photos by Winnie Cheung

a dancer in Prospect Park Sunday

"It wasn't just another day in the park for Snoop Dogg, who showed up to Spike Lee's 2nd Annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration in Brooklyn's Prospect Park to pay tribute to the King of Pop on what would have been his 52nd birthday. Snoop performed his hits remixed with MJ's classics and was given a sparkly glove, which he plans to take back to Cali.

"His music, his spirit represented love and peace around the whole world and it influenced me and what I do, so for me to come through, it's just showing love and respect and paying homage to a great artist who meant so much to music in general and the people," the rapper told the New York Daily News." [Rap-up]

For Snoop Dogg it was his 2nd NYC appearance in two days. One night earlier he headlined Rock the Bells on Governors Island. Videos of Snoop Dogg (who also headlined Rock the Bells in DC later that night) and other scenes from the Prospect Park party, along with more pictures from the Brooklyn event (we already posted a first set), below...

Continue reading "more photos & video (Snoop Dogg included) of Spike Lee's Michael Jackson Birthday Party in Prospect Park "

"Thousands of Michael Jackson fans danced the rain away in a Brooklyn park on Saturday at a party hosted by filmmaker Spike Lee, marking what would have been the 51st birthday of the late pop star.

Crowds of partygoers streamed into Prospect Park late Saturday afternoon, many wearing fedoras, sporting white gloves and showing off other Jackson-esque outfits. DJs spun Jackson's hits one after the other as people danced and sang along. Dozens of hawkers wandered through the crowd with T-shirts, buttons, posters and homemade memorabilia.

"I was just like everyone else. I loved his talent," said Lee, who directed two music videos for Jackson in 1996. He also reminisced how Jackson had visited him in his home in Brooklyn to talk about their music video collaboration.

The day was also designated Michael "King of Pop" Jackson Memorial Day by Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz.

"We all know Michael Jackson had fans around the world, but we all know the best fans come from Brooklyn," Markowitz boasted to a roaring crowd that grew as heavy rain in the morning lightened to a drizzle by mid-afternoon." [US Post Today]

I arrived at Prospect Park around 2:30 which was the same time Al Sharpton got there - his black SUV drove by me on the path in (see pics). There was a little drizzle after that, but for the most part it was a dry and fun afternoon listening to DJ Spinna play Michael Jackson songs over a great soundystem with host Spike Lee speaking here and there, and Al Sharpton saying a few words from the stage. There was also a quick appearance by Tracy Morgan who said about 2 sentences, and lots of MJ shirts, pins, signs, magazines, paintings, and impersonators. Kids were getting Thriller facepaint put on, and cops were everywhere helping keep the peace at what was actually a very large, but peaceful gathering. The coordinated videos, lyrics and live video that was on the giant screen was a bonus. More pictures HERE, and below...

Continue reading "pictures from Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Party in Prospect Park (part 1) "

"Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president, will present a proclamation declaring the day Michael Jackson Day in Brooklyn. The Rev. Al Sharpton will supply the prayer. DJ Spinna will supply the music...

In an interview this month with The Root, an online magazine on black culture, Mr. Lee said of the party: "It's going to just be how we do it, Brooklyn style, I'll leave it at that. It's going to be a joyous, festive, celebratory party." He also said: "We're of the same era. I wanted my Afro to be perfectly round like Michael's, all that stuff."" [NY Times]

DJ Spinna will also be supplying some music at another MJ Bday party later that night.

Unfortunately, for this and the Impose party at BKYLN Yard, it might be raining.

Continue reading "what will happen @ the Michael Jackson birthday party in Prospect Park on Saturday (besides rain)?"

The Apollo Theater - June 25, 2009, 8:30 PM (hsupafly)

The Apollo Theater in Harlem posted the message, "In Memory of Michael Jackson, A True Apollo Legend" on its billboard Thursday after learning of Jackson's death at age 50.

In Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when television news flashed the news that Jackson had died. People began relaying the news to people by cell phone text messages.

Thirty-six-year-old Micheal Harris of New York City read from a message sent on his phone, "No joke. King of Pop is no more."

Harris said he will always remember being in Times Square when learning that Jackson had died.

The Rev. Al Sharpton issued a statement on the music legend's passing:

"A friend of Michael's for the last 35 years, I call on people around the world to pray for him and his family in the hour. I have known Michael since we were both teens, worked with him, marched for him, hosted him at our House of Justice headquarters in New York, and we joined together to eulogize our mutual idol, James Brown. I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family." [CBS]