Remembering Michael Jackson, courtesy of Rhymefest's 'Man in the Mirror'
As most everybody on the planet knows, Friday marks the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death at age 50 on the eve of a major comeback tour.
What many people may not know is that the best Michael Jackson-related album of the last two decades was released more than a year earlier, though Jackson probably wasn’t even aware of its existence when it first surfaced on the Internet. It’s called “Man in the Mirror (The Michael Jackson Dedication Album),” by South Side native Rhymefest. The download is no longer available – it was released for free on Rhymefest’s Web site – and was later taken down when Jackson’s lawyers became aware of its existence. “Man in the Mirror” inventively uses samples of Jackson’s music and interviews to create a new work that plays as one talented fan’s affectionate, frequently humorous, and clearly heart-felt homage to one of the last century’s greatest entertainers.
It’s too bad there are so many grumps on Jackson’s legal team. The album’s a great piece of work, and made my top-10 list at the end of 2008. Rhymefest’s tribute is a fine way to remember Jackson the artist (rather than the scandal-ridden celebrity he became) on this sad day.
What many people may not know is that the best Michael Jackson-related album of the last two decades was released more than a year earlier, though Jackson probably wasn’t even aware of its existence when it first surfaced on the Internet. It’s called “Man in the Mirror (The Michael Jackson Dedication Album),” by South Side native Rhymefest. The download is no longer available – it was released for free on Rhymefest’s Web site – and was later taken down when Jackson’s lawyers became aware of its existence. “Man in the Mirror” inventively uses samples of Jackson’s music and interviews to create a new work that plays as one talented fan’s affectionate, frequently humorous, and clearly heart-felt homage to one of the last century’s greatest entertainers.
It’s too bad there are so many grumps on Jackson’s legal team. The album’s a great piece of work, and made my top-10 list at the end of 2008. Rhymefest’s tribute is a fine way to remember Jackson the artist (rather than the scandal-ridden celebrity he became) on this sad day.
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