club 30's with mjfangirl- a Michael Jackson Fan Podcast

For nearly 20 years, choreographer and creative partner Travis Payne worked alongside Michael Jackson-- from the Dangerous era and HIStory Tour, to Ghosts, Scream, and This Is It.
In this episode of Club 30s with mjfangirl, I’m joined by Randall (therocfiles / rocsmocs.com ) for a deep-dive conversation with Travis about the creativity, collaboration, and precision behind some of Michael’s most ambitious work. Travis shares what it was really like collaborating with Michael on set and on tour, how Ghosts evolved through multiple versions, and what fans never saw behind the scenes while building massive productions around the world. We also discuss Michael’s rehearsals, global and street-dance influences (including the Bankhead Bounce), and the reality of bringing MJ’s vision to life.

Follow Travis Payne:Website: travispayne.com
Instagram: @travispayne1
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Join the community (Club 30’s / Patreon):patreon.com/mjfangirl
Connect with mjfangirl:Business inquiries: [email protected]: @mjfangirlblog

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 - Intro: MJfangirl + Randall welcome Travis Payne (Michael Jackson creative partner)
00:01:01 - Travis Payne credits: Michael Jackson (Dangerous, HIStory, Ghosts, Scream, This Is It)
00:02:57 - Travis Payne origin story: Atlanta dance training
00:04:03 - Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Tour
00:09:48 - Travis Payne on mentoring young dancers
00:14:37 - Travis Payne’s inspirations (Bob Fosse, Alvin Ailey, Debbie Allen + more)
00:15:34 - Michael Jackson influence on showmanship
00:18:31 - First time working with Michael Jackson
00:20:44 - Joining Michael Jackson’s Dangerous Tour
00:26:50 - “Dangerous” performance: film references + building MJ’s live cinematic world
00:28:37 - Michael Jackson “Dangerous” at Soul Train Awards: why it was full-circle
00:32:33 - Michael Jackson rehearsal standard
00:33:15 - Bankhead Bounce in “Dangerous”: hip-hop dance + Atlanta culture in MJ choreography
00:38:01 - Divine Nine stepping + “Global Dance”
00:40:26 - Michael Jackson “Ghosts” era: creative process + early concepts
00:41:45 - “Ghosts” filmmaking detail: the “dust” took days to perfect
00:44:01 - Why “Ghosts” was ahead of its time (Thriller legacy + Stan Winston + tech)
00:54:43 - HIStory Tour logistics: Kingdom Air planes + more
01:02:21 - Michael Jackson “Scream” behind the scenes: MJ + Janet collaboration
01:13:00 - MJ Immortal / ONE / Michael Jackson: The Experience

In this episode of mjfangirl, we dive into a conversation I have been wanting to have for a long time about Michael Jackson and hip hop culture. As hip hop rose from the streets to become the dominant voice of Black youth culture, Michael Jackson had to navigate a world that suddenly valued authenticity, edge, and credibility in ways pop music never had before. This episode explores what happened when the King of Pop met a culture that did not automatically bow to pop royalty.
Joined by voices from the Black Jackson Estate Podcast- Ashleigh, and Nikki, along with Randall, and Chris Lacy, we break down how that cultural shift reshaped Michael’s career. We talk through the transition from Thriller to Bad, the New Jack Swing era of Dangerous, and the more experimental and often misunderstood HIStory and Invincible years. The conversation asks whether Michael was embracing hip hop, adapting under pressure, or being actively tested by a culture that had changed the rules.We explore Michael’s real relationships with hip hop artists like Biggie Smalls, Heavy D, Wreckx-N-Effect, Eve, and others, as well as collaborations that almost happened, including Lil’ Kim and Pharrell. We unpack behind the scenes stories from Rodney Jerkins, Michael’s admiration for Biggie and 50 Cent, and why songs like Unbreakable and This Time Around still spark debate decades later. We also examine James Brown’s influence, beatboxing, dance, and the street culture that shaped Michael’s creative evolution. If you have ever wondered where Michael Jackson truly fits in hip hop history, this episode is for you.ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS: Black Jackson Estate  @theblackjacksonestatepodcast  https://www.patreon.com/c/theblackjacksonestate/Chris Lacy : https://chrislacy1990.medium.com @ chrislacy1990Randall - @ therocfiles /  @rocsmocs  #HipHop #NotoriousBIG #michaeljackson TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Michael Jackson & Hip Hop: Why This Conversation Matters02:26 – Personal Hip Hop Origins (NYC, Atlanta, The South)05:32 – From Thriller to Bad: Cultural Pressure on Michael Jackson06:59 – Quincy Jones, Rap Skepticism & the “Hip Hop Is a Fad” Debate09:23 – James Brown, Beatboxing & MJ’s Hip Hop DNA10:27 – New Jack Swing & Dangerous Falling Between Eras11:47 – Run-DMC, LL Cool J & Hip Hop Challenging MJ’s Image14:59 – Dangerous Era Collaborations (Heavy D, Wreckx-N-Effect)18:31 – HIStory Era: “We’re Still on the Same Track”22:22 – Michael, Janet & Biggie at the VMAs23:20 – Michael Jackson on Hip Hop (VIBE 2001 Interview)27:25 – Listener Voicemails: Favorite MJ Hip Hop Collaborations31:35 – Notorious BIG on Invincible & Unbreakable34:15 – Was Biggie’s Verse “Never Heard Before”?38:22 – Biggie’s Bars on MJ Songs (Lyric Breakdown)42:00 – The Lil’ Kim Collaboration That Never Happened46:10 – Pharrell, The Neptunes & “Super Thug”49:41 – Could Michael Have Pulled Off Neptunes Beats?54:55 – Michael & Hip Hop Dance56:20 – The Moonwalk Debate1:08:30 – Final TakeawaysJoin our community of Michael Jackson fans at Club 30's https://www.patreon.com/mjfangirl

this is an older episode but worth listening to, as it was a previous Youtube only episode! Today we have an exclusive interview with one of the most trusted names in Michael Jackson collecting.
In this video, I sit down with Jonathan, owner of MJ Market, to go inside the world of Michael Jackson memorabilia, from rare collectibles to the hard truth about autograph authenticity.
We break down how serious collectors authenticate Michael Jackson autographs, what separates real memorabilia from fakes, and why certain items hold long-term value while others don’t. Jonathan shares real-world experience from the collector market, including common mistakes fans make and what to look for before spending serious money.
Whether you’re just starting your collection or already deep in the hobby, this conversation will help you collect smarter, avoid costly errors, and understand what truly makes Michael Jackson memorabilia valuable.
Visit michaeljacksonmarket.com and get money off your first order using code MJFANGIRL .

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Michael Jackson is one of the most misunderstood artists in history. In this episode, MJ scholar Elizabeth Amisu joins mjfangirl to help separate fact from decades of myths about his songwriting, dancing, business decisions, and creative genius.Michael Jackson ACADEMIC STUDIES COURSES with Elizabeth Amisu: https://onlineartseducation.co.uk/course/dangerous-philosophies-of-michael-jackson-online-course/https://elizabethamisu.com/From claims that Michael didn’t write his own music, to the idea that others created his sound, to persistent misunderstandings about the moonwalk, Thriller, and his role as a businessman, this conversation takes a closer look at what’s actually true (and why so many myths continue to circulate today)!Elizabeth Amisu, author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson, brings an academic lens to Michael’s creative process, musicianship, choreography, and legacy. Together, we examine how tabloid narratives, oversimplification, and cultural bias have shaped public perception, often overshadowing Michael’s innovation, discipline, and artistic intelligence.This episode also explores why Thriller was not an overnight success, how Michael approached songwriting and arrangement, the difference between inventing and popularizing dance moves, and why his business decisions including music publishing, changed the industry forever.With the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic bringing renewed attention to his life and work, this is the perfect moment to revisit the facts, challenge long-held assumptions, and understand Michael Jackson beyond the myths.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why Michael Jackson is so misunderstood01:18 – Separating fact from decades of MJ myths04:32 – “Michael Jackson didn’t write his own songs” - DEBUNKED08:42 – Solomon’s firsthand story recording “Can You Feel It” with Michael11:15 – Did Quincy Jones create Michael Jackson's sound?22:15 – Musicianship without reading music26:40 – The moonwalk: invention vs. popularization28:55 – Why that Motown 25 moment changed everything30:00 – Michael Jackson Academic Courses35:05 – How Michael strategically built Thriller’s legacy45:00 – The Beatles catalog myth51:30 – The biopic and Michael’s lasting legacy

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In this episode of Club 30s with mjfangirl, we’re going behind the scenes with Ricko Baird, one of the select dancers who worked closest with Michael Jackson — including serving as MJ’s body double in You Rock My World and performing with him in the Michael Jackson & Friends shows. Ricko opens up about the shocking truth behind moments fans have never heard about before: being chosen out of more than 3,000 dancers to perform with Michael, what really happened during the Earth Song bridge collapse, how the choreography for You Rock My World changed on set, and which moments weren’t actually Michael on camera. He also talks about the intensity Michael brought to rehearsals, the experience of becoming “Adult MJ” in Thriller Live, and how all of these experiences shaped his transition into creating his own music today. If you love Michael Jackson, behind-the-scenes stories, early-2000s short films, or rare insights from the dancers who helped bring MJ’s visions to life, this interview is packed with details you won’t want to miss.
Make sure to check out Ricko’s music at rickobaird.com and support his independent artistry. Follow him on Facebook at Ricko Baird and Instagram @ricko_baird

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Introduction: Who is Ricko Baird?
02:24 — Early Life, Training & Becoming a Professional Dancer
04:09 — Landing His First Big Jobs & Moving to L.A.
05:00 — The Nerve-wracking Day Michael Jackson Walked Into Rehearsal
07:14 — Dancing Right Beside Michael Jackson
08:12 — Auditioning for Michael Jackson & Friends
09:58 — Traveling with MJ: Seoul, Munich & Experiencing MJ Mania
11:26 — Dangerous Live Clip Reaction & The Iconic “Flip” Moment
13:30 — What Michael Was Like in Rehearsal vs. Onstage
15:00 — Backstage at MJ Shows: Focus, Intensity & Perfection
17:20 — Earth Song, The Bridge Collapse & What Really Happened
19:10 — The Aftermath: Was Michael Hurt? What Did the Crew Do?
25:44 — You Rock My World: How Ricko Got the Call
27:30 — On Set with MJ, Chris Tucker & Marlon Brando
29:36 — The Dance Sequence: What Got Cut & What Fans Never Saw
32:31 — Ricko Reveals When He Was MJ’s Body Double
36:00 — The Movement Study: Matching Michael’s Style Perfectly
39:02 — Becoming “Adult Michael” in Thriller Live
41:50 — Touring the World as Michael in London & International Shows
46:00 — Ricko’s Transition Into a Solo Recording Artist
48:00 — Inside His Album Frequency & the Vision Behind the Music
50:00 — Music Video “Believe” Clip + Creative Process
54:00 — Ricko Baird's Music
53:15 — One Michael Jackson Moment Fans Would Be Shocked to Know
56:25 — Final Thoughts + Where to Follow Ricko Baird

✩ SHOP MY FAVORITE Michael Jackson PRODUCTS & MUST- HAVES!
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Podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music: “Club 30s with MJFANGIRL- a Michael Jackson podcast”
Business Inquiries - [email protected]