Michael Jackson - Xscape #1 In 49 Countries, Official Credits (2014)

The album has been a juggernaut overseas. Xscape,currently #6 on the U.S. iTunes chart, has thus far hit #1 on the download store in 49 territories. The album has achieved 82 Top 5 iTunes positions, including #1s in the U.K., Germany, Italy, Finland, Portugal, Switzerland, South Africa, India and Israel, and check out the Official Credits to Xscape, thanks to Lil Man, Xscape is now on iTunes.

*hitsdailydouble.com
*itunes.apple.com

Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014)
01 - Love Never Felt So Good
Producer (Giorgio Tuinfort, John McClain, Michael Jackson, Paul Anka)
Written By (Michael Jackson, Paul Anka)
02 - Chicago
Producer (Timbaland, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Cory Rooney)
03 - Loving You
Producer (Timbaland, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Michael Jackson)
04 - A Place With No Name
Producer (StarGate)
Written By (Dewey Bunnell, Dr. Freeze, Michael Jackson)
05 - Slave To The Rhythm
Producer (Timbaland, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Daryl Simmons, Kevin Roberson, L.A. Reid, Babyface)
06 - Do You Know Where Your Children Are
Producer (Timbaland, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Michael Jackson)
07 - Blue Gangsta
 Producer (Timbaland, Daniel Jones, King Solomon Logan, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Dr. Freeze, Michael Jackson)
08 - Xscape
Producer (Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins)
Written By (Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins)
09 - Love Never Felt So Good (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson, Paul Anka)
Written By (Michael Jackson, Paul Anka)
10 - Chicago (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson, Cory Rooney)
Written By (Cory Rooney)
11 - Loving You (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson)
Written By (Michael Jackson)
12 - A Place With No Name (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson, Dr. Freeze)
Written By (Dewey Bunnell, Dr. Freeze, Michael Jackson)
13 - Slave To The Rhythm (Original Version)
Producer (L.A. Reid, Babyface)
Written By (Daryl Simmons, Kevin Roberson, L.A. Reid, Babyface)
14 - Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson)
Written By (Michael Jackson)
15 - Blue Gangsta (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson, Dr. Freeze)
Written By (Dr. Freeze, Michael Jackson)
16 - Xscape (Original Version)
Producer (Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins)
Written By (Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins)
17 - Love Never Felt So Good
Producer (Timbaland, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon)
Written By (Michael Jackson, Paul Anka)

Michael Jackson - Xscape TV Commercial

Timbaland Explains How Justin Timberlake End Up On Michael Jackson’s Xscape

Timbo gives MTV News the story behind 'Love Never Felt So Good (Remix).' The deluxe version of Michael Jackson’s new album, Xscape, has just one feature: Justin Timberlake on “Love Never Felt So Good (Remix).” Sure, JT embodies some of the King Of Pop’s qualities, but how did he end up on the album?

“L.A. [Reid] was torn; I wasn’t as torn,” Timbaland, who serves as the album’s executive producer, told MTV News about the singer’s inclusion. “I’m like, The kids gonna flock to this one. People don’t know Off The Wall like they know ‘SexyBack.’ So, this got more feel like if it was ‘SexyBack,’ but respect to Michael Jackson, this is how we gonna do it.”

Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good (Official Video) (2014)
As for why Timberlake is featured on the “Love Never Felt So Good (Remix),” as opposed to another track — that was his choosing. “He picked the song, and that song stuck out to him,” Timbo explained. “The other songs, he was like, That’s Michael, man; you can’t get on nothing with Michael. It’s Michael.”

On the song, for which a video dropped on Wednesday morning (May 14), Jackson has the opening verse, and JT follows with his after that. “He inserted himself just enough in ‘Love Never Felt So Good,’ and just added to what Michael was doing,” he said. “He didn’t really do too much. When he came in, it made him look special, but it didn’t make him look overwhelming. It was just enough.”

It’s an outcome that Justin saw coming. “He felt like the song that he did, he knew it was hit,” Timbo said. “He just felt like it was an honor for him, because I don’t know if he ever really, really got to work with him like that. But he talked to Michael a lot. So, it was really something I guess he wanted to do.” Thanks to thepestilence.

*mtv.com

Michael Jackson’s Xscape Was ‘Very Trying’ For Timbaland

Timbaland talked to MTV News why working on the King Of Pop's latest was so 'emotional.'. Sure, serving as an executive producer on the new Michael Jackson album, Xscape , was an honor for Timbaland — but it also came with its baggage. “This was very trying, not because it was just a Michael Jackson [album],” Timbaland said in an interview with MTV News on Tuesday (May 13). “It’s just me still dealing with some feelings of Aaliyah; because it’s still a death.

I got Aaliyah, and I got Static [Major], and it makes you think like, ‘Who next?’ You start thinking crazy thoughts. And you just start to thank God for where you at in life.” The feelings were so overwhelming, in fact, that there was even a time when Timbo had to remind himself that he was engaged in what is surely a dream for many producers: Working on an album of previously unreleased material from the King of Pop.

“I forgot about Michael for a moment,” the Virginia native admitted. “And then when I kept hearing his voice, it was like, I’m doing Michael Jackson. It got emotional. I had to tell my engineer to stop — we gotta go to something else. It took about a week process to really grasp what I’m doing. And once I grasped what I’m doing, I had to call my mom for prayer like, I need some help, I need some guidance on this, ’cause this is hard.”

Despite the difficulties, though, Tim did feel that his work on the record allowed him to sort through some personal issues — both related to the passing of Aaliyah and otherwise. “It really helped me deal with a lot of thoughts that always been in the back of my mind,” he said. “I dealt with ‘em, and I still deal with ‘em. It’s something you’ll never get over, because you be like, These guys are so young. Is this right, or is it wrong? But God knows every part of this earth, and what we supposed to be doing. So, I don’t question that. But yeah it helped me answer a lot of my own questions that I might have had.” Xscape is available now on iTunes.

Michael Jackson - Xscape Available Now (TV Commercial)
Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain)
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Loving You (Timbaland, J-Roc)
4. A Place With No Name (Stargate)
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Timbaland)
7. Blue Gangsta (Timbaland)    
8. Xscape (Darkchild)
9. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain) (Original) (83')
10. Chicago (Cory Rooney) (Original) (99')
11. Loving You (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
12. A Place With No Name (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
13. Slave To The Rhythm (L.A. Reid, Babyface) (Original) (89')
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
15. Blue Gangsta (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
16. Xscape (Teddy Riley) (Original) (01')
17. Love Never Felt So Good feat. Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)

*itunes.apple.com
*mtv.com

Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 6)

Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 5)

Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 4)

Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 3)

Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 2)
Matt Forger talks working with Michael Jackson.

Posted: May 5th.
Michael Jackson: The Collaborators On Xscape (Part 1)

Timbaland L.A. Reid, StarGate and Darkchild talk about and how they started working on Michael Jackson’s new album Xscape, thanks to Lil Man.

Jermaine Jackson: New MJ Music Is Wrong

Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine isn't happy about the singer's music being released after his death and wishes the Jackson 5 could have been involved. Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine isn't happy about the singer's music being released after his death. The 59-year-old singer and bass guitarist admits he has heard a few tracks from the new album, 'Xscape', which features unheard songs from the late King Of Pop, but wishes the Jackson brothers had been given the opportunity to work on the album.

He told TMZ: ''I heard some of the songs, I love 'Xscape', but I haven't heard the whole CD yet so until I hear it I can't give you an honest opinion. We have nothing to do with that, it's all the estate.'' Asked how he feels about the music being released after Michael's death in 2009, he said: ''You figure that out''. The star claims there is ''other stuff'' recorded by Michael which hasn't been released and he wishes his brothers - including Jackie, Tito and Marlon - could have been involved to make it an original Jackson 5 record, instead of the likes of producer Timbaland and Justin Timberlake being involved.

When the paparazzo asked, ''It probably doesn't rub you up the right way, right?'' Jermaine answered, ''No, not at all. They're just putting it together the way they want, they don't contact us, so.. ''Timbaland could have been me. The original Jackson Five back together, on record, what's wrong with that? And I love Timbaland by the way, nothing against Timbaland, but that could have been us.'' Michael's album 'Xscape' will be released on May 13, Pre-Order it now on iTunes.
Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain)
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Loving You (Timbaland)
4. A Place With No Name (Stargate)
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland, J-Roc)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Timbaland)
7. Blue Gangsta (Timbaland)    
8. Xscape (Darkchild)
9. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain) (Original) (83')
10. Chicago (Cory Rooney) (Original) (99')
11. Loving You (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
12. A Place With No Name (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
13. Slave To The Rhythm (L.A. Reid, Babyface) (Original) (89')
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
15. Blue Gangsta (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
16. Xscape (Teddy Riley) (Original) (01')
17. Love Never Felt So Good feat. Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)

*contactmusic.com
*itunes.apple.com

The Inside Story Of 'Xscape' With Timbaland & Co.

Timbaland, L.A. Reid, Darkchild & J-Roc
L.A. Reid and an all-star cast of producers re-imagine archival tracks by the King Of Pop. A little less than a year ago, L.A. Reid met John Branca for dinner at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. Reid had been the chairman and CEO of Epic Records ("the house that Thriller built," as Reid calls it) since July 2011, and he'd inherited a cold label that so far hadn't gotten much hotter. Branca had resumed his role as Michael Jackson's adviser and lawyer shortly before Jackson's death in 2009, and during his time as co-executor of the Jackson estate had erased the estate's $500 million debt, thanks to the This Is It concert film (which grossed $261 million worldwide), and lucrative Jackson performance properties with Cirque du Soleil.

One of the items on the table that night was Reid's idea for a Jackson biopic covering his life between the age of 19 — when he filmed The Wiz, and first worked with Quincy Jones — and 24, when he and Jones reshaped the world with Thriller. Branca had simple answer for Reid: No. "John said to me, 'That's wonderful. Why? Why should we allow you to do that?' " Reid, 57, remembers today. Branca complained that during his time at Epic, Reid had done nothing for Jackson. Reid's first two years at the label had coincided with his tenure as a judge on The X Factor on Fox (a decision he now calls "horrible"), and Branca seized on this too.

"He said, 'You don't talk about Michael when you're on TV,' " says Reid. "He starts to berate me. I walked right into it." But Reid saw a chance to prove himself, and so asked for something else, something bigger: to go into the vaults and hear the recordings that Jackson — who was known to work on as many as 70 songs for each album — had left behind. "Let me hear everything," he said to Branca. "And then let me go out and put my team together and make an album on Michael." "I was just being a lying-ass record man," says Reid. "Because I had no idea what was in the vaults." Thanks to thepestilence, check out more inside.

*billboard.com

Michael Jackson’s Xscape (Official Credits), ‘Blue Gangsta’ & ‘Do You Know Where Your Children Are’

Here are the two final Timbaland productions on Michael Jackson’s second posthumous album ‘Xscape’ with ‘Blue Gangsta’ and ‘Do You Know Where Your Children Are’. ‘Blue Gangsta’ goes all-in on the ‘Smooth Criminal/Scream’ persona, featuring Jackson’s trademark pained yelp. It all starts with strings swelling up as a multi-tracked MJ sings ‘Whatcha gonna do/ You ain’t the friend of mine/ Look what you’ve put me through/ Now that I’m the blue gangsta.’ Then shards of Timbaland‘s metallic production slice through, and MJ digs his heels in to wail about being wronged. The Original is produced by Dr. Freeze in 1998.

And ‘Do You Know Where Your Children Are’, a story of a 12-year-old girl who ends up being pimped out on Sunset Boulevard. “She wrote that she is tired of stepdaddy using her, saying that he’ll buy her things, while sexually abusing her,” Jackson sings. Timbaland uses squelchy beats and 80s synths with Michael's dominant lyrics and vocals. The Original tune is produced by Michael Jackson himself in 1987. Let us know what y’all think of the two tunes, and make sure to check out the Official Credits from the album below.

Michael Jackson - Blue Gangsta (14') Michael Jackson - Do You Know Where Your Children Are (14') Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain)
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Loving You (Timbaland)
4. A Place With No Name (Stargate)
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland, J-Roc)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Timbaland)
7. Blue Gangsta (Timbaland)    
8. Xscape (Darkchild)
9. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain) (Original) (83')
10. Chicago (Cory Rooney) (Original) (99')
11. Loving You (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
12. A Place With No Name (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
13. Slave To The Rhythm (L.A. Reid, Babyface) (Original) (89')
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Michael Jackson) (Original) (87')
15. Blue Gangsta (Dr. Freeze) (Original) (98')
16. Xscape (Teddy Riley) (Original) (01')
17. Love Never Felt So Good feat. Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)

*itunes.apple.com

Michael Jackson - A Place With No Name (Stargate) (14’)

Here is the newest Michael Jackson tune titled ‘A Place With No Name’ thanks to the Sony Music Unlimited Stream. The tune is produced by the Norwegian record producing and songwriting team Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen also known as Stargate. The tune really sounds like that classic Michael Jackson sound that we know him for, it’s pretty dope. I’ve also added the Original Version of the tune which has been recorded back in 1998 and produced by Dr. Freeze, check out both tunes below, Xscape is due May 13th.

Michael Jackson - A Place With No Name (Stargate) (14’) Michael Jackson - A Place With No Name (Original) (Dr. Freeze) (98') *itunes.apple.com

Michael Jackson - Loving You (Timbaland) (14')

Here is the Third Timbaland produced tune thanks to the Sony Music Unlimited Stream from Michael Jackson’s new album Xscape, which is due May 13th. Michael wrote and produced 'Loving You' during the 'Bad' sessions in 1987 and began working on the track at Red Wing Studio in the San Fernando Valley and completed it at Hayvenhurst, check out the tune below and let us know what you think. Pre-Order ‘Xscape’ now on iTunes.

Michael Jackson - Loving You (Timbaland) (14') *itunes.apple.com

Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good (Demo & Original) (83')

Since the release of the new Michael Jackson single ‘Love Never Felt So Good’, there were questions about who produced/wrote the original one and when, well, the Original Version, which will be also on the Xscape album, and the actual Demo of the song, released on the net. Originally Written, Recorded, and Produced by Michael Jackson and Paul Anka in 1983, this 80's R&B, disco hybrid was Produced by John McClain, co executor of the Jackson Estate, check out all three versions below, and make sure to cop the single on iTunes.

Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good feat. Justin Timberlake (Timbaland) Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain) (83') Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good (Demo) (John McClain) (83') *itunes.apple.com

Sony Will Stream A New MJ Track Every Day Starting From Today (May 5th Til May 9th)

In anticipation of Epic Records‘ May 13 release of Xscape - a posthumous compilation of previously unreleased Michael Jackson songs – Sony announced today via blog post that its music-streaming service Music Unlimited will stream one new song from the album each day from May 5 to May 9.

Giving subscribers a chance to preview five of the songs before the album’s official release. Sony will also be revealing exclusive artwork along the way. Today’s announcement also included details on new functionality updates to the PlayStation 4 Music Unlimited app, thanks to Davidprimer.

Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good (Timbaland)
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Loving You (Timbaland)
4. A Place With No Name (Stargate)
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Timbaland)
7. Blue Gangsta (Stargate)
8. Xscape (Darkchild)
9. Love Never Felt So Good (Original Version)
10. Chicago (Original Version)
11. Loving You (Original Version)
12. A Place With No Name (Original Version)
13. Slave To The Rhythm (Original Version)
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Original Version)
15. Blue Gangsta (Original Version)
16. Xscape (Original Version)
17. Love Never Felt So Good feat. Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)

*digitaltrends.com

Michael Jackson’s Production Credits To ‘Xscape’ Revealed, Four Timbaland Tracks

It’s been three weeks since the announcement of the upcoming ‘XSCAPE’ album – to be released by The EstateOf Michael Jackson via Epic Records on May 13. In their joint statement, published on michaeljackson.com, an “unprecedented global campaign” to promote the project spanning multiple marketing platforms was promised. The album’s lead single, “Love Never Felt So Good”, will hit radio in the first week of May. The track is currently expected to make its worldwide debut on May 5, along with the digital release of the track. Fan sites have also quoted Sony as stating that the music video for the track will premier the same day.

Timbaland can be credited with production on four tracks on the ‘XSCAPE’ album; “Chicago (She Was Lovin Me)”, “Do You Know Where Your Children Are”, “Lovin’ You” and “Slave To The Rhythm” – the latter of which was co-produced by Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon. “The Michael Jackson album is great. It’s great. I can’t lie. And not because I did it. It’s great,” said Timbaland in a video recently uploaded to hangwith.com, adding: “I think I did a great job on it from what I was given. The beats are jammin’.” Check out the tracklist below, thanks to Lil’ Man & Davidprimer.

Michael Jackson - Xscape (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good (John McClain, Giorgio Tuinfort)
2. Chicago (She Was Lovin Me) (Timbaland)
3. Lovin’ You (Timbaland) (Bad) (1987)   
4. A Place With No Name (Stargate)
5. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Timbaland) (Bad) (1987)
6. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland, J-Roc) (1989)
7. Blue Gangster (Stargate)   
8. Xscape (Darkchild)

*damienshields.com
*thedailyjournal.com

Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe Edition) Will Have 17 Tracks, Now On iTunes

The MJ team just revealed on iTunes, that there will be 17 Tracks on the Deluxe Version of Michael Jackson’s Xscape including 2 Videos, you can already Pre-Order the album now on iTunes, the album is due May 13th. "There are the numbers with the classic, retro feel of Off The Wall, complete with orchestrations. Then there are the tracks where Reid’s ‘contemporising’ comes more into play, with a harder- hitting, electronic backdrop.

With swish disco strings and youthful sounding vocals, two of the first three tracks fall into the former category, harking back to the Seventies and Eighties. Echoes of Jackson’s glory years abound elsewhere: one song adopts a groove similar to the immortal Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’; another track, A Place With No Name, combines glam-rock drums with a bassline reminiscent of the 1987 hit The Way You Make Me Feel."

Two of the more contemporary tracks will be familiar to hardened Jacko-watchers. The busy Slave To The Rhythm was recorded in 1991 and earmarked for the Dangerous album. A Cover Version By Justin Bieber leaked onto the net last year. But, as with many of the funkier tracks here, the booming blend of synths and strings give the song a cluttered feel, suggesting the producers have sometimes gone too far in polishing their rough diamond.

Much the same applies to the album’s title track, beefed up from a version recorded at the same time as 2001’s Invincible. Here, though, a whooping Jackson is in imperious form. When critics were invited to this week’s playback, the attendant email heralded these songs as ‘the best you’ve never heard’. That may be the case. Jackson had reportedly stockpiled more than 200 Unfinished Tracks before his death, but few are likely to possess the quality of these expertly updated period pieces.
Michael Jackson - Xscape (Deluxe) (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Lovin’ You
4. A Place With No Name
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
7. Blue Gangsta
8. Xscape (Darkchild)
9. Love Never Felt So Good (Original)
10. Chicago (Original)
11. Lovin’ You (Original)
12. A Place With No Name (Original)
13. Slave To The Rhythm (Original)
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Original)
15. Blue Gangsta (Original)
16. Xscape (Original)
17. Untitled
18. Untitled (Video)
19. Untitled (Video)

*dailymail.co.uk
*itunes.apple.com
*soundcloud.com/tha-freakness

Michael Jackson - Slave To The Rhythm (DJ Freakiii x Timbaland Mix) (14')

Michael Jackson’s Xscape Tracklist Revealed

A new, posthumous Michael Jackson album called Xscape is hitting stores near you on May 13. The album is lead by Timbaland and features production from Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome “Jroc” Harmon, John McClain and many more. A deluxe edition of Xscape will also included the original versions of the song, check out the Tracklist below.

Michael Jackson - Xscape (2014) (May 13th)

1. Love Never Felt So Good
2. Chicago (Timbaland)
3. Lovin’ You
4. A Place With No Name
5. Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
7. Blue Gangsta
8. Xscape (Darkchild)

*xxlmag.com

A Leftover ? H** ** *** *********e (D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Questlove, Pino Palladino, Eric Leeds) *

Get Michael Jackson’s ‘Xscape’ Album For Free With The Xperia Z Phone, New 'Slave For The Rhythm’ Preview

What sells smartphones? Michael Jackson, apparently. At least, that seems to be Sony’s belief with its new deal for Xperia buyers. The promotion, which starts today, will gift customers of select Xperia devices the Xscape album - a postmortem release of new music by Michael Jackson – free when it releases on May 13.
The deal includes the Xperia Z2 and Z1. Sony says Xperia Z2 owners are in for a treat, especially; the company optimized the record’s sound for both the MDR-NC31EM headset that comes bundled with the smartphone and the SBH-80 Bluetooth headset accessory, ensuring a true “centre seat experience.” Xperia Z2 owners will be able to access the high-quality version by selecting ClearAudio+ mode.


*droid-life.com

Michael Jackson Would Not Approve Of New Album, Says Family

The late King Of Pop's nephew, TJ Jackson, who along with his brothers Taryll and Taj formed the pop group 3T, insists his late uncle was a "perfectionist" and would not be happy with the collection of new material being released without his final seal of approval.

Speaking of the album, which sees eight unheard tracks released on May 13, TJ told The Sun newspaper: "I have mixed emotions because as an artist and as his nephew I know he'd want a final listen before anything he did was released to the public. "Saying that though, that's my uncle and I want him and anything associated with him to be successful."

"Michael was always on the cutting edge and was constantly reaching out to new producers, looking for new sounds. He was always relevant and current. These tracks, in many ways, capture that spirit," said John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of Jackson's estate.

A Deluxe Edition will include a selection of the recordings in their original form. Among the producers brought in to give a modern edge to the tracks were global hitmakers Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain. Epic Records published its first posthumous Jackson album in 2010. Michael included Nine previously Unreleased Songs, mostly drawn from the singer's final recording sessions.


Michael Jackson - Xscape (2014) (May 13th)
Confirmed Tracks:
- Xscape (Darkchild)
- Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
- H** ** *** *********e (D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Questlove, Pino Palladino, Eric Leeds)
(+ Five Tracks)

*kildare-nationalist.ie
*thestandard.com

Michael Jackson's ‘Xscape’ To Feature D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Questlove

Former The Time guitarist Jesse Johnson shared more information on Michael Jackson's Timbaland-produced posthumous album, Xscape. In a Facebook post, he wrote that he's contributed to a song called "H** ** *** *********e" that will also include vocals from D'Angelo and Mary J. Blige, Questlove on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, and Eric Leeds on horns.

And according to The Guardian, the Timbaland-helmed May 13 LP includes a song that may or may not bear the final title "Do You Know Where Your Children Are?" At least, that was the title of an earlier version that surfaced online a couple of years ago. It isn't clear how different the final incarnation will be, but that older track includes the lyric,

"She wrote that she is tired of stepdaddy using her / Saying that he'll buy her things, while sexually abusing her." ' For instance, the lonely and alienated mid-'90s "Stranger In Moscow," was written at the peak of media coverage surrounding the claims in 1993. "Swift and sudden fall from grace," he sings on the slow-paced song.


“Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with. We are extremely proud and honored to present this music to the world,” Reid said in a statement. Xscape is slated for a May 13, 2014 release on Epic Records.


Michael Jackson - Xscape (2014) (May 13th)
Confirmed Tracks:

• Xscape (Darkchild)
• Slave To The Rhythm (Timbaland)
• H** ** *** *********e (D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Questlove, Pino Palladino, Eric Leeds)

*urbanislandz.com
*spin.com

Michael Jackson - Xscape (Album Teaser), Due May 13th

The King Of Pop is coming back: on May 13, Epic Records will release Xscape, an album featuring eight brand new, previously unheard tracks by Michael Jackson. The world will hear the new tunes due to the efforts of Epic Records chairman and erstwhile X Factor judge L.A. Reid, who was granted unlimited access to Jackson’s archives by his estate. In the archives, Reid uncovered what a press release calls “four decades of material on which Jackson had completed his vocals.”

Reid selected eight tracks for the album and then sent them out to be retooled by producers, including Timbaland, in a process Reid calls “contemporizing.” While that sounds potentially ominous (as in adding an ’80s sax solo to a Ramones song could be considered “contemporizing”). Reid apparently only chose producers who had “the gravitas, depth and range” to maintain the “essence and integrity” of Jackson’s work.


Fingers crossed, Jackson fans. “Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with,” said Reid in the press release. “We are extremely proud and honored to present this music to the world.” As for the title of the new album, it comes from a song written and produced by Michael Jackson and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. According to the press release, “Xscape” is the only track on the album to be “contemporized” by the producer who recorded it originally in the studio with Michael. *time.com