crew, proved why. Partially, Janet’s performance is so celebrated because she was still considered Michael’s little sister. Stepping out of the shadow of the greatest artist to ever grace the planet is hard enough, but to do it with such style was amazing. Plus, how cool is to see Jerome, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis doing the funky penguin with Janet Jackson. Shout out to that Paula Abdul choreography. It remains iconic in its own right.

3. Prince and Beyonce – Purple Rain Medley (2004)
Anytime you find out Prince is performing, you better be there to witness greatness. In 2004, Prince opened the Grammys with Beyonce who was nominated for her first solo Grammys for Dangerously In Love. The two rocked the house with a medley of tracks off Purple Rain to commemorate the 20th anniversary. Besides their showmanship, some of the best performances are the slip ups. Beyonce can’t get her mic to stop falling so she dances away. Prince feels Beyonce is mic hogging, so he takes it from her. Directly after they smash the stage Beyonce won her first solo Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. How’s that for a good night?!

2.Mary J. Blige – No More Drama (2002)

Watching Mary J. Blige perform “No More Drama” live is like going to a church revival and catching the spirit. You can’t help but to shout right along with Mary. As a voice of a generation’s pain, when MJB decided it was time to leave the drama behind, she did so in dramatic fashion. In fact, there is no best way to describe Mary’s Grammy performance. You just have to watch it and feel it for yourself. I will say when she let go of the nonsense we all had no choice but to believe her.

1. Michael Jackson – The Way You make Me Feel/Man In The Mirror (1988)

There could never be a better Grammy performance than Michael Jackson’s. Only the greatest entertainer ever can begin a performance singing secular music and transition into a gospel tinged pop song without batting an eyelash. When Michael slid into “Man In The Mirror,” he became a slave to the number. How is it possible nobody took any issue with him grabbing his crotch and humping the floor before invoking Jesus in the second half? He’s Michael Jackson, that’s how! Bow down and show your respect!

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DeBarge is known from the popular 80s family group, DeBarge. He was arrested for drug charges and assault with a deadly weapon. DeBarge was placed in Administrative Segregation, which is where inmates are housed who are famous or have security problems. Murray has been staying in the Administrative Segregation block since being convicted of manslaughter in connection with Michael Jackson’s death in November.

According to TMZ, the two run into each other randomly. DeBarge and Murray recently ran into one another when meeting with their respective lawyers. DeBarge’s attorney, Spencer Vodnoy says Janet’s ex-husband is very upset residing in the same block with the man who was involved in the death of Michael Jackson. Although Janet and DeBarge were married less than a year, he considered Michael Jackson family.

How about James DeBarge concentrate on staying clean and out of jail before worrying about Conrad Murray’s whereabouts?

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“Make Your Move” is featured on Taylor’s EP, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, which is set to drop February 25th. Check out some behind the scenes footage below.

Behind The Scenes of Make Your Move from CLCTVE™ on Vimeo.

Source

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Check out the interview here, and get more details at HuffPost.

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Want to win “Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon” on Blu-ray along with a Blu-ray Player, courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment? Just go to our Facebook page and leave a comment on the “Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon” post telling us why you want to win. We’ll select one winner … Good luck!

Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon Is Available HERE!

Blu-ray value $26.98 each
Blu-ray Player value $125 each
Prizing courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of acute propofol intoxication. Murray admitted to administering the drug to Jackson, who was suffering from insomnia. The drug is a powerful anesthetic administered intravenously in hospitals to induce anesthesia in preparation for surgery.

Murray must also pay restitution to the Estate and to MJ’s children at a later date.

GET MORE DETAILS AT TMZ.COM

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Featured on IMMORTAL are newly discovered outtakes fans have never heard before including an alternate take on the Jackson 5’s “ABC” and a choir that Michael recorded for “They Don’t Really Care About Us.”

Take a listen to this exclusive first look from Immortal, a heart-stopping medley of “Is It Scary,”(from Adam’s Family Values) “Threatened”(from Invincible) and “Thriller.”

Plan Your Trip To MJ’s Home State!

To see the full list of items being auctioned  go to E! Online.

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TheUrbanDaily’s Guide To Michael Jackson’s Albums

Get details on the million-dollar offer involving Tupac, the Michael Jackson Tribute concert and why Drake pushed back his album below! Get more of “That’s What’s Up” right here!

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On “Jump,” the boys from the A rap, “‘Cause I’m the miggity, miggity, miggity, miggity Mac Daddy.” Can someone explain what a “miggity mac” is because I didn’t understand it then and still don’t. We will discuss a few of the most confusing lyrics in songs. If you think you can explain some of our selections, sound off in the comments.

Labelle – “Lady Marmalade”

This signature hit from the ladies of Labelle has it all–a racy subject matter, a funky groove, and a little bit of French thrown in there.  The few lines in French translate to “Will you sleep with me tonight?” However, what in the world is a “gitchy gitchy ya ya?” I’ve heard of singers scatting, but that was never in the scat sounds dictionary. “Gitchy gitchy ya ya” sounds like a pause worthy slang term for a sexually transmitted disease. “Yo, Son, you was messing with that girl around the block? You better get checked or something. I heard she got that gitchy gitchy ya ya, if you know what I mean!” To which a person would respond, “Pause. Damn, I’m going straight to the clinic!”

Lady Marmalade

Kanye West – “Roses”

In 2005, Kanye West put out his sophomore album, Late Registration. The set was more introspective than his debut. His introspection was on full display on the track dedicated to his grandmother’s ordeal with being hospitalized. “Roses” documented how he had to deal with his popularity when he just wanted to be a human and look after his grandmother. While the song is remarkable, one line baffles even the most intellectual people I know. “So many aunties, we could have an auntie team.” Kanye, we know you like to act like you’re more forward thinking than the rest of us commoners. So could you explain what an auntie team is? To clarify, are we talking about a basketball team full of aunties? What kind of team are we talking here? Commoners, like myself, know you don’t write lyrics down. With lines like that, you might want to start putting the pen to paper again.

Roses

Whitney Houston – “Million Dollar Bill”

When Whitney Houston was recording her comeback disc, I Look To You, she called upon some of today’s hottest songwriters to provide the material for her to reclaim her throne atop the music charts. The second single from the effort was the Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz confection, “Million Dollar Bill.” The disco-lite uptempo number had us in a groove until she sang, “I can see the way he’s making me feel this way about his love.” Honestly, I can’t blame Whitney. She was just looking for another hit song to flesh out her album. The real blame is on Alicia Keys. She’s a great artist and all, but for a woman who graduated high school at 16 and was accepted to Columbia University, she is all over the place with her writing. A few of her songs don’t make good use of a little thing we like to call subject-verb agreement. This line in “Million Dollar Bill” feels Mrs. Swizz Beatz threw some words at a wall and whichever stuck, she put in a song. No dice.

Million Dollar Bill

Lionel Richie – “All Night Long”

In the 80s, light skinned fellas were all the rage. The leader of that light skinned male crusade was the crooner, Lionel Richie. One of his biggest hits is the party anthem, “All Night Long.” The word “party” is said in many different languages. The questionable thing about the song is about the chant at the end. If anyone has an explanation for “tom bol li de se de moi ya, hey jambo jumbo,” please holla at a player.  Are those actual words in another language? I’m not too sure. My theory is baby Nicole Richie was learning to talk and she said this, instead of a real sentence and Poppa Richie just went with it. I could be wrong, but my theory is probably cooler than the actual story. At least, I’d like to think so.

All Night Long

Michael Jackson – “Wanna Be Startin Somethin”

Michael Jackson released the seminal project, Thriller, in 1982. Though every song on there is a classic, one of the biggest fan favorites is “Wanna Be Startin Somethin.” When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this song. I played it so much my mom bought me a Walkman so she didn’t wind up breaking my tape. One thing about that song annoys me to this day. What the hell does “ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa” mean?! My mom told me it was Swahili and I believed her. Come to find out, she  wasn’t far off.

The King of Pop claimed the phrase was Swahili, in order to keep all royalties for himself. Apparently, the words come from a song by a Cameroonian artist, Dibango. Dibango’s words were, “ma ma ko, ma ma sa, ma ma ko sa.” Dibango sued Jackson in the 80s and sued him again in 2007 when Rihanna sampled the chant for her dance hit, “Don’t Stop The Music.” Rihanna got permission from Michael Jackson, but neglected to get permission from Dibango. They settled out of court for the second time before Rihanna’s album dropped. By the way, there is no clear translation of the chant, but it does have something to do with dancing.

Wanna Be Startin Somethin

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14. “Artist Of The Millennium Award”

In 2002 at the MTV Video Music Awards Britney Spears presented a birthday cake to him for his 44th birthday and Michael thought that he was receiving a non-existent Artist of the Millennium Award.” Michael gave a speech: “When I was a little boy growing up in Indiana if someone told me I’d be getting the Artist of the Millennium award, I’d never have believed it.”

13. The Elephant Man’s Bones

In 1987 Michael Jackson placed a million dollar bid on the skeleton of The Elephant Man but supposedly did not win the auction.

12. Buying Out Paul McCartney

Michael Jackson made one of the smartest moves in 1985 by outbidding Paul McCartney on the rights to The Beatles catalog. At the end of the day Michael did sever a professional relationship and friendship with McCartney but generated a large sum of money from the purchase. Too bad he had to sell back the archive to Sony later on.

11. The Hyperbaric Chamber

Once upon a time it was rumored that Michael slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to keep his youthful appearance.

10. Hair Burning

While filming a Pepsi commercial with his brothers in 1984 some on set fireworks set his hair ablaze causing second degree burns.

9. Date With Madonna

Yes, Michael Jackson dated Madonna once upon a time. The King of Pop hooking up with the Queen of Pop was probably a publicity stunt but it was one of his most memorable moments as well. At the 1991 Oscars the couple arrived to the show together.

8. Music Videos

Many of Michael Jackson’s music videos sparked controversy. The video for “Thriller” contained imagery of zombies and the death, which clashed with Jackson’s Jehovah Witness upbringing. After the video premiered he added a disclaimer before the video. Also, the video for “Black Or White” was banned and then re-edited after it premiered because of a violent scene at the end of the video where Michael smashes a car and grabs his crotch.

7. Performing In A Strip Club

Way back when, before anyone knew who Michael Jackson or The Jackson 5 were, they boys performed some of their first shows in a strip club in between acts.

6. Micheal’s Pets: Bubbles & More

Michael had some interesting pets at Neverland Ranch. He had a llama named Louie and most famously a monkey named Bubbles.

5. Kiss With Lisa Marie

At the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards Michael Jackson and then wife Lisa Marie Presley shared an onstage kiss that shocked everyone.

4. Martin Bashir Interview

Martin Bashir’s controversial 2003 documentary brought to the forefront a lot of Michael’s bizarre behavior and more details on his relationship with the children he cares for through his foundation.

3. Baby Dangling

Michael Jackson’s kids seemed to never have normal lives. His oldest children, Prince and Paris have been seen wearing strange masks most of their lives and hardly appear in public. The most bizarre moment with his children is when he dangled baby Blanket over a balcony in Germany.

2. Plastic Surgery

Michael’s appearance had changed dramatically throughout the years. His skin had lightened, his nose has crumbled and his face certainly does not look like how he looked when he was younger.

1. Child Abuse Allegations

The most shocking of all Michael’s moments are the child abuse cases that he became involved with in 1993 and then in the 2000s. The first case he settled out of court and then in the second case he was acquitted.

In order to keep ourselves from going crazy, we decided to leave out the multitudes of greatest hits compilations, box sets, remix albums, and anything else primarily consisting of previously released material.  We also decided to stick to just widely released albums, so you won’t find any of the group’s pre-Motown material here. Maybe next year.

What you will find below are reviews of the twelve albums released as The Jackson 5, five albums released as The Jacksons, eleven solo albums by Michael Jackson, and five compilations of previously unreleased material by either the Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson.

Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5
Released December 18, 1969

By the time The Jackson 5′s debut album was released, the general public had already been captivated by Michael, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie’s first national single, “I Want You Back,” which had been released two months earlier and had gone to #1 on the R&B charts and #5 on the pop chart. Though in the album’s liner notes, Diana Ross writes that Michael was 10 years old, he was 11 at the album’s release.  That takes nothing away from the fact that Michael storms through this album with the conviction of a singer three times his age.

Recommended Tracks: “I Want You Back,” “Who’s Lovin’ You,” and Jermaine’s excellent lead on “My Cherie Amour.”

ABC
Released May 1970

Any album that starts off with a classic like “The Love You Save” can not be bad.  On ABC’s 12 songs, the kiddie act is played up more than on their debut with songs like “2-4-6-8,” “One More Chance,” and the album’s undeniable title track. Michael’s voice again is the star of the album as he tackles songs like Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t Know Why I Love You” with such ease.

Recommended tracks: “The Love You Save,” “One More Chance,” “ABC”, “2-4-6-8,” “Don’t Know Why I Love You,” “I’ll Bet You”

Third Album
Released September 1970

The boys previewed their appropriately titled third album in less than a year with their first ballad ever released as a single.  “I’ll Be There” has rightfully become a Jackson 5 classic, and was famously covered by Mariah Carey in 1992. Third Album shows a funkier side to the group as they stomp and clap through jams like “How Funky Is Your Chicken” and “Goin’ Back To Indiana.”  The smooth “Can I See You In The Morning” features Michael’s voice double tracked for the first time.  He’d use this studio technique on his voice to great effect on his debut solo album, which would come a year later.

Recommended Tracks: “I’ll Be There,” “Ready Or Not (Here I Come),” “Can I See You In The Morning,” “How Funky Is Your Chicken,” “Mama’s Pearl,” “Darling Dear”

The Jackson 5 Christmas Album
Released October 15, 1970

Even though the boys were raised as Jehovah’s Witness’, that didn’t stop them from releasing a Christmas album, as was standard for most of Motown’s hit making acts.  An expanded version of this album was released in 2009 with 10 bonus tracks!

Recommended Tracks: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Give Love On Christmas Day”

Maybe Tomorrow
Released April 1971

With the confidence they received from the success of their first ballad released as a single, “I’ll Be There” reaching #1 on the pop and R&B charts, The Jackson 5 kicked off their fourth album with the absolutely sublime “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Unfortunately The Jackson 5′s perfect record of Top 10 singles was briefly interrupted by the album’s title track a song that leaves me puzzled as to why it stalled at #20 on the pop charts. While it’s not as strong as the albums that preceded it, Maybe Tomorrow would prove to be the source of a couple of hip-hop classics, as the title track was sampled for Ghostface Killah’s “All That I Got Is You”, and “It’s Great To Be Here” reached a whole new generation of listeners as the sample used during The Notorious B.I.G.’s verse on “It’s All About The Benjamins.”

Recommended Tracks: “Maybe Tomorrow,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “It’s Great To Be Here,” “Honey Chile,” “I Will Find A Way”

Goin’ Back To Indiana
Released September 1971

The Jackson 5′s “Goin’ Back to Indiana” television special aired on September 19, 1971. The show featured appearances from Bill Cosby as a news reporter, Tommy Smothers, Diana Ross, Rosey Grier, and many other celebrities. The accompanying soundtrack album also featured several songs recorded live at the group’s homecoming concert in Gary, IN on May 29, 1971. It’s these live tracks that highlight the album. Kicking off with the group covering Sly & The Family Stone’s “Stand!” and “I Want To Take You Higher” (songs of which Michael Jackson would eventually own the publishing rights), the hometown crowd is immediately electrified.

Recommended Tracks: “Medley: Walk On / The Love You Save,” “Stand!,” “Feelin’ Alright”

Got To Be There
Released January 25, 1972

Michael Jackson’s solo debut gets off to an amazing start with 13-year-old Michael’s rendition of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” leaving you to wonder how it’s possible that a boy so young can emote such adult sentiments so effectively. Notable is Michael’s straight-up rapped verse on “Girl Don’t Take Your Love From Me.”

Recommended Tracks: “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “I Wanna Be Where You Are,” “Girl Don’t Take Your Love From Me,” “Got To Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “Maria (You Were The Only One), “You’ve Got A Friend”

Lookin’ Through The Windows
Released May 1972

On Lookin’ Through The Windows, Michael’s voice noticeably started to change, but not in a devastating way.  Those soaring high notes were still well within his reach, but Michael found comfort in his lower register as well. Because of the effects puberty was having on Michael’s voice, it’s interesting to hear more lead parts given to older brother Jermaine. The album marked the beginning in a shift in the group’s sound.

Recommended Tracks: “Lookin’ Through The Windows,” “Doctor My Eyes,” “Little Bitty Pretty One,” “Don’t Want To See You Tomorrow”

Ben
Released August 4, 1972

Michael’s second solo album is often overshadowed by that song about the rat.  While “Ben,” written for the film of the same name, is an excellent song, there are far better songs on the album.  Michael’s cover of The Stylistics’ “People Make The World Go ‘Round” nearly trumps the original.  Of all of his Motown-era solo albums, Ben is one of the best.

Recommended Tracks: “Ben,” “Greatest Show On Earth,” “People Make The World Go ‘Round,” “We’ve Got A Good Thing Going,” “What Goes Around Comes Around”

Skywriter
Released March 1973

Eight albums into their career, The Jackson 5 found their popularity waning a bit.  The guys were getting older and the sound of music in general is starting to shift away from the bubblegum pop sound that brought them to fame.  The album was their lowest charting to date, reaching #15 on the R&B chart and #44 on the pop chart.

Recommended Tracks: “Touch,” “Corner Of The Sky,” “I Can’t Quit Your Love,” “Uppermost”

Music & Me
Released April 13, 1973

At 14, Michael’s third solo album attempted to paint a mellower image.  Michael sings accompanied by just an orchestra on “Too Young.” He appears on the album’s cover strumming an acoustic guitar, though he doesn’t play a single instrument on the album.  The album failed to do well, though it sold four million copies worldwide.

Recommended Tracks: “With A Child’s Heart,” “Doggin’ Around,” “Johnny Raven,” “Morning Glow,” “Music And Me”

In Japan!
Released 1973

Recorded at the Jackson 5′s April 30th tour stop in Japan, this album was initially only released overseas.  It didn’t see release in the United States until 2004 when it was pressed in a very limited and very sold-out run of 5,000 copies.  The brothers Jackson rip through several of their hits.  Jermaine and Michael both get a chance to perform material from their solo records, though Michael seems to have a bit of struggle through portions of “Got To Be There” as his voice had significantly changed. The real treat on this album is an incredibly funky rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

Recommended Tracks: “Superstition,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “I Wanna Be Where You Are.”

G.I.T. – Get It Together
Released September 1973

Experimenting with a much funkier sound than before, G.I.T. – Get It Together showcases the Jackson 5 as a group of young men.  Michael’s no longer hitting the high notes.  The songs have a bit more grit and edge to them sonically.  Despite this change, the group, minus Jermaine, was still unhappy with the direction that Motown was pushing them in.  They didn’t let it show on this album. The 8-minute “Hum Along & Dance” shows The Jackson 5 at their funkiest.

Recommended Tracks: “Get It Together,” “Don’t Say Good Bye Again,” “Hum Along & Dance,” “It’s Too Late To Change The Time,” “Dancing Machine”

Dancing Machine
Released September 1974

Re-invigorated by the success of the single “Dancing Machine” taken from their G.I.T. – Get It Together album, Motown remixed the song and included it as the title track to their follow-up album.  The epic 7-and-a-half minute “I Am Love” which showcased Jermaine’s incredible maturing vocals, would be the group’s last top 20 pop single for Motown. Funkier than it’s predecessor, songs from this album still can pack a dancefloor!

Recommended Tracks: “I Am Love,” “Whatever You Got, I Want,” “Dancing Machine,” “The Life Of The Party,” “What You Don’t Know,” “The Mirrors Of My Mind”

Forever, Michael
Released January 16, 1975

Michael’s last solo album under the Motown umbrella was his least successful on the pop charts, peaking at #101. That doesn’t mean that the album is without merit. The album’s lead single “We’re Almost There” remains a favorite amongst die-hard Michael Jackson fans.

Recommended Tracks: “We’re Almost There,” “Take Me Back,” “Dapper Dan,” “Dear Michael”

Moving Violation
Released May 1975

For their last album under Motown, The Jackson 5 teamed up with Brian Holland of Motown’s legendary songwriting and producing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who handled over half of the album’s tracks including the dancefloor stomper “Forever Came Today,” a song originally performed by Diana Ross & The Supremes. Released as a single, the song was a top 10 smash on the R&B charts, and its b-side, the ballad “All I Do Is Think of You” is one of the most beloved songs on the Jackson 5 discography.

Recommended Tracks: “Forever Came Today,” “All I Do Is Think Of You,” “Breezy,”  “(You Were Made) Especially For Me,” “Body Language (Do The Love Dance)”

Joyful Jukebox Music
Released October 26, 1976

Now that The Jackson 5 had successfully gotten themselves out of their Motown contract and signed a new deal with CBS, Motown quickly scrambled to put out a new album before their first album on their new label.  Mostly built around leftovers from the recording sessions for the Skywriter and G.I.T. – Get It Together albums, Joyful Jukebox Music is a rather unremarkable album, with few bright spots.  It was briefly reissued on CD, packaged with another Motown compilation of unreleased songs, 1979′s Boogie.

Recommended Tracks: “Pride And Joy,”  “Love Is The Thing You Need,” “Make Tonight All Mine”

The Jacksons
Released November 27, 1976

With Motown retaining the rights to the name “The Jackson 5,” as well as Jermaine Jackson who stayed behind at Motown, the newly christened The Jacksons moved over to CBS records, replaced Jermaine with Randy, and holed themselves up in the studio with Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International.  The Jacksons marks the first time in their career that the group were allowed to contribute their own songs to an album (“Style Of Life” and “Blues Away”).  The album kicks off with the dance classic “Enjoy Yourself” which became the group’s first top 10 hit in 2 years.

Recommended Listening: “Enjoy Yourself,” “Good Times,” “Keep On Dancing,” “Show You The Way To Go,” “Living Together,” “Style Of Life”

Goin’ Places
Released October 18, 1977

Although it’s the second lowest selling non-compilation album in their catalog — the group’s 1988 release sans Michael, 2300 Jackson Street, owns that dubious honor — Goin’ Places is by no means a bad album.  Though there are no instantly recognizable classics on the album, it’s a solid record that dares you to sit still.

Recommended Listening: “Music’s Takin’ Over,” “Different Kind Of Lady,” “Man Of War,” “Do What You Wanna”

Destiny
Released December 17, 1978

Encouraged by the success of “Different Kind Of Lady” from their Goin’ Places album, The Jacksons broke from the Gamble/Huff team for Destiny, the first album that the group would write and produce by themselves, with the exception of the classic “Blame It On The Boogie,” which was actually a cover of a song by unrelated UK singer Mick Jackson. Destiny would return the group to top-selling status, and rightfully so. It’s one of their best albums.

Recommended Listening: “Blame It On The Boogie,” “That’s What You Get (For Being Polite),” “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground),” “Push Me Away,”

Reviews continue after the gallery!

Off The Wall
Released August 10, 1979

While most people pronounce Thriller as Michael Jackson’s best album, I have to disagree and shove a copy of Off The Wall in their faces.  Flawless from the spoken intro of “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” to the funky fade out of “Burn This Disco Out,” Off The Wall showcases Michael making music for one primary purpose: dancing.  Even the mellower cuts, save the maudlin “She’s Out Of My Life,” are good for a two-step.  With Quincy Jones in the producer’s chair, a who’s who of late 70′s session musicians, and 10 amazing songs, Michael was right to be disappointed when he received only one Grammy award for the album, a best male R&B vocal award for “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough.”

Recommended Listening: The whole thing.

Boogie
Released 1979

To capitalize off of the success of Off The Wall, Motown rushed out another compilation of Jackson 5 outtakes and released it on the short-lived Natural Resources label.  The songs on Boogie were recorded throughout their time at Motown and include alternate versions of Jackson 5 classics such as “ABC,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Dancing Machine.”

Recommended Tracks: “I Was Made To Love Her,” “One Day I’ll Marry You”

Triumph
Released July 3, 1980

Triumph shows The Jacksons at their finest.  Michael was fresh off the success of Off The Wall and the rest of the group contribute some great songs to the album.  From the opening fanfare of the march-like “Can You Feel It,” keep hitting home run after home run. The album brought the group back to the top of the R&B album charts for the first time since 1971′s Maybe Tomorrow.

Recommended Listening: “Can You Feel It,” “Lovely One,” “Everybody,” “This Place Hotel,” “Give It Up,” “Your Ways,” “Walk Right Now”

The Jacksons Live!
Released November 1981

Edited together using recordings made from The Jackson’s stops on their Triumph Tour in four different cities, The Jacksons Live! is a stunning album that features the brothers tearing through singles from their years as The Jackson 5, their new life as The Jacksons, and songs from Michael’s Off The Wall album.  One listen to this album will make you wish for a time machine so you can go back and see the tour in person.

Recommended Listening: “Can You Feel It,” “Rock With You,” “Workin’ Day And Night,” “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “Shake Your Body Down To The Ground”

Thriller
Released November 30, 1982

Michael’s sixth solo album almost never came out.  During the recording of Thriller, Michael and producer Quincy Jones fought about what songs should make the album.  Quincy thought “Billie Jean” wasn’t strong enough to make the album. Michael demanded it be kept and threatened to cancel the album altogether. The entire world can thank God that Michael’s threat was idle.  I don’t think I’d want to live in a world where an album as well crafted as Thriller does not exist. An album that spawned so many culturally significant moments (the “Thriller” video, Michael’s performance of “Billie Jean” at Motown 25, the integration of MTV), we may never see an album this important again. There is something for everyone on this album, which is why it’s estimated to have sold up to 110 million copies worldwide.

Recommended tracks: “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Baby Be Mine,” “Billie Jean,” “Human Nature,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” “The Lady In My Life,” “Thriller”

Farewell My Summer Love
Released May 1984

Motown again looked to cash in on Michael Jackson’s success by releasing this compilation of unreleased songs from Michael’s Motown-era solo albums.  The songs were updated with added drum machines and synthesizers, but left Michael’s original vocals in tact.  The title track  managed to reach #7 on the R&B chart, and cracked the Top 40 on the pop charts.  The original mixes of these songs were included on the limited edition 2009 3-disc box set Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection.  It’s those original mixes that we recommend, and not these versions updated for 1984!

Recommended Tracks: “Call On Me,” “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me,” “Farewell My Summer Love”

Victory
Released July 6, 1984

The Jacksons’ first album in four years feels less like a group album and more like a collection of solo songs by each of the six Jackson brothers.  That isn’t to say that the album, which sounds incredibly dated 16 years after release, is all bad.  There are a few gems to be unearthed, particularly Randy’s incredible “One More Chance,” which little sister Janet would cover 10 years later.

Recommended Tracks: “Torture,” “One More Chance,” “Be Not Always,” “State Of Shock (feat. Mick Jagger),” “Body”

Looking Back To Yesterday: Never-Before-Released-Masters
Released February 11, 1986

Motown raided their vaults again for this 1986 compilation of unreleased songs.  One listen to the album and it’s easy to see why a lot of these songs were not used in the 1970s.  That’s not to say that it’s a bad album.  It’s just a collection of mediocre performances and songs.

Recommended Tracks: “Give Me Half A Chance,” “Love’s Gone Bad,” “Lonely Teardrops,”  “I Was Made To Love Her”

Bad
Released August 31, 1987

Following up a monstrous album like Thriller is an unenviable task.  However, Michael managed to craft a very respectable follow-up in Bad.  The album is not without its flaws.  “Just Good Friends,” a duet with Stevie Wonder, is pretty embarassing considering that it’s sandwiched between songs as great as “Liberian Girl” and “Another Part Of Me.”  The title track was originally conceived as a duet between Michael and his friendly rival Prince, who didn’t want to sing the lyric “You’re butt is mine” to Michael or have Michael sing it to him. In 2010, the album sounds very much of its time, but the songs still shine through the glossy ’80s production.

Recommended Tracks: “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Speed Demon,” “Liberian Girl,” “Another Part Of Me,” “Man In The Mirror,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Dirty Diana,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Leave Me Alone”

Dangerous
Released November 26, 1991

For 1991′s Dangerous album, Michael broke his ties with his longtime producer Quincy Jones and enlisted Teddy Riley to produce half of the album. Dangerous finds Michael surrounded by rougher sounding beats.  Michael’s vocal performance is markedly different on the album as his already percussive voice gets even more so, and adds a bit of a growl in places.  Despite the harder sound, Dangerous was an instant success, and several of its tunes are bonafide classics.

Recommended Tracks: “Jam,” “Why You Wanna Trip On Me,” “In The Closet,” “She Drives Me Wild,” “Remember The Time,” “Can’t Let Her Get Away,” “Heal The World,” “Who Is It,” “Will You Be There,” “Keep The Faith,” “Dangerous”

HIStory: Past Present & Future (Book 1)
Released June 16, 1995

Packaged as a 2-cd set, HIStory was one-part greatest hits package, one part brand new studio album.  Michael teamed up with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Dallas Austin to produce tracks on the album.  Michael produced a sizable chunk of the album himself.  The album is full of songs rooted in Michael’s own politics, paranoia, and weariness of his own celebrity and probably reveal more about himself than any other album he’s ever recorded.  It’s this insight into Michael’s psyche that make HIStory a fascinating listen.

Recommended Tracks: “Scream (with Janet Jackson),” “They Don’t Care About Us,” “Stranger In Moscow,” “This Time Around (with The Notorious B.I.G.), ” “2 Bad,” “Money,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Tabloid Junkie,” “Little Susie,” “Smile”

Blood On The Dance Floor
Released May 20, 1997

Half remix-album, half brand-new studio EP, Blood On The Dance Floor is probably one of the least essential items in Michael’s catalog.  None of the new material really leaves much of a lasting impression, aside from the song “Morphine” where Michael sings about a person with an addiction to prescription drugs.

Recommended Tracks: “Blood On The Dance Floor,” “Morphine,” “Ghosts,” “Is It Scary”

Invincible
Released October 30, 2001

Michael’s final solo album was produced largely by Rodney Jerkins, which is its main downfall.  Jerkins’ desire to make his productions sound futuristic falls flat.  It’s the songs where producers like Dr. Freeze (“Break Of Dawn”), Teddy Riley (“Heaven Can Wait”, “Whatever Happens”) and Dre of Dre & Vidal fame (“Butterflies”) keep it simple and smooth that excel the most.

Recommended Listening: “Break Of Dawn,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “You Rock My World,” “Whatever Happens,” “Butterflies”

I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters
Released November 10, 2009

A few months after Michael’s death, Universal Music Group, which owns the Motown catalog, released a compilation of unreleased material from the Jackson 5.  Among these songs include the much rumored about “Buttercup,” written by Stevie Wonder.   The album is padded with alternate versions of songs like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Dancing Machine.”  The previously unheard songs are what makes this compilation worthwhile.  Michael’s version of the Curtis Mayfield penned “Man’s Temptation” is nothing short of amazing.

Recommended Listening: “Man’s Temptation,” “Love Call,” “Buttercup”

What’s your favorite Michael Jackson/The Jackson 5/The Jacksons album??

RELATED: Michael Jackson’s Most Controversial Moments

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Men In Black 2 (2002)

In Men In Black 2 Michael pokes fun at everyone thinking he’s from another planet. While he insists that he can be “Agent M” Zed blows him off saying they are still working on that “alien affirmative action program.”

Michael Jackson’s Ghost (1996)

While this is technically a long form music video it did appear in theaters. Michael Jackson’s Ghosts was directed by film director and special effects guru Stan Winston    and released along with select prints of the film Stephen King’s THINNER. It was released a year later internationally on VHS.

Captain EO (1986)

In this exclusive film for Disneyland theme parks directed by Francis Ford Coppola Michael is a spaceship captain leading ragtag crew of on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader.  The plot line was pretty much an excuse to string together several Michael Jackson music videos and dance sequences but no one was complaining.

The Wiz (1978)

In the musical remake of The Wizard of Oz Micheal Jackson played a Scarecrow with serious soul despite not having a heart. Though he did nearly as much singing and dancing as he did acting it’s still hands down Micheal’s best performance in a movie.

As impressive as the blazing footwork and choreography was, the most poignant moment came when Brown began sobbing during “Man In The Mirror.” Whether it was for Micheal or for his own transgressions, the tears were uncontrollable. Almost a year after being banned from the very same Awards show Chris Brown finished to applause that filled the stadium.

What do you think? Was this the redemption of Chris Brown? Or Was he looking for sympathy? Watch the clip and let us know!

Pasadena Civic Auditorium
300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA

When: March 25, 1983

What: The King of Pop moonwalks across the stage during his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary, treating audiences worldwide to what became his signature dance move.

In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents 100 Rewarding Black Music Moments, sponsored by Southwest Airlines.

Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive “It’s All Black Music” Badge. Check out the locations and details on our Foursquare page!

Share your favorite Michael Jackson song with me on Twitter @reginamicheIIe .

5. They Don’t Really Care About Us (feat. Olodum)
During my visit to Salvador, Brazil earlier this year, it was easy to see just how relevant this song is to the Afro-Brazilian people. And their love for Michael Jackson was equally apparent.  In fact, this video plays endlessly in Olodum’s memorabilia shop in Pelourinho, the site featured in the video.

4. Man in the Mirror
Clearly I like songs in which Michael Jackson advocates on behalf of the people. This song and video are truly touching; the ‘man in the mirror’ message is both timeless and universal.

3. Remember the Time
This song is just as lush as its video. True to form, Michael Jackson goes over the top in this cinematic and celebrity-filled video. I like it because I’m a sucker for a good story, especially a love story with a great dance routine!

2. Butterflies
Even though there is no official video, there is no way that I can leave this song off of the list! The ethereal vibe, the vocal arrangement and delivery, the pure emotion—I love this song!

1. Off The Wall
The title track of my favorite Michael Jackson album always makes me feel free, uninhibited, and better than I did before! Whenever I hear this song, I can’t resist the urge to “groove” and “let the madness in the music get to me!”

Michael Jackson Lives On Article

Which Artist Did You Vote To Bring Back To Life? [POLL]

There will be a cake-cutting ceremony later today “at 5 p.m in front of the modest house at 2300 Jackson Street marking Jackson’s actual birthday.”

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BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #1: Michael Jackson Does The Moonwalk During “Motown 25″

Sometimes it really does seem as though you never fully appreciate what you have until it’s gone. So now, rather than waiting to shed tears after another musical great makes their final transition from this world to the next, this blog is to celebrate the gifts of unmatched artistic talent we are able to enjoy now, while the artist is still around to share in the personal joys their professional career brings to the lives of millions.

In a great example of this practice, this past Monday, NoYouAintRadio.com posted backstage footage from The OVO Fest in Toronto… where one of Hip-Hop’s biggest superstar’s of the moment, Drake, brought out Motown music legend Stevie Wonder to perform with him during one of his shows. As one of the industry’s undisputed legends, this act of deference towards Stevie and the introduction of his legacy to an entire new generation of fans is what showing love to music’s living legends is all about.

In fact, did you know that today marks a moment of time that Stevie made history? That’s right, on this day in musical history, August 24th, 1963, Stevie Wonder became the first artist to score a U.S. #1 album and single in the same week. Wonder was at #1 on the album chart with “Little Stevie Wonder: The 12 Year Old Genius” and had the #1 single “Fingertips – Part 2.”

This blog is about giving props to artists of both the golden era and beyond, while they are still here to receive them. Through their musical careers, the following five acts have forever changed the face of the harmonic landscape forever, and deserve all the accolades they can be heaped with and much more.

As you go through the list, think about this: How has the music of these artists played a role in your life? What are some of your favorite songs or memories of the 5 Alive? And perhaps a question most intriguing, what would YOUR Top 5 Alive look like and why?

- @SamanthaGberry

Speak YOUR piece on this topic and leave a comment below.

New Music and Music News everyday at www.frequencynews.com

Frequency News: Inside the Business. . Artists. Radio.

Welcome to the Frequency-News-Sheet (FnS) on The Urban Daily. Our blog is all things industry news related from a fans voice, with an insider’s experience.

Focused on the urban music industry, it keeps you up-to-date on the who, what and where questions about your favorite artists, new music and the industry in general.

THE FREQUENCY NEWS is the official print and digital music industry publication of one of the nation’s largest radio and media conglomerates, Radio One, INC. To find out all things relating to urban and gospel music go to www.frequencynews.com and download the latest edition.

And now we are blogging on our sister site Theurbandaily.com every Monday and Wednesday. On Mondays, we will post the music charts and analyze what is happening with some of your favorite artists and music. And on Wednesdays, our staff writer Samantha Granberry will sound off on a variety of music industry related topics.

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Many have said Chris Brown is the Michael Jackson of our generation. To his credit, over the years Chris Brown has proved his star power is not to be underestimated.

While C-Breezy has experienced some set backs, all it took was one song to take him back to the top of the charts.

Teaming up with Tyga of Young Money and Kevin McCall on “Deuces,” the three had the number one hit of 2010.  He recently perform on the Today Show and broke a record of 18,000 fans who came out to watch him rip the stage. F.A.M.E ,which is Breezy’s latest album, sold 270,000 copies in its first week and is currently certified Gold by the RIAA.

Let’s not forget that he dominated the 2011 BET Awards taking home the most trophies and performed an amazing Michael Jackson tribute at the 2010 BET Awards. Obviously, we all know that The King Of Pop put up sales numbers that no one will ever touch, but by today’s music standards, Chris Brown is currently 10 steps ahead of his competition. At only 22 years old Chris Brown has more than enough time to practice his craft and take his talents to the next level. I think it is safe to say he has yet to reach his prime and can still pull a few tricks from his sleeve.

But I ask you guys today: Can Chris Brown still become the next Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson Tribute @ The 2010 BET Awards

Chris Brown performing Thriller @ 2006 World Music Awards

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10. Ciara vs. Jive Records

Following countless delays, Ciara decided she had had enough of the setbacks Jive placed in front of her. She took to her Facebook page to complain about the label’s lack of promotion. Ciara stated she had to pay to promote her single, “Gimme Dat,” out of her own pocket. Jive’s lack of faith in the Atlanta singer/songwriter led her to request for their contract to be terminated. A few weeks later, Ciara’s name disappeared from Jive’s roster of talent and her website, Ciarasworld.com, had been shut down. The virtual erasing of Ciara’s ties with Jive led many to speculate she had been dropped. After all, those rumors were floating around before Ciara decided to blast them on her Facebook page. Inquiring minds are still searching for details concerning the deterioration of their relationship.

9. Jill Scott vs. Hidden Beach Recordings

Our soul sista, Jill Scott has had a seemingly controversy free. Our love affair with Jill almost came to a screeching halt earlier this year when she and Hidden Beach Recordings were embroiled in a nasty lawsuit. The label’s head honcho claimed the neo-soul singer stopped recording for the company before her six album deal had expired. Scott countersued citing Steve McKeever, the label head, cost her millions in profits. Before the situation could get out of hand, the two came to an agreement. Jill was allowed to leave and signed a deal with Warner Brothers Records, which distributed her fourth effort. Hidden Beach will release a 10 song project entitled “Just Before Dawn: Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1.” Why can’t cooler heads prevail in all of these situations?

8. The Clipse vs. Jive Records

In 2003, One of the casualties of the merger between BMG and Sony Music Entertainment was The Clipse. Signed to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint, the Virginia rap duo was legally forced to stay on Jive when Star Trak moved its distribution deal over to Interscope. Jive, known more for having success with pop acts, allowed The Clipse to finish working on their second album without having any intention of delivering it to the public. Tensions between the group and the label mounted until Malice and Pusha T asked for a formal release. When Jive denied their request, The Clipse took the issue to court. As litigation took place, the duo started dropping the mixtape series, We Got It 4 Cheap. By the end of 2006, Jive relented by releasing Hell Hath No Fury, in conjunction with The Clipse’s Re-Up Records.

7. 112 vs. Bad Boy Records

People question how Diddy can be a label executive when he wants to be an artist himself. That has been the basis of quite a few artists leaving Bad Boy Records. 112 was one of the biggest male R&B groups in the late 90s and early 2000s. After having a hit album with Part III, the boys of 112 decided they were men and needed to take a stand. Slim, Q, Mike, and Daron felt Bad Boy no longer suited the mature adults they’d become. Despite all parties’ calling the decision amicable, many believed 112 signed with Def Soul for more creative control over future projects.  Being the legal gangster he is, Diddy worked out a deal to where 112 would be represented by both companies for the release of Pleasure & Pain. Amid rumors of internal strife, 112 parted ways in 2007 and Def Jam dropped them from their roster.

6. JoJo vs. Da Family Entertainment

In 2006, JoJo was at the top of her game. She had a Top 10 hit with “Too Little, Too Late” and was crafting tracks for her next album. By 2009, new songs hadn’t materialized. JoJo posted messages on her Myspace page informing her fans it was Da Family Entertainment who was holding up the new disc. Later that year, she filed a lawsuit against the boutique company. The singer alleged her label wouldn’t let her out of her contract or allow her in the studio to record new songs. An agreement was finally reached in January of 2010. JoJo’s future albums would be distributed through Interscope Records. If you’re wondering where the new album is, it’s slated to hit shelves this coming fall.

5. Consequence vs. G.O.O.D. Music

The beef between Kanye West and Consequence is a personal one that spilled over into business. When Kanye debuted in 2004, Consequence was there. He helped with lyrics and concepts for each of Kanye’s works, save My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. While the squabbles between the two remained under wraps for a moment, Consequence grew tired of playing a secondary role when he was promised a starring one. Cons has alleged he hasn’t received credit for the work he contributed to West’s albums. Another thorn in the side of this relationship is Consequence’s sophomore disc being delayed by Kanye and Q-Tip’s dragging of their feet. Consequence has left G.O.O.D. Music and created his own label called Band Camp. To add insult to injury, he changed the title of his next album from Cons TV to Get Even. I wonder who’s the target for that dagger.

4. Faith Evans vs. Bad Boy Records

As one of the flagship artists on Diddy’s label, Faith Evans wasn’t as big a name she should have been. Faith recorded some of the biggest R&B hits for  the company. the issue for her was the same issue 112 had with Sean Combs. She felt there was a conflict of interest. How could the person supposed to guide your career do their job effectively  when they were trying to be and artist themselves? After the moderate success that was the Faithfully album, Faith made history by becoming the first contemporary R&B singer contracted to Capitol Records.

3. The Lox vs. Bad Boy Records

When you talk about being out of place, The Lox signing with Bad Boy Records is prime example. The Lox found themselves fighting to be rid of the Bad Boy image. Shiny suits and big budgeted video didn’t fit the rugged outlook of the Yonkers rap trio. Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch wanted to work with Ruff Ryders label because they had a harder image which fit The Lox’s attitude. After venturing down all legal avenues to no avail, they took it to the streets. The group started a grassroots movement with t-shirts emblazoned with “Let The Lox Go.” Diddy relented, yet kept some of their money from their future earnings.

2. Michael Jackson vs. Sony Music

Michael Jackson’s last full length album he recorded was the 2001 disc, Invincible. Before its release, Jackson and Sony were at odds over the artist’s master recordings. Michael was supposed to receive the masters to all of his work in 2000. However, there were clauses in the agreement which made sure Jackson didn’t get his masters for another 20 years. MJ discovered the lawyer representing him in the matter also worked for Sony. After unearthing the shady practices of Sony Music, Michael sought an early exit from his contract. When Jackson informed the label he was leaving the company after Invincible was finished being promoted, Sony suspended all promotions for the project.

1. Prince vs. Warner Brothers Records

Prince has never been one to shy away from controversy–be it rocking chaps with the butt cut out on national television. One of the most attention grabbing moments in Prince’s career was when he etched ‘slave’ in his face when he began to feel Warner Brothers was stifling his creativity. When Warner Brothers wouldn’t let Prince out of his contract, he began dropping albums in rapid succession to fill the requirements of his deal. How’s that for there being more than one way to skin a cat?

Westlake Studios.
8447 Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood

When: November 8, 1982

What: Michael Jackson felt his “Off the Wall” album didn’t get its proper due at the Grammy Awards. He recorded “Thriller” with the intent of showing the world the he was the King of Pop, and succeeded. “Thriller” won eight Grammy Awards and is the best selling album in history.

In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents 100 Rewarding Black Music Moments, sponsored by Southwest .

Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive “It’s All Black Music” Badge. Check out the locations and details on our Foursquare page!

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