Will.i.am Covers Newsweek, Talks The Beginning, Superbowl Performance, MJ’s Material & More [Article]

Black Eyed Peas front-man Will.i.am graces the cover of the latest issue (Dec.27th-Jan.3rd) of Newsweek. For this lengthy cover story, he speaks  on everything from the Peas upcoming Superbowl performance, the reasons for dropping the END before the Beginning (which he states has something to do with the shift/change of the “technological” age in the music industry,) how the 80′s influenced BEP’s latest album, delving more into music for soundtracks and commercials, overexposure, and his take on all of this unauthorized Michael Jackson material that has recently dropped. You can read the full article below (scans) or head over to Newsweek’s site for more excerpts.

Will.I.Am Stops By Sesame Street [Video]

A much motivated Will.I.Am ( alil’ jokey joke) records a brand new song “What I Am” for the 41st season of kids’ show Sesame Street set to kick off on September 27th. I guess this sort of makes up for his black face foolery.

Will.i.am Denounces New Michael Jackson LP

For once (and probably the only time ever), I find myself agreeing with will.i.am in regards to the “new” Michael Jackson album set to hit stores in November:

“I don’t think that should ever come out. That’s bad,” he said. “He was a perfectionist and he wouldn’t have wanted it that way. How you gonna release Michael Jackson when Michael Jackson ain’t here to bless it?”

Will.i.am collaborated with Jackson on the rerelease of “Thriller” in 2008 with remixed versions of some of the album’s classic songs. He said Jackson was very particular about all aspects of his musical productions, from his vocals to arrangements to instrumentation.

“Now that he is not part of the process, what are they doing? Why would you put a record out like that? Because he was a friend of mine, I just think that’s disrespectful,” he said. “What’s wrong with what he already contributed to the world?”

When asked about the high demand for any new Jackson music, will.i.am replied: “So what? You don’t disrespect someone when they’re gone. … How much can you suck from his energy? … Freaking parasites!” (via Billboard)