In the last week, the entertainment media has been buzzing about rapper Kanye West "overtaking" the late entertainer Michael Jackson's record for the amount of Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While Jackson scored 39 hits on the chart in his solo career, West now has 40 with his collaborative effort with rapper Schoolboy Q, "That Part." I am here to say that that does not matter, nor does it make West the "next Michael Jackson."

I am a firm believer that it takes more than the music to make a true entertainer who can stand the test of time. Michael Jackson was just that.

In the world of musical giants, there are a few that stand tall above the rest. Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, to name a few. Jackson holds his own in the company of these musical greats, and I would go as far to say that he surpassed them in greatness.

Before I go into what in fact made Michael Jackson so globally beloved, I think it is important to recognize what determines a hit on the Billboard chart. According to Billboard.com, "Generally speaking, our Hot 100 formula targets a ratio of sales (35-45%), airplay (30-40%) and streaming (20-30%)." This is a general formula, however, it has been known to change week-to-week. This would explain West's success on the chart, as I personally have never heard one of his songs on the radio.

In an age in which technology is more advanced than ever before, streaming music has become the mainstream method of listening to music. Streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, and now Apple Music has allowed consumers to have their favorite songs at their fingertips. This was not the case in Michael Jackson's over 40-year career. I believe that accessibility has propelled artists today into a stratosphere that artists of yesterday never had the chance to reach.

Beyond the logistics of landing hits, Michael Jackson simply cannot be outdone. I do not care how many of his records are broken. Jackson is a once-in-a-lifetime artist.

I dare anyone to argue an entertainer who can captivate an audience, and the world's stage, like he did since he was a young child. He was electrifying; in his world tours, he would often begin with a grand entrance, and he would stand totally still for minutes on end. The audience lost their collective minds. Fans would scream, cry, and faint, just at the sight of Jackson standing in front of them.

Although he is deemed "The King of Pop," Michael Jackson did not fit neatly into a genre like Kanye West fits into hip-hop. Pop, rock, soul, rhythm and blues, Jackson mastered it all. He was an innovator. Beyond his magnificent singing and dancing, he took the medium to new heights with his short films to accomany his hits. He rose the bar until he broke the bar. Jackson hand-crafted each of his albums until he deemed them to be perfect by writing, composing and producing much of his material. He had a divinity about him that allowed him to understand music in a way that artists today simply do not.

Michael Jackson was not just a talented entertainer; he was a man with a heart as remarkable as his talent. It is no secret that much of Jackson's life was dedicated to helping people of all ages, races, and creeds who were in need. He was a man of integrity. Never once in his career did he proclaim himself to be any better than anyone else, nor did he ever put other artists down. Never once did Michael Jackson storm the stage of an awards show to belittle someone else's achievement.

There is no one like Michael Jackson, and I will go on record to say that there never will be. The comparisons between Jackson and other artists like Kanye West will probably continue. We had him and lost him far too soon. However, I believe that the comparisons are essentially baseless.

Kanye, I'm really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time and your record does not matter to me.