Bill was so cool back then

Bill Clinton just earned more currency with the community

Predominantly African-American Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, has just inducted President Bill Clinton as an honorary member. The Fraternity reached out to Clinton because the work of his global William J. Clinton Foundation closely parallels the health, social, and environmental efforts of the fraternity.

Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), a long-time member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. responded, "I am so pleased and delighted that President Bill Clinton has accepted membership in my fraternity. As a true servant-leader it is fitting for him to join the ranks of civil rights activist and labor leader A. Philip Randolph, Atlanta businessman Herman Russell, former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, former NAACP Leader James Weldon Johnson and renowned scientist George Washington Carver. My heart is warmed today."

Clinton has long been cheekily hailed as "the first Black President"---a sentiment almost universally abandoned once Obama stepped onto the scene. Now he can at least say he was the first President of the United States to join a Black Greek organization.

source

MJ Hides out in Gordy's Crypt

Michael Jackson as a child would hide out at Berry Gordy's home, RadarOnline reports that Jackson now rests in Motown Records’ founder Berry Gordy’s Crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, CA. Soures indicate it’s a temporary resting place while the Jackson family find a permanent resting place. It has also been reported that Michael Jackson's casket was the same model used to bury James Brown.

Chrisette Michele Joins Maxwell on Tour

Chrisette Michele has been chosen as the opening act for Maxwell during his sold-out 14 city U.S. tour in support of BLACKsummers'night, his comeback album that was released on July 7.

The tour opens July 12 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and concludes at Miami's Waterfront Theater on July 31.The tour immediately follows Michele's most recent 17 city May-June itinerary with fellow Grammy winner Anthony Hamilton and neo-soulman Musiq Soulchild. The soulful, jazz influenced vocalist is promoting her brand new second album "Epiphany," which debuted at No. 1 following its arrival in the physical and digital marketplace on May 5th.

Michael is still on top of the charts

Michael Jackson had three of the top 5 best-selling albums for the second week in a row last week (and he didn't even pass away until the second half of the first week). Here are the stats for the week ending July 5, 2009:

Number Ones sold 339,000 copies and would have been #1 on the Billboard 200 if catalogue albums were eligible for that chart. It more than twice as many as the album they put at #1. It is still #1 on the catalogue chart for the second week in a row. Including an album by the Jackson 5, Michael holds all 10 positions on the catalogue chart. Go back and read that again.

Thriller sold 187,000 copies and would have been #2, up from #3 the week before, if it were eligible for the chart. (Billboard is hating.)

The Essential Michael Jackson sold 125,000 copies and was also ineligible for the official chart. It would have been #5, down from #2 the week before.

Number Ones is also #1 in the UK and other places around the world. Michael is also topping charts in Japan with a special compilation called the King of Pop. It is currently at #6 in that country.

Michael's solo catalogue of albums sold 800,000 copies this past week, up from 422,000 the week before. Recall that first week was the week he passed and only included a few days.

He is indeed the King of Pop.

Ron Artest was a Michael Jackson Fan

Ron Artest just signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and chose the jersey numnber 37 to commemorate the number of weeks Michael Jackson's Thriller stayed at the top of the charts in the 80's. Thriller's run earned it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Before you get all teary eyed at his tribute, Artest has worn 5 other numbers over the course of his professional career.

Michael Jackson and Number 7

In case you were wondering what number was going to be today:

=Michael Jackson signed his will on 7/7/02.

=Michael Jackson's memorial was on 7/7/09: exactly 7 years after his will was signed.

=Michael Jackson's two biggest hits: "Black & White" & "Billie Jean" , were each #1 for 7 weeks.

=Michael Jackson's three biggest albums,

"Thriller," "Bad" and "Dangerous" each produced 7 top 40 hits.

=Michael Jackson was the 7th of 9 children.

=Michael Jackson was born in 1958 : 19 + 58 = 77

=Michael Jackson died on the 25th: 2 + 5 = 7

=Michael Jackson has 7 letters in his first and last name.

I got 7 on it!

Where was the dancing?

Speaking of Chris, why wasn't he part of the memorial yesterday? Supposedly the Jackson family was hot for him to perform on the BET Awards and Michael, himself, greatly admired his dancing. Why didn't they put him on their own tribute?

Kanye knows no bounds

Now that he's--ahem--"mastered" music and fashion, Kanye is ready to broaden his horizons to the sports world. He has reportedly tapped Wimbeldon champ, Serena Williams, to give him some tennis pointers.

Highlights from Michael Jackson's Memorial Yesterday

Michael Jackson’s Casket Enters the Staples Center

Al Sharpton’s Eulogy tore the house down

We Are The World

Paris Katherine Jackson, Michael’s daughter, brought tears to everyone’s eyes. Doesn’t Janet look maternal here? She would be a great co-guardian with Katherine.

Jermaine Jackson Sings Michael’s favorite song “Smile”

Brooke Shield’s Speech

More portions of the Michael Jackson memorial

Lionel Richie sounded great

Usher performed “Gone Too Soon,” cried, and went down to touch the casket

John Mayer’s instrumental of “Human Nature” was incredible. I really do enjoy his music. He is an innovative musician.

Mariah Carey performed “I’ll Be There” with a little help. Who is this man? Mariah sounded like she was either sick or had been crying. She didn’t tear it up like she usually does. I was expecting her to really blow the song away since Tommy Mottola was there.

Jennifer Hudson did a good job on her song. I was afraid she would give birth right there on the stage.

Magic and Kobe Eulogize MJ at Memorial Service

LAPD Proposed Crowd Control for Jackson Memorial

The LAPD has issued a "tactical alert" and proposed the following method of crowd control if y'all hang out too long after the Michael Jackson Memorial today....What's another lawsuit?!

Bubbles the Chimp won't be able to make the memorial today

Just in case you missed Bubbles doing the moonwalk, here is a closer look:


Bubbles the Chimp won't be able to make the memorial today. Like virtually every other elderly person in America, Bubbles has retired to Florida.

Debbie Rowe is skipping the memorial and threatening the paparazzi

"Although Debbie had originally planned to attend tomorrow's Staples Center memorial service, we have concluded with Debbie that she will not be attending," her rep said in a statement. "The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael's legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael's memory privately"

On Sunday, Rowe yelled at the paparazzi outside a Chinese restaurant near her house, "Are you ready to get your butt kicked? Don't f***ing touch me."

She might be able to take out one or two photographers with her husky self, but she's no match for 18,000 angry fans who blame her for trying to take Michael's money and children she never wanted.