2pac: greatest rapper Alive

February 30th, 1990

The world was waking up to news that no one had expected.

Michael Jackson was officially dropping a new single on March 10th, 1990—his first release in over three years. The moment the announcement hit the airwaves, television screens, and newspapers, the music industry erupted into a frenzy.

For years, Michael had dominated the charts like no other artist. Every time he released a single, it wasn't just a song—it was an event. His last album, Bad, had shattered records, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and producing five number-one Billboard hits—a feat no artist had ever achieved before. But after 1987, he had been relatively quiet. There were rumors of new music, whispers of him being in the studio, but no official word had come.

Until now.

The news broke early in the morning on MTV, BET, and major radio stations. Fans tuning in to their regular morning shows were suddenly hit with the announcement:

> "Breaking News: The King of Pop is back! Michael Jackson will release his brand-new single on March 10th, marking his return after more than three years since Bad. Details are scarce, but sources say the music video has already been filmed. Stay tuned as we bring you more updates!"

It didn't take long for the media machine to take over.

---

The Fan Reaction: Hysteria Begins

Within hours, Michael's name was everywhere.

MTV dedicated an entire segment to analyzing what this single could mean for the music industry.

BET aired a special on Michael's career, showing highlights from his past music videos and speculating about what kind of sound he would return with.

Newspapers ran front-page headlines like:

"Michael Jackson Is Back—And the World Is Not Ready" (The New York Times)

"The King Returns: New Music, New Era?" (Los Angeles Times)

"Three Years Later, Michael Jackson Breaks His Silence" (Rolling Stone)

Music critics and industry insiders flooded radio stations, discussing what this release could mean. Some believed Michael was about to break more records. Others were simply relieved—fans had been starving for something new from him.

Social media didn't exist yet, but radio phone lines were jammed with calls. People were writing letters to magazines, trying to guess what the song would be about.

---

Michael's Fanbase Mobilizes

Michael Jackson's fans were unlike anything the world had ever seen. He wasn't just popular—he was a global phenomenon.

His concerts sold out within minutes. His albums sold by the millions. His music videos weren't just videos—they were events.

Now, after years of waiting, they finally had something new to look forward to.

By noon, record stores were already taking pre-orders—without even knowing the song title.

> "I don't care what it is," one fan told MTV News. "If it's Michael, I'm buying it."

> "Three years without a new song? That's too long," another fan said outside a record shop in New York. "This is about to be the biggest thing of the year. Maybe the decade."

Stores in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro reported an overwhelming demand for anything related to Michael. People were buying old albums just to feel connected to the hype.

The news even crashed radio station lines. Callers kept asking the same thing:

"When can we hear it?"

"What does it sound like?"

"Is it going to be bigger than Thriller?"

No one had the answers—but that only made the anticipation grow even stronger.

---

The Music Industry Reacts

While fans were celebrating, the rest of the music industry was paying close attention.

Labels, artists, producers—everyone knew what Michael Jackson's return meant.

His comeback would dominate the charts. Whatever song he was releasing would go straight to number one.

In record label offices across Los Angeles and New York, executives scrambled to adjust their own artists' release schedules. Nobody wanted to drop a single around Michael's return. They had seen what happened before—when Bad came out, it overshadowed everything else.

One anonymous industry executive told Billboard:

> "When Michael Jackson releases music, the whole industry shifts. He's not just an artist—he's an event. Anyone who tries to compete with that is either brave or stupid."

Even other artists were watching closely.

Prince, Madonna, and even rock legends like U2 and Guns N' Roses were all in the middle of their own projects. But suddenly, their releases didn't seem as important anymore.

Michael Jackson was back.

---

What About the Mystery Feature?

While the announcement made headlines worldwide, there was one crucial detail missing.

No one knew if this was a solo track—or if it had a feature.

Speculation ran wild.

Some fans thought Janet Jackson might be involved—after all, she had exploded in popularity with her Rhythm Nation album.

Others thought Stevie Wonder or Quincy Jones might be making a return.

A few wild theories even suggested Prince—which would have been historic, given their rumored rivalry.

But the real answer was still a secret.

---

Behind the Scenes: Michael Watches the Chaos Unfold

Michael sat in his private studio, watching the news coverage unfold on his TV.

He had seen media frenzies before, but this one felt different.

For the first time in years, he wasn't alone in this project.

He glanced at the phone on his desk. It wouldn't be long before his team started calling with updates. The hype was only beginning, and soon, it would be time to start preparing for the actual release.

He leaned back, a small smile forming on his face.

The world had no idea what was coming.

---

Meanwhile: Tupac in the Studio

Across town, Tupac was watching the news, too.

He had known Michael Jackson was the biggest name in music, but actually witnessing this level of global hysteria? It was something else.

He turned to his crew in the studio.

> "Y'all seeing this?" Pac asked, shaking his head. "That's crazy."

Someone nodded. "Yeah, man. It's about to be a problem. You know when Michael drops, the whole world stops."

Tupac smirked. "Good. That means when we hit 'em with the real surprise, it's gonna be even bigger."

He leaned forward, adjusting the volume on the studio monitors. The track he and Michael had worked on was playing in the background.

No one outside the studio had heard it yet.

The hype for Michael's return was already at its peak—but the world still had no clue about the real bombshell waiting for them.

This wasn't just Michael's comeback.

It was bigger than that.

And when the moment came, it was going to shake the industry to its core.

To be continued…

Author notes

Make this story hit 100 power stone I will release four chapters at the day it hit the mark.

I am soo excited for Kendrick Lamar super bowl half time show ahhhh. I know it going to be good.

End