Michael Jackson’s funerary festival isn’t stopping anytime soon. It just keeps going on ... and on ... and on ... Don’t get me wrong, I love MJ; Thriller was my very first album for god’s sake. Yet the media spectacle since his recent death has just been too much sensationalism for my taste. (This is probably the reason why I haven’t written one story or commented about his death until now.) I believe however there are those who genuinely want to honor the King of Pop and do so without ulterior motives. Case in point: come August 29 -- what would have been the Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday -- Q-Tip will present a tribute, “Long Live the King! A Birthday Celebration for Michael Jackson” at the NOKIA Theatre Times Square in New York.

Q-Tip is bringing in Grammy-man buddy Mark Ronson and DJ Spinna to assist inside the DJ both. They’ll be playing a slew of never before-heard remixes of Michael Jackson’s hits, as well as rare video footage from the Motown and Sony vaults. Q-Tip says, “Michael Jackson was a huge influence on my music and was an inspiration to me and so many others. I want to bring people together to celebrate the man, his music, and his legacy that will undoubtedly live on forever!” Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 31, for the 2,100-person venue.