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Would Michael make a rap album?

Mister_Jay_Tee

Mister_Jay_Tee

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We know Michael really loved hip hop. Featured many rappers. And even took distinct attempts to do it himself.

In today's world where rappers are some of the biggest names in pop, can you imagine Michael embracing it entirely?

If not at most that, I can see him definitely singing the hooks of multiple iconic rap songs that have released today. Parts that have otherwise gone to his lineage (Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, etc)
 
Keep in mind that rap music is a musical genre that uses many swear words.

Michael Jackson was a singer who did not use swear words in his songs (with very few exceptions).

This means that (in today's world) Michael Jackson would not embrace rap music entirely, and he would not make a rap album.
 
It's clear he was always striving to innovate and break barriers between genres. As you said, he did really embrace hip hop - "This Time Around", "Crack Kills" (concept-wise, at least), "Unbreakable", "Black Or White", "Truth On Youth", etc. I could see him collaborating with/featuring some artists and rappers of recent years. As far as mumble rap and the like - nada. Not even close. And even though he was more open to swear on HIStory, I can't picture him rapping about "the standard" topics with rough language.
 
There's a small part of me that wonders if he would've experimented with sampling, too - drawing from his musical heroes. Not that he would have any need to do this, considering his talents, but he was always looking to push the envelope.
 
FlyAway0086 said:
There's a small part of me that wonders if he would've experimented with sampling, too - drawing from his musical heroes. Not that he would have any need to do this, considering his talents, but he was always looking to push the envelope.
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We know that John Barnes had sampled lot of James Brown vox into Al Capone. MJ reportedly loved it - yet he didn't keep it on the master tapes.
 
FlyAway0086 said:
There's a small part of me that wonders if he would've experimented with sampling, too - drawing from his musical heroes. Not that he would have any need to do this, considering his talents, but he was always looking to push the envelope.
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Fuzball said:
We know that John Barnes had sampled lot of James Brown vox into Al Capone. MJ reportedly loved it - yet he didn't keep it on the master tapes.
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Yeah, Teddy Riley did the same, sampling a lot of CD Sample sounds and James Brown riffs for Dangerous. It's great.
 
I was aware of the foley libraries (like the autos in She Drives Me Wild), but not the JB stuff. That's awesome to hear, really.
 
FlyAway0086 said:
I could see him collaborating with/featuring some artists and rappers of recent years. As far as mumble rap and the like - nada. Not even close. And even though he was more open to swear on HIStory, I can't picture him rapping about "the standard" topics with rough language.
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Yeah, I'll be honest, I don't even think mumble rap is a thing anymore. I certainly don't hear it much. It had it's place though, funny enough. MJ himself did tend to, sound a bit illegible himself sometimes lol.

I think he'd keep it clean. That anger was specific in HIStory.

But really, he'd do it with Kendrick Lamar for sure - Conscious Rap is the real wave and there's no other person leading the genre but him.
 
Yes, I believe if there would have been a rap Michael record, it would've been one of peace, positivity, welfare of the planet, etc. Major humanitarian vibes. I mean, we had certain tracks like D.S. where he took stabs at people, but I can't imagine him ever rapping about literally smoking music critics or anything. lol.
 
FlyAway0086 said:
That's interesting. Don't recall hearing about that. I would've loved to hear it, myself.
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From Damien:

"Together with Bill Bottrell, Barnes also sampled a series of gunshot sounds, as well as vocals from various James Brown songs. These samples were pieced together and edited to create a virtual gangster-inspiered duet between the King Of Pop & Godfarher Of Soul - something Barnes says Jackson absolutely loved."
 
Featuring many famous rappers in his songs and being able to rap himself, Michael Jackson was always up-to-date with all the latest music trends and explored a wide portion of musical styles and genres.Presenting an evolutionary compilation of rap being featured in Michael Jackson's music throughout the years starting as early as the 70's with little Michael Jackson giving us bars, and continuing as far as the late 00's with various collaborations that Michael Jackson was a part of.
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I don't think MJ would do concept albums: every album is a potpourri of different music and themes (family entertainment) and all follow the same structure (even History)
 
Victorious said:
I don't think MJ would do concept albums: every album is a potpourri of different music and themes (family entertainment) and all follow the same structure (even History)
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That's a good point. But MJ was also always looking to push the envelope. In a world of "what ifs", he could very well have evaluated that pattern, and decided to break the mold to keep people on their toes. Never know. I respect your take, nonetheless.
 
FlyAway0086 said:
That's a good point. But MJ was also always looking to push the envelope. In a world of "what ifs", he could very well have evaluated that pattern, and decided to break the mold to keep people on their toes. Never know. I respect your take, nonetheless.
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Hmm I know that he said he wanted to push the envelope but when did he actually do that? Apart from some sounds there was little innovation imho and he was mainly concerned about bringing his message to the world and make insprational, uplifting and soothing music
 
FlyAway0086 said:
There's a small part of me that wonders if he would've experimented with sampling, too - drawing from his musical heroes. Not that he would have any need to do this, considering his talents, but he was always looking to push the envelope.
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Money is almost entirely based on some samples from a sample cd by Fatboy Slim.
 
Michael Jackson (as an artist who wanted big sales along with high chart positions) was aware of the fact that concept albums were more difficult to sell/achieve big chart success, and they were also more difficult to give successful singles.

Even the albums that he was working on after the 2005 trial were not meant to be concept albums (for instance, the new album that he was working on with will.i.am was meant to be purely a collection of tracks with unrelated themes).
Victorious said:
I don't think MJ would do concept albums: every album is a potpourri of different music and themes (family entertainment) and all follow the same structure (even History)
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With the exception of the 'Blood On The Dance Floor' album (if it is viewed as an EP of 5 new songs), as confirmed also by American journalist Neil Strauss:

"The strength of this CD is in its five new songs, which put Mr. Jackson halfway on the road to a very interesting concept album" (Neil Strauss, 1997)
 
mj_frenzy said:
Michael Jackson (as an artist who wanted big sales along with high chart positions) was aware of the fact that concept albums were more difficult to sell/achieve big chart success, and they were also more difficult to give successful singles.
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Yes it was still about reaching the big public with hits. If History actually was a concept album, more personal and about the allegations, instead of the same themes as before (imo only D.S. is about the allegations) it could have had a legendary status, imo

mj_frenzy said:
Even the albums that he was working on after the 2005 trial were not meant to be concept albums (for instance, the new album that he was working on with will.i.am was meant to be purely a collection of tracks with unrelated themes).

With the exception of the 'Blood On The Dance Floor' album (if it is viewed as an EP of 5 new songs), as confirmed also by American journalist Neil Strauss:

"The strength of this CD is in its five new songs, which put Mr. Jackson halfway on the road to a very interesting concept album" (Neil Strauss, 1997)
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I can't see BOTDF as a concept album tbh: it's a werd mixture of ghost themed songs, funky tracks and a song about drugs. the rest of it are remixes
 
Victorious said:
Yes it was still about reaching the big public with hits. If History actually was a concept album, more personal and about the allegations, instead of the same themes as before (imo only D.S. is about the allegations) it could have had a legendary status, imo

I can't see BOTDF as a concept album tbh: it's a werd mixture of ghost themed songs, funky tracks and a song about drugs. the rest of it are remixes
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Several other new songs from that album are about the allegations.

Actually each one of these new songs refers to the allegations in a broader context addressing also other social problems, etc, such as:

- 'Scream' (the decision of having his sister Janet Jackson on the song symbolizes the support of his family towards him at that time)

- 'Money' aimed mainly at Evan Chandler who agreed getting money from the singer in order to settle the case out of court

- 'This Time Around' (notice in particular its chorus aimed at Evan Chandler)

Even 'Smile' refers to the allegations, but from a different and positive perspective.
 
Victorious said:
Yes it was still about reaching the big public with hits. If History actually was a concept album, more personal and about the allegations, instead of the same themes as before (imo only D.S. is about the allegations) it could have had a legendary status, imo



I can't see BOTDF as a concept album tbh: it's a werd mixture of ghost themed songs, funky tracks and a song about drugs. the rest of it are remixes
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HIStory is nearly all about the allegations.
I'd argue the only songs on the album not about the allegations are Earth Song, Come Together, You are not alone, Little Susie and Smile.

mj_frenzy said:
Keep in mind that rap music is a musical genre that uses many swear words.

Michael Jackson was a singer who did not use swear words in his songs (with very few exceptions).

This means that (in today's world) Michael Jackson would not embrace rap music entirely, and he would not make a rap album.
Click to expand...

Tell that to Will Smith who was a very successful rap artist who didn't swear in his rap songs.
 
Thatkliqkid said:
HIStory is nearly all about the allegations.
I'd argue the only songs on the album not about the allegations are Earth Song, Come Together, You are not alone, Little Susie and Smile.



Tell that to Will Smith who was a very successful rap artist who didn't swear in his rap songs.
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Will Smith sucks šŸ˜‚
 
Eminem in my opinion is the best rapper ever. MJ couldā€™ve tried to rap, but I think he was mainly built for pop.
 
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