Anyone who is from my generation was raised on Michael Jackson’s music.  His catalog is phenomenal.  And I’m sure everyone has a classic MJ memory from their childhood.  Mine is that when the “Thriller” video came out (I was probably 4 years old and still living in California), I ran out of my neighbor’s house about 30 seconds into it, straight shook.  Ha!  As for his influence on hip hop, well check out this map, detailing who sampled what…

And take a listen to his various collaborations with hip hop’s greatest artists, including Biggie and Jay-Z, HERE…

RIP MJ