Rap’s foremost MC pays tribute to the King of Pop in British music magazine NME’s new issue, which is dedicated to lost musical icons. Jay-Z begins his written remembrance of Michael Jackson by trying to find some good in the legendary singer’s unexpected death.
“I think it gave Michael a chance to be celebrated for the genius he was without all the other stuff in the way,” Jay-Z writes, “and I don’t know if that would ever have happened had he been alive.”
Shawn Carter also mentions the little-known fact that Jackson sang on the remix of “Girls, Girls, Girls” back in 2001, which went mostly unnoticed because MJ wasn’t credited on the single. But take a listen to the song below—once you know what to expect, you can totally tell it’s Michael’s silky voice on the hook.
“I remember him calling me and him just talking about, you know, ‘syncopation’ and musician stuff like that,” Jay-Z says at the end of his piece. “The Michael Jackson I knew was just a musician who loved music.”
Did you know this was the real Michael, and not a sample? What other collaborations do you wish the King of Pop had lived to do?
More from EW’s Music Mix
Chris Cornell, Jerry Cantrell join Pearl Jam for impromptu grunge summit in L.A.
Elvis’s teenage grandson gets $5m record deal
Allison Iraheta’s “Friday I’ll Be Over U”: Does the teen Idol have a hit on her hands?
Adam Lambert vs. Susan Boyle
wow, Jay-Z can’t write! those lines about MJ are pure kindergarten. but hey, no worries…he’s still got his drum machines and samples.
Wow…I miss him so much.
Long Live MJ!!!!
gave Girls, Girls, Girls a listen and wow again…”who you wanna be F^ckin..?” how does Jay-Z keep coming up with lines like that? no wonder he’s rap’s foremost MC! he can use profanity over drum machines like no one else! totally awestruck.
if you aren’t a fan, why did you flock to a story about a “rapper”? You are exactly what’s wrong with society- all of you lame a** children think you’re entitled to express your negative opinion, about every single aspect of the world. I get it, you’re emo- you’re life is one big black hole of dispair and angst, and you’re so totally misunderstood by everyone you know, and spend most of your nights crying in the dark. We get it, you’re dark and complex- now leave the opinions of rap to it’s fans, and we won’t criticize the whining garbage you listen to, otherwise known as Emo.
No – what’s wrong is people think illiterate, childish, garbage like Jay-Z good. No wonder retarded teenagers are his biggest fans – you’d have to be impaired to think crap-merchants like him are any good.
Yeah ok go listen to Coldplay , or Nickelback and shut up. Rap dpesn’t need you as a fan it’s strong enough. Go log on somewhere and talk about how Kanye doesn’t deserve his success. Douches.
ok, Im a rap fan, and even I know that Kanye doesn’t deserve his success. He had 1 gimmick (jaw wired shut), and the rest of the music he puts out is noise and nonsense. There are more deserving artists out there.
don’t like either of those bands. Rap is strong…so is porn. Girls, Girls, Girls is absolute garbage.
I can’t believe Michael Jackson lent his talent to such an asinine song.
Why click on the article if you don’t like Jay-Z? His name is clearly on the byline in bold. Please stick to reading your Dancing With the Stars recap and leave those who are fans of both him and Michael alone.
Because Jay-Z is a talentless moron. Seriously – tell us why Jay-Z and all these other illiterate rappers are so great. What, exactly is supposedly good about their childish blabbing?
awwwhhh =[ beautiful voice. i miss him so much. rest in peace!!! you will forever live in our hearts. and your music will live forever mike.
MJ is not done. Big things are coming.
Thats sad that pop Icon Michael Jackson isnt Alive Anymore.He was a great pop Icon/Also a great Dancer.Rapper JayZ misses him.Also His Mother Katherine misses him a lot.Also his Kids Paris/her two brothers/his sisters Janet/LaToya.I was shocked on June 25th 2009.That his Heart stopped Pumping.He was young.Thats sad.That he isnt Alive Anymore.Aaron Carter also misses him.Thats his Idol.
I don’t hear MJ vocals in this song. I agree, how did Michael hook up with this really dumb song?
Long live the King.
I liked watching Michael Jacksons videos a lot like Bad Back in 1987.Dirty Diana Back in 1988.The Way you make me feel Back in 1988.
This song is not dumb, I’m a woman and i don’t let it bother me. MJ does sound different though, but I like it. This song proves that he liked girls, and that’s ok with me.
GTFO of here. That is not Michael Jackson.
Uhh.?That dosent even Sound Like Him.Sorry But i Dont Think It IS.Like AT ALL.Oh Well.LONG LIVE THAA KING OF POP!Miss Ya Babby!