Michael Jackson

Unlike other artists in the business of music, R&B/Pop star Michael Jackson says he pays no attention to the negative press written about him. In a rare interview with Ebony magazine, he says he knows he has the reputation of being different, but just ignores it. "In my opinion, it's ignorance. It's usually not based on fact. Every neighborhood has the guy who you don't see, so you gossip about him," he said. Jackson, who gave the interview to mark 25 years since the release of ‘Thriller,’ says he has not changed much since releasing the blockbuster album in 1982. "That Michael is probably the same Michael here. I just wanted to get certain things accomplished first," he said. "But I always had this tug in the back of my head, the things I wanted to do, to raise children, have children. I'm enjoying it very much." Despite selling 750 million albums worldwide, Jackson said that his success "came with a lot of pain". "When you're on top of your game, when you're a pioneer, people come at you. But I feel grateful - all those record-breaking things, to the biggest albums, to those number ones - I still feel grateful," he said. Ebony reported that Jackson is working with Kanye West and Will.I.Am on a comeback album to be released sometime in 2008. The magazine goes on sale on 12 November.