Michael Jackson THIS IS IT - In Theaters Wednesday

This Is It was a planned series of 50 concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through March 2010. Less than three weeks before the first show was due to begin and with all concerts being sold out, Jackson died after suffering cardiac arrest.

Jackson officially announced the concerts at a press conference held inside The O2 arena. AEG Live, the concert promoters, released a promotional video that took up an entire commercial break, setting a record for ITV. The shows were to be Jackson's first major series of concerts since the HIStory World Tour finished in 1997, and had been cited as one of the year's most important musical events. Over one million people would have attended in total. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, stated that the first 10 dates alone would have earned the singer approximately £50 million. Originally only 10 concerts were announced, however public demand resulted in a 50 date sold out residency. Ticket sales broke several records and AEG Live stated that Jackson could have sold more dates. Jackson's album sales increased following the announcement.

In preparation for the concert series, the pop singer had been collaborating with numerous high profile figures, such as fashion designer Christian Audigier, choreographer Kenny Ortega and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno. Prior to Jackson's death, Allgood Entertainment had planned to sue the musician for $40 million, claiming that he had breached a contract with them.

In light of Jackson's passing, AEG Live offered either full refunds to all ticket holders or a special souvenir ticket designed by the entertainer. Columbia Pictures acquired the footage of the show rehearsals and made a concert film entitled Michael Jackson's This Is It. The Jackson estate will get 90% of the profit made while the remaining 10% goes to AEG Live. Columbia Pictures guaranteed at least $60 million for the rights. To coincide with the release of the concert footage, an accompanying album (This Is It) is also scheduled for worldwide distribution.
The announcement of Jackson's first 10 performances was made by the singer himself, during a press conference at The O2 arena on March 5, 2009. As many as 7,000 fans and 350 reporters awaited the singer's arrival, many donning Jackson-related clothing.[1][2][3] The singer commented at the conference, "I just wanted to say that these will be my final show performances in London. When I say this is it, it really means this is it", adding that it was his "final curtain call".[3] Organizers touted the residency as, "dramatic shows [that] promise an explosive return with a band of the highest calibre, a state-of-the-art stage show and incredible surprise support acts".[4]

Hours before the press conference, promotional posters for the residency were displayed around London. Further promotion took up an entire commercial break period on ITV London during Dancing on Ice, the first time this has ever happened for a musical artist. The advert, which cost £1 million to air, was viewed by 11 million people.[
The shows, Jackson's first significant concert events since the HIStory World Tour in 1997, had been cited as one of the year's most important musical events.[9][10] Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, stated that the first 10 dates would earn the singer approximately £50 million.[2]

The Guardian characterized the announced 10 concerts as an "astonishing comeback for a man who in recent years has been dogged by controversy", adding that the entertainer still had "enormous commercial clout".[11] The Evening Standard stated that the deal was the "showbiz coup of the decade" for AEG Live, while The Independent remarked that the finalized 50 concerts would provide London with a "much-needed" economic boost.[12][13] Joe Cohen, chief executive of Seatwave, told BBC 6 Music that the shows would generate £1 billion for the economy

Re: Tommy Davidson and Scott Sanders talk variety in films with Black Dynamite

Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT - In Theaters Wednesday

Tickets are available at theaters everywhere and at http://ThisIsIt-Movie.com

Lil Wayne 'No Ceilings' Mixtape Tracks Hit the 'Net Lil Wayne Facing Jail Time

October 22, 2009) - Rap superstar Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to weapons charges Oct 22. Lil Wayne, also known as Dwayne Carter, is expects to receive a maximum sentence of one year in jail, but may only serve eight months of that term, allhiphop.com reports.

Carter, 27, was arrested in 2007 when police found a .40 caliber handgun while searching his tour bus in Manhattan, NY.

Carter originally pleaded not guilty to gun charges but changed his plea when he discovered a trial date set on Jan. 20 couldve resulted in a 3 ½ year prison sentence.

Carter is also facing trial in Arizona for felony drug possession and weapons charges, after a 2008 arrest during a routine stop at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.


Carters plea was entered on Oct. 21 after traces of his DNA was found on the weapon and considered admissible by a judge. Carter remains free on bail while he awaits a February sentencing.

Carter recently won a Grammy award for his solo hit A Milli.

The rapper has gained public acclaim for his work with several artists as well as churning out top hits of his own.

Carter did not speak to reporters as he left a New York court room.
Oct 22 2009 5:17 PM EDT
Lil Wayne Drops Two New Songs On Day Of His Guilty Plea
Two untitled tracks, apparently from No Ceiling mixtape, hit the net.

By Shaheem Reid * Views12,296 * o 7 Comments o 50% Rating o Rate Article Thumbs Up Thumbs Down * o Share o Favorite

Even on the day he pleaded guilty to a gun-possession charge in New York, it seems nothing can stop Lil Wayne from putting out music. With hundreds of unreleased songs in his catalog, two untitled new songs, purportedly from Wayne's forthcoming No Ceilings mixtape, leaked.

In one, he raps over the beat for F.L.Y.'s "Swag Surfin'."

"I said, 'T.I. hold ya head, and Mack hold your head,' " he raps. "I wish I could, but I can't say some other names/ I can't because of the feds," Weezy declares amid raps that include references having his own island and his family.

"I'm a New Orleans n---a, I don't take no sh--/ Took the brain off the whip, now it doesn't make no sense ... I love my baby mamas, they get my highest honors/ Gotta take care of them kids, man, I know you heard Obama."

He shouts out "no ceilings!" at the end.

During the next record, the Fireman freestyles over Gucci Mane's "Wasted," touching on global warming, his status at the top of the rap game, and wiping out the competition.

"It's Young Money, we the f---in' greatest," he boasts. "We done put them other n---as on hiatus."

Wayne asks "Where did the ceilings go?" at the end of his bars.

Earlier this month, Young Money crew member and Wayne's close friend Mack Maine told Mixtape Daily that No Ceilings was deep in production.

"On his birthday, he was saying, 'Everyone else is putting out mixtapes, so I gotta show them that I still got it,' " Mack said. "And he also said that a lot of beats are coming out that he likes, so, you know, once that happens, he's gotta put out his own versions to the beats he likes. It's not fair. It's not necessary, to me. Like, what are you trying to prove? Let these little dudes have their lane for a few, man. He's about to come and smash people's albums."

Mack has since tweeted that the mixtape was completed, although there has been no word from Lil Wayne's camp as to when the mixtape is coming out.

DJ Scratching Tutorialon a Pioneer CDJ1000mk3, Vid 1

Native Insturments Maschine Goove Production Studio beat # 8

Anotther Native instuments Maschine beat video. I'm learning how to create songs on maschine

Just Blaze on his MPC 4000

Watch Just Blaze in his studio doing a beat in a few minutes over his MPC 4000. Pretty cool such a producer takes the time to show his working process...