Michael jackson in R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music

"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Michael Jackson" (11/21/2000) R&B Jackson, Michael, Motown RecordsProducers include: The Corporation, Fonce Mizell, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Brian Holland, Bob Gaudio. Compilation producer: Harry Weinger. Includes liner notes Tom Terrell. Digitally remastered by Suha Gur (Universal Mastering Studios East). This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series. Michael Jackson's edition of 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection concentrates entirely on his solo recordings from the early '70s, including such blockbusters as "Got to Be There," "Rockin' Robin," and "Ben." This doesn't contain every single one of his early solo hits, but it does contain the great majority of them, which means it might satisfy the tastes of many listeners who just want a sampling of the best of this era. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

"Greatest Hits: HIStory, Vol. 1" (11/13/2001) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Includes a 28 page booklet. Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion); Paul McCartney, Siedah Garrett (vocals); L.T.B. (rap vocals); Vincent Price, Andres McKenzie, Ashley Farrell (spoken vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, bass); Slash, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Gale, Larry Carlton, Danny Huff (guitar); The Seawind Horns (horns); David Paich (piano, keyboards, synthesizers); John Barnes (piano); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Steve Porcaro, Bill Wolfer (keyboards, programming); David Foster, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard (keyboards); Nathan East, Terry Jackson, Bobby Watson (bass); Jeff Porcaro, Ndugu Chancler, John Robinson, Bryan Loren (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Kevin Gilbert (programming); James Ingram (background vocals). Producers: Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley. Engineers include: Bruce Swedien, Humberto Garcia, Matt Forger. Includes liner notes by Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Steven Spielberg, Michael Jackson. Digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman. Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Paul McCartney, Siedah Garrett (vocals); L.T.B., Vincent Price (rap vocals); Christopher Currell (guitar, Synclavier); Bill Bottrell (guitar, percussion); Dann Huff, Dean Parks, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Gale, Larry Carlton, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Steve Lukather, Tim Pierce, David E. Williams , Marlo Henderson, Richard Heath (guitar); Kim Hutchcroft (flute, saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); William Reichenbach (trombone); Seawind Horns (horns); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer); David "Hawk" Wolinski (Fender Rhodes piano); Brad Buxer (keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); David Paich, Glen Ballard, Greg "Frosty" Smith, Jasun Martz, John Barnes , Michael Boddicker, Rod Temperton, Steve Porcaro, Teddy Riley, Randy Kerber, Bill Wolfer, David Foster, Brian Banks (keyboards, synthesizer); Bryan Loren (bass synthesizer, drums, percussion); Tom Bahler (Synclavier); John "J.R." Robinson , Jeff Porcaro, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums); How Now Brown Cow, Ollie E. Brown, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Douglas Getschall (drum programming); Christa Larson, Becky Lopez, Zedric Williams, James Ingram , Jim Gilstrap, Julia Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Andra? Crouch, The Andra? Crouch Singers, Oren Waters, Paulette McWilliams, Sandra Crouch, The Winans, Mortonette Jenkins, Augie Johnson, John Bahler, Bunny Hull (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Dave Way; Teddy Riley; Bill Bottrell; Bruce Swedien. Recording information: Cherokee Studios, Chatsworth, CA; Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles, CA; ocean way; Record One Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Toad Hall, Pasadena, CA; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA; Zentz, Allen Recording. Director: Michael Jackson. Photographers: Jonathan Exley; Harrison Funk; Sam Emerson; Lester Cohen. Arrangers: Michael Jackson; Rod Temperton. Having spent most of the '90s laying low, Michael Jackson spent much of the latter part of 2001 reintroducing himself to the public with a studio album (INVINCIBLE) and deluxe reissues of his Epic Records canon. Also released was GREATEST HITS: HIStory VOL.1, essentially Disc 1 of the similarly named 2-CD 1995 anthology HIStory: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE BOOK 1. Regardless of how obvious the strategy of flooding the market with past and present material may have been, there's no denying how the contents of the GREATEST HITS package go a long way towards supporting the moniker of the self-proclaimed King Of Pop. Amid rumors of rampant eccentricities, MJ plowed ahead crafting memorable numbers ranging from infectious dance numbers ("Wanna Be Starting' Somethin'," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough") to heartfelt pleas for peace ("Black Or White", "Heal The World"). Jacko's pure chart dominance found him breaking MTV's glass ceiling of color behind the THRILLER juggernaut and its slew of smashes: - "Billie Jean," "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney"), "Thriller," and "Beat It" with its blistering Eddie Van Halen

"Essential Michael Jackson" (08/02/2005) R&B Jackson, Michael, Sony Music Distribution (USA)The title might sound like hyperbole, but this two-disc collection is, in fact, a pretty fair summation of Michael Jackson's career up to 2005. Of course, it's impossible for two discs to hold every hit single Michael Jackson has ever had, but THE ESSENTIAL MICHAEL JACKSON starts with the Jackson Five's debut single, "I Want You Back," and ends 38 tracks later with the 2001 comeback attempt "You Rock My World." In between is a chronological overview of some of the most significant pop music in the last three decades of the 20th century, climaxing with about two-thirds of THRILLER and half of OFF THE WALL, the album that in retrospect sounds even fresher and more exciting than its blockbuster follow-up. Disc Two starts in 1987 with eight tracks from the underrated BAD, and its second half does the listener the handy service of compressing the second act of Michael Jackson's life story (a time when the tabloid headlines were overshadowing his increasingly formulaic music) into nine entirely respectable, if not earth-shattering, singles.

"Number Ones [Germany]" (11/17/2003) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel: Siedah Garrett (vocals); Donnie Lyle (guitar). Photographers: Stephen Harvey; Dick Zimmerman; Sam Emerson. The 1990s may not have been kind to Michael Jackson on a commercial level, due to fickle music tastes and assorted personal controversies, but NUMBER ONES reinforces Jackson's place in pop culture history. Unlike its preceding compilation, HIStory, this anthology trims the fat, although occasionally going overboard in leaving off certified chart-toppers like the Paul McCartney duet "Say Say Say" in lieu of lesser-known, latter-day fare like "Earth Song." That said, casual fans of the Gloved One will still feast on plenty, ranging from dance classics like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You" from 1979's stellar OFF THE WALL to the singles that powered the industry-shifting THRILLER and BAD. Among the hits featured here are "Beat It," (with its tour de force Eddie Van Halen solo), the scathing "Dirty Diana" (with Steve Stevens substituting for Van Halen), and catchy title cuts from the aforementioned albums. Meanwhile, Alien Ant Farm fans get to reacquaint themselves with the original "Smooth Criminal," and R. Kelly fans get to experience Jacko croon "One More Chance," the single new song that was penned and produced by Kelly. Since Michael Jackson botched his first hits collection by pairing it with a new album of material in a double-disc set, making it considerably less attractive for those legions of listeners who want just a single disc of hits, it's both inevitable and welcome that he attempted another compilation a few years later. This second collection, Number Ones, was released in the wake of the 2000 blockbuster Beatles 1, which rewrote the rules of modern-day hits collections from major artists, since it not only contained a generous, representative cross section of hits, it had a specific focus and did gangbuster business. An avalanche of similar-minded compilations by other titans followed, notably Elvis' 30 #1 Hits and the Rolling Stones' Forty Licks, and MJ's Number Ones is part of that wave. For some artists, sticking to number one hits isn't a bad way to make a collection -- the Beatles are a perfect example, actually, since even if 1 didn't contain such seminal items as "Strawberry Fields Forever," it still offered a full, representative portrait of their career. Jackson doesn't fare so well by the number one rule. First of all, he doesn't strictly follow the number one rule, leaving behind the number one hit duet "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney, substituting a 1981 live version of "Ben" for the original hit, adding "Break of Dawn," an Invincible album cut never released as a single, and including "Thriller," "Smooth Criminal," and "Earth Song," none of which hit number one, and the latter wasn't even released as a single in the U.S. (there is, of course, the requisite previously unreleased song, the OK slow jam "One More Chance"). Then, there's the fact that Thriller changed the business, inaugurating the era of the blockbuster album that rode the charts for years, spinning off hit singles every quarter. Thriller generated tons of hits -- six of its nine tracks hit the charts, but only two of them hit number one. Its successor, Bad, had seven of its 11 songs hit the charts (one other, the CD bonus cut "Leave Me Alone," was a staple on MTV), and of those, five peaked at number one. So, by sticking to number ones, and adding "Smooth Criminal," this collection skews very heavily toward Bad, at times playing like an expanded reissue with bonus tracks. This may be a fairly accurate reading of chart positions, but it doesn't result in a particularly representative collection, since the brilliant Off the Wall is granted only two songs, leaving behind such charting hits as "Off the Wall" and "She's Out of My Life" (both gold singles, mind you), and Thriller is represented by only three tracks, with such defining songs as "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Human Nature," "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)," and "The Girl Is Mine" being left behind. These two albums are the core of Jackson's

"Thriller" (11/16/1999) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion); Paul McCartney (vocals); Vincent Price (spoken vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, bass); Eddie Van Halen, Dean Parks, Paul Jackson (guitar); Larry Williams (flute, saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); David Paich (piano, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, programming); Steve Porcaro (synthesizer, programming); David Foster, Rod Temperton (synthesizer); Tom Bahler (Synclavier); Louis Johnson (bass); Ndugu Chancler, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Brian Banks (programming); LaToya Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Becky Lopez, Janet Jackson (background vocals). Principally recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California. This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players. This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players. The finest example of perfect disco pop, and a record that should be prescribed to musical snobs and manic depressives. The album is a true ambassador of what pop music can be. Jackson whoops and dances through a suite of unforgettable melodies that should be danced to with a smile on your face. Each track offers at least one musical hook, whether it is the beauty of 'Human Nature' (who can resist the 'dada dada da da da') or the 'whoo whoo' of 'Billie Jean'. It's all too good. The finest example of perfect disco pop, and a record that should be prescribed to musical snobs and manic depressives. The album is a true ambassador of what pop music can be. Jackson whoops and dances through a suite of unforgettable melodies that should be danced to with a smile on your face. Each track offers at least one musical hook, whether it is the beauty of 'Human Nature' (who can resist the 'dada dada da da da') or the 'whoo whoo' of 'Billie Jean'. It's all too good.

"Thriller [Remaster]" (10/16/2001) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion); Paul McCartney (vocals); Vincent Price (spoken vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, bass); Eddie Van Halen, Dean Parks, Paul Jackson (guitar); Larry Williams (flute, saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); David Paich (piano, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, programming); Steve Porcaro (synthesizer, programming); David Foster, Rod Temperton (synthesizer); Tom Bahler (Synclavier); Louis Johnson (bass); Ndugu Chancler, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Brian Banks (programming); LaToya Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Becky Lopez, Janet Jackson (background vocals). Principally recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California. The finest example of perfect disco pop, and a record that should be prescribed to musical snobs and manic depressives. The album is a true ambassador of what pop music can be. Jackson whoops and dances through a suite of unforgettable melodies that should be danced to with a smile on your face. Each track offers at least one musical hook, whether it is the beauty of 'Human Nature' (who can resist the 'dada dada da da da') or the 'whoo whoo' of 'Billie Jean'. It's all too good. The finest example of perfect disco pop, and a record that should be prescribed to musical snobs and manic depressives. The album is a true ambassador of what pop music can be. Jackson whoops and dances through a suite of unforgettable melodies that should be danced to with a smile on your face. Each track offers at least one musical hook, whether it is the beauty of 'Human Nature' (who can resist the 'dada dada da da da') or the 'whoo whoo' of 'Billie Jean'. It's all too good.

"More Maximum Michael Jackson" (04/12/2005) R&B Jackson, Michael, Chrome Dreams (USA)Composer: Amanda Thompson. Reader: Nancy McClean.

"Invincible" (10/30/2001) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, various instruments, programming); Notorious B.I.G., Fats (rap vocals); Baby Rubba, Prince Johnson, Chris Tucker (spoken vocals): Teddy Riley (various instruments, background vocals); Rodney Jerkins, Andre Harris, Dr. Freeze (various instruments); Carlos Santana, Rick Williams, Michael Thompson, Michael Landau (guitar); Norman Jeff Bradshaw, Matt Cappy (horns); Brad Buxer (keyboards, programming); John "JR" Robinson, Gerald Hayword, Emanuel "Bucket" Baker (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Brandy, Richard Stites, LaShawn Daniels, Mario Vasquez, Mary Brown, Scotty Haskell, Andrew Snyder, Melissa Mackay, Monique Donally, Rose Beatty, James Lively, Aley Martinez (background vocals). Producers include: Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Teddy Riley, R. Kelly, Dr. Freeze. Engineers include: Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley, Rodney Jerkins. "You Rock My World" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, programming, background vocals); Brandy (vocals, background vocals); Sue Merriett, Tim Fulford Brown, Laquentan Jordan, Alice Jean McRath, Judy Gossett, Valerie Doby, Zaneta M. Johnson, Tenika Johns, Late Great Daniel Johnson, Harold Green, Zandra Williams, Voncielle Faggett, Howard McCrary, Sam McCrary, Gloria Augustus, Kristle Murden, Linda McCrary, Maxi Anderson, Andra? Crouch, Patrice Morris, Angela Johnson, Ron Taylor , Sandra Crouch, Kevin Dorsey , Yvonne Williams (vocals); The Notorious B.I.G. (rap vocals); Carlos Santana (whistling, guitar); Stuart Brawley (whistling); Michael Hart Thompson , Michael Landau, Michael Thompson, Rick Williams (guitar); Babyface (acoustic guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming, background vocals); John Wittenberg, Robin Lorentz, Kristin Fife, Gina Kronstadt, Kirstin Fife, Peter Kent, Rob Lorentz (violin); Thomas Tally, Novi Novog (viola); Matt Cappy (horns); Brad Buxer (keyboards, programming, keyboard programming, drum programming); John "J.R." Robinson , Emanuel Baker, Gerald Hayword (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Rodney Jerkins (programming); Marsha Ambrosius, Mischke, Richard Stites, Dr. Freeze, Mario Vasquez, LaShawn Daniels, Mary Brown, Nora Payne (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Brad Buxer; Dexter Simmons; KB; George Mayers; Eq ; Humberto Gatica; Jean-Marie Horvat; Jon Gass; Mick Guzauski; Mike Ging; Paul Boutin; Rodney Jerkins; Stuart Brawley; Teddy Riley; Tommy Vicari; Brad Gilderman; Bruce Swedien. Audio Remixer: Jeff Taylor . Recording information: Barking Doctor, Mt. Kisco; Brandon's Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Criteria, Miami, FL; Dark Child Studios, Pleasantville, NJ; Future Recording Sutdio, Norfolk, England; Marvin Room Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Marvin's Room Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Record One, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Sony Studios, New York, NY; The Hit Factory, Criteria, Miami, FL; Touch Of Jazz Studios, Philaelphia. Illustrator: Uri Geller. Introduction by: Chris Tucker. Photographer: Albert Watson. Arrangers: David Campbell ; Jeremy Lubbock; Michael Jackson; R. Kelly; Bill Meyer; Bill Meyers. The question for a 42-year-old Michael Jackson heading towards the end of 2001 was whether or not the self-proclaimed King Of Pop could make his presence known on the charts after having spent much of the '90s laying low. If the chart-topping position achieved by INVINCIBLE is any indication, then the answer is a resounding yes. The album is primarily produced by Jersey wunderkind Rodney Jerkins, and Jacko wasted no time tapping other top-flight artists and knob-twirlers to help out, including Teddy Riley, Babyface and R.Kelly. Michael pulls out all the stops here, whether peppering the opener "Unbreakable" with his trademark falsetto and a posthumous rap from the Notorious B.I.G, or recruiting guitar great Carlos Santana to contribute some tasty playing to the Latin slow-burn of "Whatever Happens." Elsewhere, comedian Chris Tucker cont