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Aug.29th – Michael Jackson was born Michael Joseph Jackson in Gary , Indiana , on this day in 1958.

Aside from being the biggest and most influential entertainer of all time , with a career that needs no introduction , Michael Jackson has had a connection to culture of hip-hop going back to the early 80’s. Performing Billie Jean on the Motown 25th Anniversary television special on NBC , Jackson performed the famed moonwalk dance practiced for years by New York City break-dance crews like The Rock Steady Crew and The New York City Breakers. Over the years Jackson would express his admiration for rap artists like Run-DMC , 50 Cent and Jay-Z. Jackson would also collaborate with hip-hop artists throughout his career like The Notorious B.I.G. , The Black Eyed Peas , Heavy D. , Kris Kross and Shaquille O’neal.

Michael Jackson in turn also had a major influence in hip-hop , inspiring rap artists like M.C. Hammer , Fat Joe , Dimples D. , Nas , Doug E. Fresh and even Public Enemy. Michael Jackson’s passing in 2009 left a void in entertainment that has not been filled until this day.