will.i.am credits Michael Jackson with pioneering ad-libs on the background vocals of songs – something that has become popular in today’s Hip Hop music.
In a clip from Showtime’s Thriller 40 documentary that premiered on Wednesday (December 6), the Black Eyed Peas frontman played the background vocals MJ recorded for 1982’s “Beat It” to prove his point.
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“For all the new school cats that are going on record and ad-libbing, I’m sorry. Michael did that first,” he said before playing the ad-libs. “Why was he yawning on a record though? It shows the freedom and how comfortable he felt in the studio without worrying about people’s judgement or like, ‘Yo what’s that?’ Because you know he was bringing the freaking skills.
He continued: “You knew he was bringing ultra talent and imagination for him to be like, ‘You know what? I feel like yawning right here.’ And I listen to his ad-libs, he’s doing all that [beat boxes]. He’s doing all this rhythmic stuff.”
One rapper who frequently pays homage to Michael Jackson as a pioneering influence is Offset. In a wide-ranging interview with GQ last month, the Migos rapper examined the style evolution that has seen him adopt white gloves and sequined coats.
Amid other things, he spoke about how he was inspired by a letter Michael wrote to himself in the 1970s where he promised himself several career milestones that he later went on to achieve.
The rapper says he didn’t write a letter of his own, “but mentally I’m trying to take it all the way there and just show people that I’m an all-around star instead of just a rap star. That’s why I’m shooting my own videos. I’m doing my own merch designs, dancing in videos, dancing onstage with choreo and with dancers because I just want to do something that separates me from everybody.”
Offset released his latest album Set It Off in October after delaying it due to the murder of fellow Migos member TakeOff.
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The cover art finds the rapper paying homage to Michael Jackson in a black and white suit complete with a bedazzled glove. He also tips his hat to the late King of Pop in his video for “FAN” by recreating various scenes from Jackson’s iconic, horror-themed “Thriller” visual.
