EMERSON GREEN + KING: EPISODE 30: RESPECT THE JACKET

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Scrolling through all the posts about the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic got me thinking…

I haven’t seen it yet—waiting for the right moment to experience it with my family—but even the anticipation says something.

Some entertainers make hits.

- Others become moments.

- But a rare few… transcend generations.

Michael Jackson didn’t just follow the industry—he shifted it.

What really stood out to me over the years wasn’t just the music…

It was the conversation around power.

Ownership.

- Control.

- Legacy.

Acquiring the Beatles catalog wasn’t just a business move—it was a statement.

Today that catalog is worth over $1.2 billion.

That’s not just success. That’s leverage.

And yet, when artists start moving into ownership, wealth, and influence beyond the norm…

the narrative often changes.

“Crazy.”

“Difficult.”

“Out of touch.”

We’ve seen it before.

- Lauryn Hill.

- Dave Chappelle.

And many others who chose a different path.

Even in music today, artists like Bizzle speak on how narratives are shaped, how voices are managed, and how stepping outside the lines can come at a cost.

Now… I’m not here to push conspiracies.

But I am here to ask questions.

Why do we celebrate greatness,

but get uncomfortable when that greatness turns into ownership and control?

Why do we love the art,

but question the artist when they outgrow the system that created them?

Making this strip made me laugh…

but it also made me think.

Sometimes what looks like a “terrible moonwalk” to one person…

is someone else stepping into a space they were never expected to reach.

And when that happens?

- People start watching.

- People start talking.

- And yes… here come the haters.