It’s been an intriguing week for Michael Jackson fans as speculation continues regarding the potential release of new music from their idol.
What started as a buzz has now become a rumble, with Timbaland being added to the list of producers and artists who’re working on the King of Pop’s unreleased music.
Timbaland, who never had the chance to work with Jackson during his life, is best-known for his collaborative efforts with Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake.
DJ Freestyle Steve, Timbaland’s official DJ, revealed that Timbaland had shown him some of the Jackson tracks he has recently been working on.
“So last night I heard some of the new tracks @Timbaland is doing for the King of Pop… WOW!” said the DJ via Twitter.
“To all the Timbaland & Michael Jackson fans; just know Tim did an amazing job with Mike’s vocals. The world will love it,” he later added.
This comes merely days after a number of other prominent music identities had offered similar sentiments, including Fred Jerkins, Max Methods and Justin Bieber.
The hype began seven days ago, on August 11, 2013 when Fred Jerkins III, brother of Rodney Jerkins and part of the “Darkchild” team, announced that unreleased tracks from their 1999-2001 collaborative sessions with Jackson were being prepared for a mysterious new project.
“We have a number of unreleased songs and all sorts of video footage,” stated Jerkins.
“There’s a project in the making right now that will include all those songs. I worked with him for two years exclusively – it’s the biggest highlight of my career.”
Next came the leak of “Slave To The Rhythm” – an unreleased Michael Jackson track from 1989 which was recently recorded by pop sensation Justin Bieber.
Bieber’s contribution was then compiled with Jackson’s original vocal and remixed as a duet.
“Excited for what is to come. MJ set the bar. Not only for music but for being an entertainer and how you treat the fans. Wish he was here… Big things ahead!” tweeted Bieber to his 43 million followers.
Max Methods, the DJ who produced the Jackson / Bieber duet, also weighed in via Twitter.
“I have so much respect for The [Michael] Jackson Estate and it was an honor to work on this record, but it’s unfortunate that the record leaked before it was ready.”
However, despite Max Methods’ shout out to them via Twitter, The Michael Jackson Estate quickly flexed their muscle on the issue, claiming that the Jackson / Bieber duet was not unauthorized and that no plans were in place to release the track.
It has also been well-documented for quite some time now that three Jackson duets with Queen legend Freddie Mercury, originally recorded thirty years ago at the King of Pop’s home studio in Encino, will be released later this year.
“There are a few items in progress. We will have something for folks to hear in a couple of months’ time, hopefully,” stated Queen guitarist, Brian May, in late July, 2013.
May, with the permission of The Michael Jackson Estate, has been collaborating on the tracks with band mate Roger Taylor and producer William Orbit; reportedly adding new guitar solos and vocal harmonies.
It is unclear in what capacity the Jackson / Mercury duets will be released. However, with the ever-growing talk of unreleased Jackson music being worked on, and the leak of “Slave To The Rhythm” featuring new vocals from Justin Bieber, the duets album that was once rumored to be on Sony and The Estate’s agenda has again become a topic of discussion.
As covered in a previous article; around the time that The Michael Jackson Estate’s first posthumous album, ‘Michael’, was released by Sony Music in late 2010, there was talk that the follow-up MJ project would be a complete album of newly crafted duets.
Teddy Riley, who produced music for Jackson on a number of occasions during his life (including tracks for 1991′s ‘Dangerous’ album and 2001′s ‘Invincible’) stated in a radio interview that because much of Jackson’s unreleased work was incomplete, duets would be built using what was available.
“He would do is go in and do the first verse, and the chorus, and he would not do a second verse,” said Riley of Jackson’s habits when writing or recording demos. “It’s just to get the idea down. So the next album that’s coming, and I don’t want to say too much, but the next album that’s coming is a duet album with a lot of great artists, because he only did first verses.”
This is the way Jackson worked in order to decipher which tracks he felt good about, and which he didn’t.
“What I do when I write is that I’ll do a raggedy, rough version just to hear the chorus, just to see how much I like the chorus,” explained Jackson in a 2007 interview with Ebony Magazine. “If it works for me that way when it’s raggedy, then I’ll know it will just work … I do that same process with every song. It’s the melody. It’s the melody that’s most important. If the melody can sell me then I’ll go to the next step.”
Are you excited to hear what Timbaland will do with Michael Jackson’s unreleased music? Would YOU like to see an album of posthumously-produced Michael Jackson duets released? Discuss below…
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I’m not sure what to think about this.. I like Timbaland working on Michael’s songs because I think he’s a good producer. On the other hand, I’m not sure whether this is what Michael would’ve wanted. A duets album is a very bad idea and I’m hoping the Estate won’t do that. I think it’s disrespectful to Michael’s legacy to have people with whom he never worked with record his songs.
Good article Damien. Although it is good to hear MJ again, those older fans dont want to hear the voice of today. Its going to be hard for the likes of Darkchild and Timberland to create timeless pieces of work with the master tapes. But hey ho.
I personally i think its great news,bring it all on,duets,justin bieber……..Timbaland,hell i think the Justin Bieber track was fantastic,some fans need to stop hating for the sake of hating…..duets is a precarious subject because simply its all down to personal taste….but music wise its very promising and along as we don’t get any more Cascio tracks then its all good in the hood for me…..Good article though.
Not excited in the slightest. Excellent article though. Thanks.
These artists need to leave MJ’s work alone. Period. MJ is not here to approve them. Why can’t they just be released the way they are?
Not happy, typical of Branca to lie about the Bieber blooper!
Leave his art alone, stop diluted it with others that could never match the Kings talent,
Love you articles and writing style Damien, but this news makes me feel sick to my stomach!!
Michael had supposed half million debt when he died, last year head lines were debts have been paid off, yet the the loans on Sony/ATV and Neverland still remain, so WTF did Branca pay off, the 20% Michael supposed wanted to go to charity in his alleged will still remains EMPTY, Branca has $$$ coming in and all going to his army of lawyers, and not to mention his off shore account! Leave his art alone, leave his personal property alone(Which has been sold by Juliens) leave it all alone until his children decide what THEY want done with their fathers art!
Lv
I 100% agree w/ you Taaj!!
I agree with you TOO, Taaj. Leave Michael’s craft ALONE. Issue it as is, especially when it’s a complete demo! Have only producers Michael worked with, Trusted and Respected touch the ‘incomplete’ material. #BrancaMustGO
Update: Regarding the producers MJ worked with, trusted and respected……. Never mind. #TeddyRiley 🙁
Don’t be hatin, just be happy! Long live the king!
They need to leave STTR alone! that song has MJ’s voice on all verses OH MY FU*king gosh!
I completely agree with ela, STTR needs no collaboration; it’s perfect with MJ’s vocals alone. I have been waiting and waiting *and* waiting for it to be officially released! Please leave it alone!