It has been fifteen years since the sudden passing of one of the world's brightest stars, Michael Jackson. So it is no surprise that there is a continued desire among industry gurus to dissect his story. Jackson’s unique vision helped establish the template for the modern pop star- but a lot has changed in the music world over the past 15 years. With artist revenues dropping, thanks to the rise of streaming services, it has become a tough climb for musicians- especially newcomers in the industry- to make a living from their art.

In these dark times, podcasters Charlamagne tha God and Andrew Schulz recently jumped in on the controversial conspiracy theories about Jackson’s journey- a topic everyone seems to have tried picking apart at least once.

Charlamagne tha God and Andrew Schulz recently chatted about the gap between cultural engagement with politics and how media shapes public perception on their popular The Brilliant Idiots podcast. This discussion prompted Charlamagne to boldly declare that Michael Jackson was the only celebrity "people conspired to actually take down." According to him, Jackson had too much power and control over the most valuable asset in music- particularly, publishing rights- referencing the Beatles' catalog.

This influence allegedly prompted others to tarnish Jackson's reputation in a bid to bring him down. “They killed his reputation and ultimately killed him,” Charlamagne remarked. Jackson left behind a legacy of hits and a series of high-profile legal troubles. Interestingly, the King of Pop was a huge fan of a new-age artist who has a similarly complicated legacy in the industry- Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

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Jackson truly admired Ye's impact on music- a fact shared through an anecdote from the ‘Smooth Criminal’ star’s daughter, Paris Jackson.

In 2016, Paris Jackson shared a story about her father in a social media comment that has recently resurfaced online. According to Michael Jackson’s daughter, the late icon was well aware of Ye, particularly his album, '808s & Heartbreak'. In response to an Instagram follower who lamented Ye's surpassing MJ in Top 40 hits, she said, “The first time I heard Kanye's heartbreak album, my dad played it for me repeatedly”. 

The pop king’s daughter also noted that her father never viewed Ye as competition; in fact, he “liked him.” Paris Jackson not only understands this but she was also introduced to Ye by her legendary dad, who kept a close eye on the changing musical landscape as it shifted away from commercial viability. As for the conspiracy against Jackson, that is a debate that may never find a resolution.

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What do you think about Charlamagne tha God’s views on Michael Jackson? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!