Michael JacksonMichael JacksonIt's been a while since we've heard a peep from Michael Jackson.

Now he's chatting fatherhood, and new tunes.

To mark the 25th anniversary of his hit album Thriller he's given a rare interview to Ebony magazine.

He told them: "I wanted to get certain things accomplished first.

"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."

Jacko has three children - two sons, Prince Michael Jackson II and Prince Michael Jackson III, widely known as Blanket, and a daughter, Paris.

When asked if he'll continue recording songs and performing into old age, he said: "Not the way James Brown did or Jackie Wilson did. They just kept going, running, killing themselves.

"I wish James Brown could have slowed down and relaxed and enjoyed his hard work. I don't care about long tours."

He also chatted about the new album he's working on, saying: "The Michael from the past is probably the same Michael here. I'm writing a lot of stuff right now. I'm in the studio every day.

"I think the rap thing is happening now.

"I don't think people are being as experimental and innovative enough. I know people can easily say, 'Well, we don't have the Michael Jackson budget.' But that's wrong.

"You can be so creative with almost nothing. And that's usually the best stuff, when you strip it down to the bare minimum and go inside yourself and invent."

With artists like Kanye West and Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas said to be working with him on the album, we're already intrigued by Jacko's next musical offering.