Taking no time off, we've got T.I.'s first performance since his LA arrest plus how Joseph Jackson claims he kept Michael out of a gang when you read on...

T.I. took no time returning to the stage since his recent arrest.  The rapper showed up to an Atlanta club with Nelly and took the stage.

Nice performance, but maybe he should be getting a good legal team together.

Joe Jackson claims that the spankings he gave Michael as a child kept him from becoming a gang member.  His comments stem from a recent interview that will be used for an upcoming movie Katherine Jackson is producing. The interviewer asked about his parenting style because of the rumors surrounding Joe about child abuse. 

Joe answered saying,

"I had to be like that because when raising him, in those days, so many gangs out there getting into trouble, going to jail. Most of them are dead now. He didn't have to worry about that."

When asked if Joe had any regrets about spanking he replied,

 "No! They tried to make a big issue when I spanked Michael or some of the kids, ya know? Just like they didn't spank their kids when they did wrong. The media twists everything."

Mr. Jackson, I can only imagine how many street gangs used to drive-by the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif, hoping to recruit the rich and famous Jackson brothers.  Thank you for keeping them off the streets and for protecting Rebbie, Latoya and Janet.  For where would we be without the masterpiece  recording that is "Centipede?"

P.S. I could never see Michael in a gang....unless it was like the 'Bad' video: